To: PUBLIC AMENITIES COMMISSION
From: JOHN CIAMPA, SENIOR PLANNER
TITLE
title
A PUBLIC HEARING CONSIDERING A REQUEST FOR DESIGNATION OF THE BUILDING AND PROPERTY AT 521 GARNET STREET AS A LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 4, TITLE 10 OF THE REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE
APPLICANT: DIANE L. CLITES LIVING TRUST, DIANE L. CLITES TRUSTEE
ADDRESS: 521 GARNET STREET
APPLICATION NO: LM-2026-0777
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Open public hearing and administer oath;
2. Take testimony from staff, applicant, and interested parties;
3. Close public hearing and deliberate; and
4. Adopt a resolution by title only approving the request subject to the findings and
conditions contained therein:
A RESOLUTION OF THE PUBLIC AMENITIES COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 521 GARNET STREET PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF CHAPTER 4, TITLE 10 OF THE REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE
end
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The applicant is requesting that the Public Amenities Commission grant local landmark designation for the property at 521 Garnet Street. The Los Angele County Tax Assessor records indicate that the residence was likely constructed in 1908. The earliest recorded City building permit was not issued until 1928. The residence is identified on the Historic Resources Survey as a “C” rated structure. As such, this property serves as a meaningful contributor to the block and potential future expansion of the Garnet Street Historic District.
BACKGROUND
Description of Nominated Property
The nominated property consists of a 600 square foot one-story single-family residence with a non-original detached shed at the rear of the property. The property is located on the north side of Garnet Street between South Francisca Avenue and South Guadalupe Avenue. The rectangular-shaped parcel is approximately 2,400 square feet in size (30 feet in width and 80 feet in depth). The property is zoned R-3, Low-Density Multiple-Family Residential.
Per the Los Angeles County Assessor, the records indicate that the property was developed in 1908. The City’s Historic Resources Survey lists this property and identifies the architectural style of the building as Cottage. This property is located on the same block as ten other designated historic landmarks, and earlier in 2026 four contiguous historical landmark properties (501, 505, 509, and 511) became part of the Garnet Street Historic District.
Design and Architecture
The nominated structure is an example of the Cottage architectural style which was popular in the United States from 1905 until the early 1920’s. Cottage houses from this period feature functional, informal floor plans and simple box-like shapes. These buildings generally harmonize with their surroundings, with low, broad proportions and little ornamentation. Typical of this style is the heavy use of wood including exposed beam-ends, and wood clapboard or board-and-batten siding.
The residential structure at 521 Garnet Street is 600 square feet with a Cottage design with low proportions, hip roof, covered front entry porch, exposed beam end, and wide overhanging roof eaves. The structure’s hipped roof, entry porch, and board-and-batten siding help define the building’s classic Cottage form. Some of original wood sash windows are still intact, mostly in the casement configuration. A series of five casement wood windows are prominently featured along front of home. Staff identified some minor building modifications that occurred over the years which included the replacement of some of the original wood frame windows along the side and rear elevations that were with sliding aluminum replacement windows. Otherwise, the building is well preserved both inside and outside the building.
Historic Research and Permit History
The Los Angeles County Tax Assessor’s Office indicates that the home was constructed in 1908 with additional records indicating the first recorded occupant as J.J. Burton in 1913. It is likely that the structure was initially constructed in 1908, but may not have been issued a building permit for the structure until the later 1928 when Permit no. 868 was issued for the construction of a residence for Walter Coleman. Additional permits followed including permit no. 10631 was issued to Lester Morton in 1947 for the purposes of a foundation under half of the building, permit no. 002026-E was issued in 1990 to Leonard Roe for new electrical service, and permit no. B2002932 was issued in 2002 for roofing. The above modifications to the property over the years have not resulted in a change to the front elevation’s form and scale.
The earliest resident listing at this property was identified in the May 1913 Directory of Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach California which includes the entry “Burton, J.J., a bathhouse employee”. The applicant’s brother, Leonard Roe, owned the property for the last fifty years until his passing in 2023, at which time ownership was transferred to the applicant.
The applicant has provided the following timeline of residents at this property gleaned from City records, telephone directories, obituaries, and newspaper articles:
• 1913: J.J. Burton
• 1923: Otis H. and Madeline I. Frame
• 1926: Mrs. Olive Nelson
• 1928: Walter and Ida F. Coleman - one of Redondo Beach’s pioneering grocer families, operated the Coleman grocery store on Diamond Street for many years. It is not clear if Walter or his family lived in the residence or if he is just associated with this residence because his name is on the building permit.
• 1929: Mrs. Melisse Nash
• 1930: Beatrice Hurd - Beatrice was a student of Redondo Union High School.
• 1931: Oswald King
• 1935: Hazel G. Stone - Hazel was civically involved and served as an election judge in the 1935 election, shortly thereafter the City became a Charter City.
• 1936: Mrs. Doris Stone
• 1942: Margie Fern Kessler and Elmo Kessler
• 1947: Donald G. and Jessie Parrett - Donald was the Redondo Union High School Boy’s League President and served in the Navy during World War II. Their daughter, Dawna Lyn, was born while they lived in this house. Donald’s parents, Glen and Ethel Parrett, lived nearby at 513 Garnet.
• 1947: Jason M. and MaryLou Flatland
• 1947: Lester Morton
• 1952: Philip M. and Edith M. Marlowe - as noted in phone directory.
• 1957-1960: Claude C. Kingsland
• 1963-1967: Earl H. and Rhonda Shipe - Earl served in the military, and was a member of the American Legion, Redondo Beach Elks Lodge, Masonic Lodge 495, and Scottish Rite and Moslem Temple.
• 1975: John H. Berry
• 1975-2023: Leonard Roe
• 2002-2026: Diane Clites
Local Landmark Designation and Criteria
In order to be eligible for designation, a structure must be at least fifty years of age and meet one or more of the following criteria, as stated in Section 10-4.201 of the Preservation Ordinance:
A. It exemplifies or reflects special elements of the City's cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering or architectural history.
B. It is identified with persons or events significant in local, state or national history.
C. It embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period or method of construction, or is a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship.
D. It is representative of the notable work of a builder, designer or architect.
E. Its unique location or singular physical characteristic(s) represents an established or familiar visual feature or landmark of a neighborhood, community or the City.
In the evaluation of the records of the property and the structures’ condition it is City Staff's
position that this home embodies criteria C and meets the required criteria for Landmark
designation.
MILLS ACT CONTRACT
The applicant has made the application for designation as a landmark contingent upon City approval of a Mills Act Agreement. If the Commission were to approve the designation, a Mills Act Agreement would subsequently be considered by the City Council.
Summary and Conclusion
This report has documented that the residential structure at 521 Garnet Street is an example of the Cottage style of architecture and records indicate it was one of the early houses built in the City. The Cottage style of architecture was common in California from 1900 to the 1920s and there are several original homes along this street face, many of which are already locally designated buildings. This property will add to the existing Landmark list, it will strongly assist in maintaining the character of the 500 block of Garnet Street and could be eligible for the future expansion of the Garnet Historic District. This property was also developed in a time when Redondo Beach was transitioning from industrial activities at the wharves into a seaside destination. The fact that so many families lived at the site further supports how the property represents the cultural, social, and economic history of the City. In review of the records, many of the residents of this home were the working-class individuals that helped shape and grow Redondo Beach.
ATTACHMENTS
Draft Resolution 2026-08-PA-04
CEQA Exemption Declaration
Application for Landmark Designation (LM-2026-0777)
Location Map
Property Photos