One of the city’s earliest and grandest neighborhoods has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places, a listing that includes some 28 houses Caltrans bought decades ago to be demolished for the planned Long Beach (710) Freeway expansion.
The historic district, roughly bounded by Orange Grove Boulevard, California and Bellefontaine streets and Pasadena Avenue, is named for California’s 18th governor, Henry Harrison Markham – a Civil War veteran referred to as “the dashing colonel from Pasadena” during his campaign.
Ironically, much of the district of late Victorian, Colonial, Mission, Tudor and Italian Renaissance revival and Craftsman homes was first studied for its historic value by Caltrans in 1983, said Jenna Kachour, preservation director of Pasadena Heritage.
“They were doing a survey related to the 710 at that time,” Kachour said. “(In 2005) the portion of the district in the city of Pasadena limits was designated as a Pasadena landmark, but that left out the Caltrans homes in the district. Now we’re able to have larger boundaries that include Pasadena and Caltrans properties west of St. John Avenue. “
About 40 of the roughly 70 contributing buildings are within Pasadena’s city limits, including Pasadena Heritage’s headquarters at 651 S. St. John, directly across the street from the Caltrans-owned houses.
Mic Hansen, a long-time preservationist and member of the city’s
planning commission, was involved with the basic research on the district’s properties about a decade ago and helped to get the neighbors’ agreement on creating a landmark district.
“Lots of the neighbors were glad, and understood the importance and value of it. Some others did not necessarily agree with the premise,” Hansen said. “But landmarking does not restrict changes to the interiors at all – what it does is protect the exteriors (viewed) from the public right of way and visually the look and feel of a historic neighborhhood. “
The historic value to Pasadena of the homes has “never been in doubt,” Hansen said. “But I think it’s rewarding to have formal recognition of this wonderful area, one of the oldest in Pasadena … I’m very happy. “
In 2005, when the district got city landmark status, Hansen then said it was not feasible to include Caltrans-owned houses. Caltrans, she said then, would be unlikely to sign the petition and would probably fight any effort to include their houses in the historic district. The hope Hansen spoke of in 2005 has materialized: “It may be that down the line, it would be valid to have those houses incorporated into the landmark district. “
However, the sale of any Caltrans houses could still be far in the future.
Caltrans spokeswoman Lauren Wonder said the transportation authority is “nowhere near discussing the disposition of the homes,” many of which are occupied by long-time renters.
“If and when the homes along the proposed State Route 710 corridor are sold, homes with a state or federal historic status would include documents indicating owners would be responsible for maintaining the historic character of the homes,” she said. She added that she had no information on whether any of the district’s 28 Caltrans houses underwent restoration in a costly and much-criticized repair and preservation project several years ago.
Markham Place brings the number of nationally listed Pasadena historic districts to 14, including Bungalow Heaven, the Civic Center, Old Pasadena and the Prospect District, which includes the Gamble House. There are now 17 Pasadena Landmark Districts listed locally.
Sadly, the Markham Place district namesake’s house built at 703 S. Pasadena Ave. in 1905, was demolished in 1939, Kachour said.
“But the carriage house is still there, and from the street you can see the stone pillars of what was the entry gate to his property,” she said.
The complex National Register application was submitted by Pasadena Heritage, helped by a $3,500 matching grant from the Los Angeles County Preservation Fund,
The district’s eligbility was clear from its local landmark status, Kachour said, but it was important to add the Caltrans houses to make sure they are preserved.
“What this action did was it took these properties’ status from just being identified as eligible to actually being listed on the National Register,” Kachour said. “When (Caltrans) begins to prepare their Environmental Impact Report documents there won’t be any question about the historical significance of these properties. That was one of the benefits of pursuing this. “