Sears Likely to Be Designated Landmark in October

By Susan Reines
Special to The Lookout

July 15 -- While signaling that the 57-year-old Sears building Downtown would be designated a historic landmark, the Landmarks Commission this week agreed to postpone a final decision for 90 days.

The continuance requested by Sears and granted Monday gives department store officials time to study a consultant’s report on the historic and architectural qualities of the 1947 “late moderne” structure, while safeguarding it from any changes.

"The matter that's before this commission is, 'Is it historic or is it not?'" said Commissioner Ruthann Lehrer. "The staff report is about the most compelling staff report one could have for designation."

"I don't think there's any difference between now and 90 days from now in what you can or can't do to the building," said commissioner John Berley, but he added, "I would like to ask the commission to look favorably on working with the owners."

The building at 4th Street and Colorado Avenue and the Sears Auto Center across the street are key components of a revitalized Civic Center, with City officials eyeing the auto facility -- which the commission decided not to landmark in May -- as a potential Exposition Light Rail terminal.

Sears has objected to the commission's push to landmark the main Sears building at the same time the City is negotiating to buy the auto center property, arguing it would be difficult to relocate auto facilities onto the main property if it is designated a historic landmark.

Sears' lawyers contended it would be "unfair, if not a denial of due process" for one city body to landmark the main building while another branch was negotiating the purchase of its sister lot.

The commission, however, has stated that it can only consider the historic significance of the main building at 302 Colorado Avenue, which was the only issue before them.

In May, Commissioner Nina Fresco said the negotiations over the auto center, if anything, "add more urgency" to designate the main building a landmark, because it would allow the commission to oversee any changes to the historic property, including the addition of auto facilities.

The staff report concluded that the building met all six of the criteria for landmark designation, which include identification with important events in local, state, or national history and embodiment of distinguishing architectural characteristics of a specific period. A building must meet at least one of the six criteria to be eligible for landmark status.

Built during the post World War II boom, the building is the only large retail store of that era in Santa Monica that is still operating under the same ownership, according to the staff report.

Resident Penny Primo said she remembered visiting Sears as a young girl.

"It was always, 'Let's go to Sears,'" she said. "That was where we bought our summer clothes."

The building was designed by architect Rowland Crawford, who is famed for
"late moderne" buildings such as the Santa Monica Sears store, which blends curves with angular features, the staff report said.

Furthermore, with its original neon sign, welcoming street-facing entrances and extensive parking in back, the building typifies the exploding car culture and consumerism of the post-war era.

With all of these historic implications, the commissioners made it clear they likely will landmark the building when the item returns to them in October.

Attorney Ivor Samson of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP, representing Sears, said department store officials would use the 90 days to have an architectural historian and other consultants review the staff report.

In other news, Roger Genser took over the position of chair from Commissioner Ruthann Lehrer. Genser is a local historian who has served on the commission since 2001.