For more than a year, the Miracle Mile Residential Association’s [MMRA] message to housing developers has been clear: keep those dreaded McMansions out of our neighborhood.

The MMRA claims large new homes, such as a new single-family residence on Ridgeley Drive, are out of character with the neighborhood. (photo by Gregory Cornfield)

If they could find a sign that coincided with the neighborhood’s iconic style, they might have put one up that says, “Don’t tread on me,” after declaring war on mansionization in a 2014 newsletter to residents.

“We’re feeling under attack,” MMRA vice president Ken Hixon said.

Instead, they are taking a more rational approach of starting the process to establish their neighborhood as a Historical Preservation Overlay Zone [HPOZ], “To protect the character and charm” of the community, Hixon said.

MMRA joined up with Architectural Resources Group [ARG] earlier this year to conduct a historical resources survey of the area, which will become the foundation of an HPOZ.

The survey documents the history, styles, materials and features of every property within the proposed HPOZ boundaries to determine which houses are contributing, and which ones are non-contributing. Contributing properties have very minor alterations completed since the buildings were constructed during the predominant period of development and still retain most of their historic features. Non-contributing properties are those constructed after the major development period or that have alterations that are extensive and more difficult to reverse — primarily facade alterations.

The survey involves fieldwork on foot by a team of experts analyzing each property area between Fairfax and La Brea avenues, and Wilshire and San Vincent boulevards — where many of the smaller Spanish and English revival homes are nearly 100 years old. It takes about five to 10 minutes to survey a house.

ARG will prepare all of the documentation required by the city as part of the HPOZ adoption process. The Historic Inventory Report will be submitted to the city of Los Angeles Office of Historic Resources.

To qualify for HPOZ status, the survey only needed to find 60 percent of the homes as contributing properties.

ARG has found that nearly 70 percent of the houses in the proposed zone qualify for historic status, meaning MMRA is one step closer to getting legal protection from big box housing showing up in the area by establishing an HPOZ.

Establishing the HPOZ means there will be development standards restricting design and zoning regulations for developments or additions. Any alteration to a property’s façade in the zone would be reviewed under the set standards.

When nearby communities Carthay Circle, Windsor Square and Hancock Park established HPOZs, Miracle Mile became a target for mansionization.

ARG will finalize the report in late August and submit the required paperwork. But due to the time it takes for the HPOZ to be established — estimated by Hixon to take roughly two years — MMRA has other plans in place. The most important protection is an Interim Control Ordinance [ICO] which limits the scale of new home construction in the Miracle Mile.

The ICO was approved by the Los Angeles City Council in March for an initial 45-day period, and was renewed for another six-month period. The council can renew the ICO for up to two years.

MMRA believes it’s likely that the city council will continue to extend the ICO, but Hixon said the group will continue a “full political press” to make sure the ICO lasts long enough to get the HPOZ established.

MMRA created the HPOZ Committee in May 2014. The committee was instructed to conduct a fact-finding, seek the input of residents and property owners, and report on how an HPOZ might be designed and implemented. The group wanted residential approval first, so they started an informal online survey and found they had the neighborhood’s support.

The cost of pursuing HPOZ protection is roughly $60,000. There are also additional costs, including the cost of mailings and hosting informational meetings and surveys.

To cover the cost, MMRA is using donations it has received from developers as community benefits, and the group is planning a fundraising effort that is expected to begin in July.