The Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission (CHC) last week unanimously recommended that the “zigzag” Lytton Savings building – which is currently home to a Chase Bank – should be a historic-cultural monument. If the building reaches that status, it could potentially become one of the largest hurdles for the 8150 Sunset project that wants to take its place.

The Lytton Savings building, which is home to a Chase Bank, was built in 1960 and is nominated to be a historic-cultural monument.
(photo by Gregory Cornfield)

Townscape Partners’ development is named after the address where the Chase Bank building is located on Sunset Boulevard, near the intersection with Laurel Canyon and Crescent Heights Boulevards. The developers’ $300 million project features five structures – one, three, five, 11 and 15 stories tall – with approximately 334,000 square feet of commercial and residential use. But the bank building has not been included in the architectural plans, designed by Frank Gehry.

The Los Angeles Planning Commission, though, unanimously approved 8150 Sunset in July and denied four appeals, including one from the city of West Hollywood. The project was scheduled to be considered by the city council’s planning committee on Tuesday, but was continued, and is expected to come back by end of October. The city may wait to review the 8150 Project and Lytton Savings’ historic-cultural monument (HCM) nomination together, but that has not been determined. If the nomination is approved, it allows the CHC up to 180 days to review, and possibly object to, a demolition permit. City council members would also have the option to extend that time frame by an additional 180 days.

“Certainly, the CHC’s hope is that the recommendation on designation would encourage the project team and Gehry’s office to look at ways to incorporate the savings building into the overall project,” said Ken Bernstein, manager and principal city planner for the Los Angeles Office of Historic Resources.

According to the city’s report, the two-story bank was completed in 1960. It was designed by Kurt Werner Meyer for financier Bart Lytton to serve as a new home office branch and executive headquarters for Lytton Savings and Loan Association. The building has operated as a bank for 56 years and currently serves Chase Bank.

“The commissioners felt very strongly that this is an excellent example of Midcentury Modern architecture,” Bernstein said, adding that it retained a notable architect’s original designs. “Most of its significant defining features are still in tact.”

Commissioner Jeremy Irvine said it was shocking that the building was threatened by demolition. Other commissioners and city staff noted the building’s distinct glass walls, concrete columns and zigzag, folded plate roof.

The CHC found that the Lytton Savings building meets two of the criteria to earn their recommendation to be deemed a HCM. The property “reflects the broad cultural, economic or social history” as an early example of the transformative shift in post World War II design, according to the report. The building also embodies characteristics that are valuable for study of a period, style or method of construction.

Steven Luftman and Keith Nakata, founders of Friends of Lytton Savings and initiators of the HCM nomination, referred to the building as a “remarkably intact jewel.” Julia Duncan, planning deputy for 4th District Councilman David Ryu, also gave the office’s endorsement for the designation.

At the CHC meeting, representative for Townscape Development argued that the bank has been altered too much to be considered for HCM status. Representatives for Townscape Partners declined to comment for this article.

Rory Barish, a real estate agent with Keller Williams in Beverly Hills, has been fighting the 8150 Sunset project since it was first announced in 2013. She’s one of community members spearheading Save Sunset Blvd., a group that wants to reduce or stop the 8150 Sunset project due to its size and potential impacts on the neighborhood.

“None of it should be taller than 100 feet. It’s going up beside an historic neighborhood that is much smaller,” said Barish, who lives near the project on Havenhurst in the Colonial House apartment building.

Save Sunset Blvd. has been working with other area groups to fight the project, including Fix the City, the Coalition to Preserve L.A. and the Laurel Canyon Association. Representatives with Fix the City have also threatened litigation if the city approves the project as it is. West Hollywood’s city council on Monday approved funding to continue its appeal to the project.

The 8150 Sunset project and the Lytton Savings’ HCM nomination will be considered by the city council’s planning and land use management committee before it goes to the full council.