Homes on Greenacre Avenue were built in the Minimal Traditional style. (photo by Rance Collins)

On April 14, the West Hollywood Historical Preservation Commission voted to recommend the City Council reassess the historical status of Greenacre Avenue, a cul-de-sac on the city’s east side which contains 36 1940s-era single family residences.

In 2022, another West Hollywood cul-de-sac on Betty Way was determined to be eligible for historical designation, but a concurrent study did not find Greenacre Avenue to qualify. The commission’s recommendation asks the City Council to approve a new study for the street.

A staff report noted an Architectural Resources Group survey, which found that “these properties have a common developmental history, and by virtue of their association with a single residential tract, exhibit shared attributes with respect to architectural massing, scale and setback, and all designed in the Minimal Traditional style.”

The report went on to say, however, there have been major alterations to many of the homes and properties, and the 2022 assessment found that “fewer than 60% [of the homes] would be considered [historical] contributors, which falls short of the threshold needed to retain sufficient integrity from its historical period and justify eligibility.”

Jon Weisbart, a 29-year resident of Greenacre Avenue, disagreed.

“Before the meeting, we had heard that only one of the 36 homes on our street retained enough integrity to qualify for historic district status,” Weisbart said. “Then at the actual meeting, the consultant said that 50% of our homes qualified but did not provide background information or the home addresses.”

But Weisbart argued that 80% of the homes qualify, and in its unanimous decision, the commission concurred.

“We are happy that the Historic Preservation Commission has voted to have Greenacre reassessed, but it really needs to be done by another consultant,” he said.

Resident Lynn Russell also argued in favor of historical designation.

“Greenacre Avenue currently preserves its sense of place as a window in time,” Russell said. “Of the 36 structures evaluated in this particular survey it must be noted that six have experienced some alteration of windows, doors and awnings all of which are reversible.”

Russell said that the street is seemingly the last remaining single-family development on West Hollywood’s east side.

“When doing a survey of likely historic structures, it is always easy to recognize the obvious gems. However, it takes a keen eye to recognize the context of one of our key elements of housing and development in West Hollywood – that being a subdivision contained on a single street.”

The West Hollywood Preservation Alliance applauded the commission’s recommendation.

“Community members pointed out and the commission agreed that Greenacre Avenue had not been given a fair shake with a perfunctory review having been conducted,” WHPA board member Victor Omelczenko said. “We believe that a reassessment of Greenacre with its homes built as West Hollywood’s only suburban-style subdivision in 1940-41 will support historic district status.”

The City Council will determine whether or not to conduct a new study for street at a future meeting.

“Preserving our city’s unique history is always important,” Councilman Danny Hang said. “I appreciate the commission taking a closer look at Greenacre and listening to the community’s input.”