Historic Housing Design
The original architectural style of the residential dwellings in each Los Angeles neighborhood was methodically planned out so that the homes would capture the history and culture of the city. Throughout the city’s timeline of growth, modern homes (for each era) filled vacant lots reflecting cultural changes in the city. However, even as city planners worked with architects to design new homes that were traditional and modern with hints of classic Los Angeles style design, they kept in mind the need to preserve the cultural and historical integrity of original Los Angeles throughout the city by preserving original structures and neighborhoods from early in the city’s history.
While preserving historical sites benefits the city, it may not be seen as beneficial to a homeowner living in a structure that needs renovation to modernize and add value to their property. In 1972, The Mills Act was enacted by the federal government, giving local governments the power to enter into contracts with homeowners living in historic buildings who were willing to actively restore and maintain the historical and cultural integrity of the structure in exchange for tax relief. The Mills Act was implemented in Los Angeles in 1996 and the city created The Mills Act Housing Contract Program, creating 10-year contract agreements between building owners and the city, ensuring residents would not make dramatic changes to their structures in exchange for special property tax rates.
While certain single dwellings hold cultural and historical significance for the city, there are specific neighborhoods as a whole that have been deemed, by its residents and the city of Los Angeles, to have historic, architectural, cultural or aesthetic significance for the city. They are therefore labeled as Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (HPOZ) and residents within these zones become eligible to join The Mills Act Historical Property Contract Program. In Los Angeles, there are 29 historic districts – each with its own preservation committee, governed by five voluntary members who have a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in the preservation of the historic and cultural structures and architecture of the neighborhood. Three of these members are owners or renters of residential dwellings in the HPOZ neighborhood and the other two members are appointed by the Los Angeles City Planning Department. Residents must obtain permission from this committee to make changes to their home. The committee also works with the city of Los Angeles to ensure properties are maintained properly. A guide to the requirements each owner must follow are located in the brochure below:
While preserving historical sites benefits the city, it may not be seen as beneficial to a homeowner living in a structure that needs renovation to modernize and add value to their property. In 1972, The Mills Act was enacted by the federal government, giving local governments the power to enter into contracts with homeowners living in historic buildings who were willing to actively restore and maintain the historical and cultural integrity of the structure in exchange for tax relief. The Mills Act was implemented in Los Angeles in 1996 and the city created The Mills Act Housing Contract Program, creating 10-year contract agreements between building owners and the city, ensuring residents would not make dramatic changes to their structures in exchange for special property tax rates.
While certain single dwellings hold cultural and historical significance for the city, there are specific neighborhoods as a whole that have been deemed, by its residents and the city of Los Angeles, to have historic, architectural, cultural or aesthetic significance for the city. They are therefore labeled as Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (HPOZ) and residents within these zones become eligible to join The Mills Act Historical Property Contract Program. In Los Angeles, there are 29 historic districts – each with its own preservation committee, governed by five voluntary members who have a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in the preservation of the historic and cultural structures and architecture of the neighborhood. Three of these members are owners or renters of residential dwellings in the HPOZ neighborhood and the other two members are appointed by the Los Angeles City Planning Department. Residents must obtain permission from this committee to make changes to their home. The committee also works with the city of Los Angeles to ensure properties are maintained properly. A guide to the requirements each owner must follow are located in the brochure below: