TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to prepare an ordinance designating the Alamitos Neighborhood Library located at 1836 East Third Street as a Long Beach Historical Landmark. (District 2)
DISCUSSION
On January 4, 2016, an amended Cultural Heritage Ordinance (15-0038) took effect and streamlined the process for designation of new landmarks within the City. Among other changes, the amended Ordinance allows nominations to proceed directly from a Cultural Heritage Commission recommendation to a full City Council consideration. On January 11, 2016, the Cultural Heritage Commission recommended that the City Council designate the Alamitos Neighborhood Library at 1836 East Third Street as a Long Beach Historical Landmark (Exhibit A).
Since its construction in 1928, the Alamitos Neighborhood Library has continuously been utilized as a public library building. Today it is operated by the Library Services Department and is the oldest remaining branch within the City network of libraries. The building was designed by a team of City “Department Engineers” and the design leader was not discovered in the historic record. The library’s history; however, dates to 1895 when leading residents of Alamitos Beach organized the Alamitos Library Association. The Alamitos Neighborhood Library is the oldest building remaining in the City’s library system and is associated with the development of Alamitos Beach and greater Long Beach during the 1920s.
The subject property is located on the south side of Third Street between Hermosa Avenue and Cherry Avenue (Exhibit B). The site is located within the R-2-N zone (Two Family Residential District with Normal Lots). The two-story library building consists of the main reading room, second floor offices, second floor community room and exterior courtyard behind the building.
The Alamitos Neighborhood Library is eligible for Long Beach Historical Landmark designation under Criteria A and Criteria C of the Cultural Heritage Ordina...
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