Lincoln Place Apartment Homes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lincoln Place Apartments
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Lincoln Place Gardens on a 1959 brochure
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 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lake & Penmar Aves., Frederick St. & alley on the south, Venice, Los Angeles |
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| Area | 38 acres (15 ha) |
| Built | 1951 |
| Architect | Wharton & Vaughn, Associates |
| Architectural style | Modernist |
| NRHP reference No. | 15000911 |
| Added to NRHP | December 22, 2015 |
Lincoln Place Apartment Homes is a historic apartment community owned by a subsidiary of Apartment Investment and Management Co. (Aimco). Inspired by the garden city movement, it is located at 1050 Frederick Street on a 35-acre site in the Venice community of Los Angeles, one mile east of Venice Beach. Built from 1949-1951, the property is just off Lincoln Boulevard, bound by Lake Street and Penmar Avenue with Elkgrove Avenue and Elkgrove Circle within its interior.
History
Lincoln Place Apartment Homes is an example of World War II- work force housing, financed under Section 608 Title VI of the National Housing Act of 1934. The community was originally built to house veterans returning from the War.
Housing Shortage
The passage of the G.I. Bill at end of World War II caused a housing shortage in the United States, with low- to middle-income families finding few rental property options. The Santa Monica Bay area was especially affected as the opening of Douglas Aircraft's plant in 1940 and the Los Angeles Airport in 1947 led to an increase in housing demand. To combat the housing issue, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) “created a mortgage insurance program, whose low cost of lending and liberal valuation of land would encourage developers to meet this housing need.”
Ralph A. Vaughn (1907-2000), an architect trained at the University of Illinois, was the son of a prominent Washington D.C. architect, Roscoe I. Vaughn. Upon meeting Heth Wharton, they formed Wharton & Vaughn Associates, and were tasked with designing Lincoln Place.
Between 1951 and 1986, Lincoln Place was family-owned. In 1986, Lincoln Place was purchased by TransAction Companies, Ltd with Robert Bisno and James Coxeter as the two main partners. In 1990, Bisno announced a plan to raze Lincoln Place and develop condos on the site; however in 1996, the LA City Council rejected the development plan which resulted in Bisno filing suit against the city. In June 2001, Aimco became a 50% partner in Lincoln Place; and in August 2003, Aimco Venezia LLC, an Aimco affiliate became 100% owner of Lincoln Place Apartment Homes.
Resolution
Historic designation
On August 4, 2005, the California State Historical Resources Commission declared that Lincoln Place was eligible to be placed on the California Register of Historical Resources. According to the Commission, Lincoln Place exemplified an "excellent enduring example of both the 'garden city' property type and of Modernist architecture." In addition, the Commission cited the unique site plan and observed that it was one of few surviving prominent examples of postwar middle-income residential architecture. Subsequently, Aimco applied to the National Park Service to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This listing was granted in December 2015.
Settlement
In May 2009, Aimco signed a settlement agreement with Amanda Seward and the 20th Century Architectural Alliance which settled and concluded all claims concerning Lincoln Place. The agreement requires that the Secretary of Interior's standards be followed for historic rehabilitation at Lincoln Place. A total of 696 units will be restored and 99 new units are to be constructed on vacant lots. In August, 2009 Aimco signed a settlement agreement with the former occupants of the site which allows up to 83 former tenants to return to Lincoln Place. 50 exercised their option to return.
In May 2010, the Los Angeles City Council approved a settlement reached between Aimco and the City which settled and concluded all claims in connection with Lincoln Place. The agreement includes City cooperation for permitting and support for funding to make Lincoln Place a model of sustainability and historic preservation.
