§ 16.52.1000. The Ringheim/Wells House.

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 2.63 and with the recommendation of the Planning Commission, the City Council designates the following building as an historical landmark in the City: The Ringheim/Wells House.

A.

Location, Description and Reasons for Designation. Constructed in 1907-08 and located at 4031 East Fifth Street, the Ringheim/Wells House is one of the first residences constructed in its neighborhood in southeast Long Beach. The land was mapped in 1888 as the Alamitos Beach Townsite, and the subdivision of the block was recorded as Brown's Tract in 1904. The first owner was Sarah K. Ringheim. A two and one-half-story Victorian, with steeply pitched cross gable roof, the house was built at a time when the Victorian style was passing out of favor and replaced by Craftsman style architecture. The house shows the survival of conservative architectural styles in Long Beach and its location demonstrates a dispersed pattern of residential settlement when the City was young. In 1907, the location of the house was outside of the City limits. The City experienced its largest surge in population in the decade 1900 through 1910, and the survival today of the Ringheim/Wells House in its outlying location is a reminder of the tremendous growth of Long Beach at that time. The house is clad in narrow shiplap siding which extends down to the ground and to the porch wall. The attic story is faced with fishscale shingles, which are graduated in size above the vent. A horizontal molding strip runs from the porch rail under the windows and around the house. On the front, a pair of double-hung windows with shutters are placed in the center of the second story. All the windows are wood sash double-hung, with a wide board surround. The entry door has a large pane of glass and two (2) side lights extending down two-thirds of the door height. The front porch, five (5) steps up, is offset to one side, balanced by a bay window on the other side. A second bay window is placed on the west wall, so that the living room has two (2) bay windows. The porch is supported by paired Corinthian columns. A plain frieze under the porch roof connects to the front bay window. The cornice is boxed and the eaves extend around the corners. The roof material is composition. A second smaller house was added in the rear yard in 1923 and a garage was constructed in 1929. There is a white picket fence on the property line, and the interior of the house is largely intact and original. Overall, the condition of the home is excellent.

B.

Rationale for Historic Landmark Designation. In accordance with the provisions of Section 2.63.050 of this Code, the City Council finds that the following reasons exist relative to the designation of the Ringheim/Wells House as an historic landmark:

1.

The Ringheim/Wells House possesses a significant character, interest or value attributable to the development, heritage and cultural characteristics of the City, the Southern California region, and the State of California. The Ringheim/Wells House is significant as an outstanding example of Victorian architecture in Long Beach, and shows a continuing popularity of an older architectural tradition in this community where Victorians continued to be built during the first decade of the 1900s. The house also illustrates the early widely disbursed patterns of settlement in the Long Beach area, outside of the City limits. The house is the largest Victorian in the neighborhood, and is one of the first homes constructed in the area. The house was constructed in 1907-08 and has been occupied continuously since that time, but has retained its original architectural integrity. It is one of the oldest and most monumental homes in the neighborhood.

2.

The Ringheim/Wells House portrays the environment in an era of history characterized by its distinctive architectural style. The house is an excellent and intact example of Victorian architecture, which was prevalent in Long Beach from the 1880s through the early 1900s. It has all of the characteristics of the Victorian style: a high profile with tall, narrow proportions; steep cross gable roof with boxed fascia; an offset front porch with decorative columns; bay windows; narrow clapboard siding and fishscale shingle cladding.

C.

General Guidelines and Standards for Any Changes. The "Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings" prepared by the United States Secretary of the Interior (Revised, 1991), as amended, as well as the "Procedures for Administering the Certificate of Appropriateness" found in Section 2.63.070 of this Code are incorporated herein by this reference. The guidelines are to be used as standards for the Cultural Heritage Commission in making decisions about Certificates of Appropriateness as required by Chapter 2.63 of this Code. The guidelines are an aid to property owners and others formulating plans for new construction, for rehabilitation or alteration of an existing structure, and for site development. The goal of the Certificate of Appropriateness review is to retain and preserve all original architectural materials and design features; to encourage rehabilitation which restores original historic fabric rather than remodels; and to ensure architectural compatibility between new and old.

D.

Standards and Guidelines.

1.

Changes requiring a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Cultural Heritage Commission are as follows:

a.

Alterations or additions to roof; change in roof materials.

b.

Additions.

c.

Alterations to structure including foundation.

d.

Alterations to windows.

e.

Changes to doors and doorways.

f.

Changes to exterior materials or colors.

g.

Changes to exterior walkways or driveways.

h.

Alteration or addition to fencing.

2.

The following guidelines shall be standards to guide property owners, architects, contractors and the Cultural Heritage Commission in reviewing proposed changes:

a.

Additions shall be compatible in materials and design, and shall be subordinate in scale, to the existing building.

b.

Important architectural features which define the character of the historic style shall not be removed or obscured. These include roofline, exterior cladding, historic wood sash windows on the facade or sides of the house, porch supports, original doors, and other original structural and decorative features.

(Ord. C-7455 § 1, 1997)