§ 16.52.180. First National Bank of Long Beach Building.

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 historic landmark in the City: The First National Bank of Long Beach Building.

A.

Location, Description and Reasons for Designation. Located at 101 Pine Avenue in the City of Long Beach, the First National Bank of Long Beach Building is a large rectangular structure with a flat roof. There are commercial offices over the first floor bank and other commercial uses. There is a cornice at roof height, broken pediments adorn all six (6) floor windows and a decorative horizontal bank connects them all. Above first floor all windows are double hung and siding is brick. There are exposed wrought iron fire escapes at both street sides. The corner of the building is broken into three (3) planes. Storefronts vary in treatment. The siding is tile, wood and brick. At corner on third plane are two (2) pilasters. On roof at corner is a large bell tower with clock face. It has four (4) sides, vaulted arches, classical detailing with variation of a hooded or swept roof and a flag pole on roof.

In 1906 the building that currently stands on the northwest corner of First and Pine was opened as the home, on the ground floor, of the First National Bank of Long Beach. When that bank was originally organized in 1900, it was the town's second bank. By 1907 it had five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) in capital stock, a one hundred thousand dollar ($100,000.00) surplus and one million two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($1,250,000.00) in assets. The upper stories of the building were rented to physicians, attorneys and other tenants.

In 1920 the First National Bank moved to new offices at Fourth and Pine and the California National Bank moved from its original home at First and Pine. Upper stories of the building continued to be occupied by a variety of tenants. In 1927, the Bank of America acquired the California National Bank, and the ground floor at First and Pine became a branch of that bank. The name Bank of America can still be seen on the west face of the building.

City building permits indicate that the Bank of America employed the Capital Company to do thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000.00) worth of remodeling on the building in 1938. Perhaps that is when the blue marble was attached to the first floor exterior.

There is some doubt whether the Bank of America ever owned the building. That bank's primary location in Long Beach was at Fourth and Pine. During the 1920's, and perhaps later, the building's official name was Metropolitan Building.

B.

General Guidelines and Standards for Any Changes. The "Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings" prepared by the Secretary of the Interior (February, 1978), as amended, are incorporated by reference, and the following additional guidelines and standards as recommended by the Cultural Heritage Committee are adopted:

Any alterations, modifications or repair of the First National Bank of Long Beach Building shall he done so in keeping with their historic character, and shall conform to the following outline for various proposed rehabilitation activities:

1.

Structural.

a.

The existing feature consists of a six-story load bearing masonry structure, built of brick with a steel frame and wood floors. The floors are nailed and/or bolted to the walls and steel members. The floors are in varying condition, ranging from poor to good. The walls are laid up with lime mortar and are in generally fair condition. The roof is of wood and is of joist and purlin construction. It is in poor to fair condition.

b.

Proposed work will involve extensive structural reinforcing. A steel bond beam will be placed at each floor level, and it will be anchored into the load-bearing masonry on the interior. Three (3) sheer walls will also be placed into the interior, in the area of the original light well or atrium. Plywood sheathing will be utilized as a sheer diaphragm on the floors. The roof will be repaired and replaced where necessary. Skylights will also be placed into the upper story level in locations relative to original light wells. Possible construction of an exterior sheer wall on the rear elevations may be necessary. These elevations are not, however, of primary architectural significance, and are not visible from the commercial intersection at First Street and Pine Avenue.

2.

Windows.

a.

The existing windows from the second to six-story levels are of wood construction. They are of the double-hung sash type with chains. A number of the windows are in poor condition due to water damage, warping and dry rot.

b.

Proposed work will involve the repair of windows where possible. Several of the windows will be replaced by duplicates of the originals, and all will have clear glass. Plans incorporate the potential use of awnings, and historical photographs indicate that this is appropriate and in accordance with the original exterior appearance.

3.

Exterior/Cleaning.

a.

The present exterior from the two- to six-story levels consists of yellow pressed brick with cast, stone, and terra cotta trim. The exterior is in generally good condition.

b.

Commercial use of the structure requires the cleaning of the exterior wall surface. This will be carried out with mild detergents and soft bristle brushes using a low-pressure water rinse. The trim will be repaired and patched where necessary to prevent long-term water damage.

4.

Mechanical/Plumbing/Electrical.

a.

The present features consist largely of non-original equipment. It includes, a natural gas engine with a four (4) pipe chilled water system, an electric elevator of 1950's vintage, an electrical system dating from the same period, and a vertical plumbing system dating from 1906 to the 1950's. The mechanical and plumbing systems are in poor condition, while the electrical system is in relatively good condition.

b.

Proposed work will involve the reworking of the elevator cables and the period restoration of the elevator cab. The electrical system will be repaired and the majority of the existing feature will be utilized as is. An entirely new plumbing and air conditioning system will be installed.

5.

Typical Floor Plan 2 - 6 Story Levels.

a.

The existing feature consists of double box corridors with perimeter offices. Extant offices are extremely diverse in size as a result of extensive prior remodeling. The offices are in generally poor condition, although some original woodwork is extant.

b.

Proposed work will consist of lobby areas at each floor level with an interior aisle providing access to restroom areas. The development of office spaces will be left to individual tenants.

6.

Stairwells/Circulation.

a.

The existing circulation plan consists of two (2) stairwells. The first, located off the first floor lobby, leads to all upper floors and to the roof. It consists of metal and marble construction at the first floor level and is of wood construction above. The second, located in the extreme southwest corner of the building, is of wood construction and it leads to the sixth story level only.

b.

Proposed work will connect the two (2) stairwells at each upper floor by a one (1) corridor system. The two (2) stairwells will remain in their present location and will be repaired as necessary. The south stairwell will be enlarged for fire exiting purposes.

7.

Commercial Space.

a.

The existing feature consists of a vacant commercial banking area with basement vaults, and additional commercial frontage at the northern end of the Pine Avenue street level facade. The banking area and vaults have been largely unaltered with the exception of new flooring and counter space. The original ceiling in the banking area, and the furnishings and vaults in the basement area are virtually intact. The commercial frontage along Pine Avenue has, however, been extensively remodeled, and retains little of the original architectural integrity.

b.

Proposed work will restore and repair the banking area and basement vaults as necessary. The space will be divided between commercial, banking and restaurant activities. All extant historical and architectural features of significance will be retained. A sheer wall will be placed at the dividing line of the restaurant and banking areas.

8.

Lobby.

a.

The extant feature consists of a heavily remodeled space. Some of the original tile flooring and cast detailing remains, although much of the architectural fabric was damaged by the 1950's installation of a drop ceiling.

b.

The plaster detailing in the lobby will be refabricated and restored, where possible, to duplicate the original. A substantial portion of the original ceiling remains, but it will be necessary to recast the majority of plaster detailing. The tile floor will be replaced with a more serviceable tile or marble covering. Elevator doors and lighting fixtures will also be fabricated in context with period pieces. One column, which is directly in front of the elevator doorway, may be removed for more efficient circulation. In addition, the north wall of the lobby may be extended to provide for a more usable space.

9.

Street Level Facade.

a.

The present feature consists of a I939 remodeling of the original feature. The additions, although well done, are in an incompatible architectural style. The original corner entrance has also been blocked in, and the original showcase windows removed. The commercial frontage on the northern portion of the Pine Avenue frontage has also been remodeled.

b.

The original showcase windows will be replaced through the use of historic photographs. This will involve the removal of the present 1939 facade, the refabricating of the building base and the installation of appropriate glass and detailing. Original materials, such as marble, metal and cast detailing will be utilized where they are known to have existed. If this information is not available, then the restoration will involve the use of materials common to the period. The commercial alterations at the northern end of the Pine Avenue facade will also be removed and the exterior restored to its original condition.

10.

Entry Areas.

a.

There are four (4) major entry areas. The Pine Avenue commercial entries, the main entrance leading to the lobby, the main banking entrance, and the auxilIary fire exit located on First Street. With the exception of the First Street entry all of the original doors have been replaced. In addition, the original corner entrance has been entirely removed.

b.

The proposed work will involve the rebuilding of the original corner entrance. It will also involve the fabricating of brass doorways for all of the major entry areas. Wood doorways will be used where appropriate and when allowed by fire code. Marble steps and brass handrails will duplicate the originals.

11.

Clock Tower/Parapet.

a.

The original parapet has been entirely removed from the Pine Avenue and First Street elevations. The clock tower is built of wood and tin with steel bracing. It is in generally good condition, but structural reinforcing is necessary.

b.

Proposed work will involve the replacement of the parapet to duplicate the original. In this manner the original "balance" of the entire facade may be restored. In addition, the clock tower will be repaired and structurally reinforced with steel ties. The parapet and tower will then be painted to reflect the color of the brick wall surface.

No environmental changes shall be allowed unless a certificate of appropriateness has been applied for and approved by the Cultural Heritage Committee or by the City Planning Commission upon appeal, authorizing such environmental changes.

(Ord. C-6026 § 1, 1984)