§ 16.52.590. The Thrifty Drug/Famous Department Store.

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 Thrifty Drug/Famous Department Store Building.

A.

Location, description and reasons for designation. Located at 601-609 Pine Avenue in the City of Long Beach, the Thrifty Drug/Famous Department Store Building was originally built as the Famous Department Store Building in 1929. Located at a prime corner in downtown Long Beach, it demonstrates the economic growth of Long Beach in the twenties in the retail sector. The oil industry and tourism propelled the boom of the twenties in Long Beach, encouraging new commercial growth such as this new store.

The building is one of the finest examples of Art Deco in downtown Long Beach, and is a strong visual presence on a prominent corner. Typical of the Art Deco style are the stepped back vertical piers, the vertical grouping of windows, and the chevron design motif. The 1937 top floor addition shows the influence of the International Style, but integrates skillfully in the older building.

The architectural firm of Morgan, Wall and Clements created major landmark buildings in Los Angeles and Southern California, significantly influencing the urban design of the region. Their work includes the Wiltern Theater, the Samson Uniroyal Tire Factory in Commerce, the Chapman Buildings, the Owl Drug Company, the Mayan Theater, the Belasco Theater, the Pantages Theater, the Richfield Building (demolished) and many others.

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 (Revised, 1983), as amended, are incorporated by reference, and the following additional guidelines and standards as recommended by the Cultural Heritage Commission are adopted:

Any exterior alterations, modifications or repair of the above structure shall be done so in keeping with its historic character, and any exterior alterations, modifications or changes shall follow the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings.

No environmental changes shall be permitted to the exterior of the building unless a Certificate of Appropriateness has been applied for and approved by the Cultural Heritage Commission or by the City Planning Commission, upon appeal, authorizing such environmental changes. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to restrict internal modifications to the building not visible externally.

(Ord. C-6691 § 1, 1990)