Historic Home Demo Halted by HCC, Neighbors

The Franklin Briles House

Did you know that the members of the Cultural Heritage Commission were street-stalking crime-stoppers? On a tour of properties recently nominated to the list of Historic and Cultural Monuments, the Commission, its staff and neighborhood activists like Rita Stafford from the Catalina-Kenmore group found themselves in front of an illegal demolition at the Franklin Briles Residence at 151 N. Berendo, an elegant example of Mediterranean Revival with Prairie Style influence. The house had been nominated to the list due to efforts by Terry Lownds of Catalina-Kenmore, who, some weeks prior, had noticed a For Sale sign in the front yard.

When the tour arrived, a demolition crew was on top of the house, knocking down the chimney and tearing up the roof! The owner had heard that the tour was in progress, and, instead of laying out the welcome mat, he was trying to demolish the building before it could be added to the registry. The Commissioners recognized that even this was illegal. Even properties nominated to the list cannot commence demolition until approved. Furthermore, the house also falls in the Station Neighborhood Area Plan, which prohibits demolition until construction plans are found to comply with the areas rules for transit-friendly development that takes advantage of the nearby Red Line stop. Luckily, an inspector from the Department of Building and Safety was found nearby and issued a stop-work order on the spot. Now the owner has hired a consultant to work with the Cultural Heritage staff to restore the building, and I have asked the City Attorney to explore sanctions against the scofflaw owner.