The Craftsman bungalow at 921 19th Street is a controversial property because it is what the City calls a “fairly typical bungalow,” not exceptional for Craftsman style. Yet, when the property went before the Landmark committee, a neighborhood resident produced a petition signed by 75 residents asking that the property be saved and designated a landmark. The petition cited the building’s age (it was built in the late 1920s), the unique hood over its front door, and a fig tree growing in the back yard.

The property was awarded landmark status based on criterion #4 “distinguishing architectural characteristics valuable to a study of a period, style, method of construction, or use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship”, and criterion #1 “exemplifies, symbolizes, or manifests elements of the cultural, social, economic, political, or architectural history of the city.”

According to City, there are 6,586 parcels zoned R-1 in Santa Monica; of those, 5,302 are old enough to be eligible to be landmarked. 921 19th may be setting a political precedent.