A request to designate the single-family residence of Robert and Bonnie Beeby, located at 34021 Amber Lantern, for Historic Resource Designation and participation in the Mills Act Program was unanimously approved by the Planning Commissioners at the September 21, 2009 meeting.
Evan Langan, Planner with the Community Development Department, gave a presentation of the 1930 Woodruff home. He recommended that the Planning Commission adopt the resolution and that the City Council enter into an agreement with the property owner for participation in the Mills Act.
Exterior features of the home include side and front facing gables with a red clay barrel tile roof, hand finished stucco walls, and wood casement windows. A stucco wall chimney on the south side of the house features an imbedded brick detail and is topped with a brick chimney cap. The rear patio provides a generous entertainment space with several seating areas between the main house and a separate guest casita.
Mr. Beeby stated that he and his wife have enjoyed the warm and happy personality of their home and the challenge of restoration work completed on the home over the past 16 years.
This was the 26th building to be listed on the historic register since the program was initiated in 2001. The Beeby home residences and six commercial buildings still remaining from Woodruff’s Dana Point development that began in 1927. There are also six Doheny homes on the City’s Historic Register, as well as the 1914 Dolph House and a 1948 home built by Dr. E. W. Anderson.
Commissioners Denton and O’Connor praised the owners for preserving their home and commented that it was nice to see a historic home restored rather than replaced by an over- sized new home.
S. H. Woodruff developed Dana Point on behalf of his investors after his 1923 development of Hollywoodland was established. One of Woodruff’s Dana Point brochures advertised “From the Hills of Hollywood to the Sea”. Located in the
Hollywood Hills, the tract became famous for the huge metal sign that flashed the name. The sign would later be restored minus the last four letters and become the national landmark and international symbol of the Hollywood film industry. Today, tourists often risk standing in the middle of Beechwood Drive to have a photo taken with HOLLYWOOD in the background.
The DPHS has put that on its list of things to do. Check out next month’s bus tour.