May 15, 2019

Dear Cultural Heritage Commissioners,

We support the application to designate The Schmidt Residence at 6555 Franklin Ave. as an Historic Cultural Monument.

This is an historic old Hollywood neighborhood, part of the original Whitley Heights Ocean View Tract Development, with a number of early 20th century historic buildings along Franklin Ave. and Whitley Ave.

Whitley Ave. and Franklin Ave. are "HPOZ Adjacent" streets, and the main entry into the historic 1920s Whitley Heights HPOZ.

The Schmidt Residence is a rare example of Beaux Arts architecture in Hollywood.

This historic 1919 gem is in beautiful condition.

It has been discovered that the architect is N.F. Stokes, the same architect of the Historic Cultural Monument, Stokes Colonial Mansion at 1905 Grace Ave. a few houses away, that we were successful in having designated a Historic Cultural Monument..

His work is well represented just along this one Franklin Ave. street, as there are a cluster of N.F. Stokes buildings, including a Dutch Revival, this French Beaux Arts, an English Cottage, and the Colonial Mansion.

How wonderful if we could create a 'Stokes Village' as homage to Mr. Stokes, and as an example of the imagination, creativity, and work, of an early Hollywood architect/developer, when this area was first being designed and developed!

The Schmidt Residence and the other N.F. Stokes historic buildings, all on one street, give historic architecture enthusiasts, travelers and residents, a peek into old Hollywood of the 1900's and the 1920's and the variety of building designs of the era..

The Schmidt Residence is celebrating its 100th birthday!

We urge you to allow the Schmidt Residence at 6555 Franklin Ave. to continue to live on for another 100 years, so it can be appreciated and enjoyed for generations to come.

Thank you,

Jim and Ann Geoghan

Whitley Heights

Dear Neighbors,

That was our letter to the the CHC to save 6555 Franklin Ave. awhile back.

We had reached out to the community about this, so if you supported saving this house, submitted comments, etc., and also wept when we lost the historic designation, we thought you'd like to know that 6555 Franklln and the beautiful home next to it on the corner of Whitley Ave. are being demoed for a Hotel.

We will have a hotel on the corner of Whitley and Franklin, replacing two beautiful Hollywood Heritage identified "Historic Contributors".

We knew this could happen and why it was so important to do what we could to try and preserve the older buildings that are part of the historic fabric of the most used entryway to historic Whitley Heights.

So that's two down and how many more to go.

Special thanks to our dear dear neighbor on Franklin Ave. and President of our Franklin Ave. Coalition..Susan Winsberg, who contributed the funds for the historic review and presentations to the Cultural Heritage Commission.

And thank you to our neighbors who are always actively involved in our community and preservation issues..John Girodo, Jeff McDonough, and Shelley Kiah, and our HHWNC Area 3 Rep. Brian D. who attends hearings with us, and does what he can to help .

We are all beyond sad...

Jim & Annie

Whitley Terrace