The Office of Historic Resources in the Department of City Planning coordinates the City of Los Angeles’ historic preservation activities, including the Historic Preservation Overlay Zone Program.

CSNA Board Member Peter Merlin spoke with Blair Smith, the City Planning Associate with the Office of Historic Resources who is in charge of the Planning Staff for the Carthay Square HPOZ. Blair is a fourth generation Angelina and was raised in Pasadena.  She is a collector of mid-century modern furniture and is always interested in discovering a great place to grab a meal!

Peter Merlin Interviews Blair Smith

Where did you study City Planning and what interested you about it?  “I studied the Growth and Structures of Cities, (Urban Studies), at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, with a concentration in Architecture. I’ve also taken architecture design courses at Cornell University.   I’ve always been drawn to architectural form and planning, but discovered my particular interest in historic preservation while working on a historic resources survey of the Architect Frank Furness’s work. Working on that survey is when I began to truly understand how important historic structures and good design are to creating great places.”

I heard that you worked for a time on preservation in Pasadena.  “Following the discovery of my interest in the combination of planning and preservation, I pursued an internship with the Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) Office of the Los Angeles Department of City Planning.

I interned with the Department for approximately eight months before leaving to work at Pasadena Heritage, an architecture and planning advocacy non-profit in Pasadena. Pasadena Heritage is known for their preservation work advocating for the adaptive reuse of Old Pasadena, for the Green and Green Craftsman structures, and for the preservation of the Colorado Street Bridge. While at Pasadena Heritage, I worked on advocacy for the preservation of historic resources and publicized the events the organization held. While working at Pasadena Heritage, I was offered a part time position with the City in August 2014. I held both positions until I began full time at the City in 2015.”

How long have you been involved with HPOZs?  “In total, I have been involved with the Office of Historic Resources (OHR) for a little over three and a half years, with two and a half years of that time spent overseeing projects in HPOZs, including those in the neighboring Carthay Circle and South Carthay HPOZs.”

What should people be most aware of in coming before the board with architectural projects or in their interaction with the OHR?  “It’s important to remember that OHR and the Board are resources. We’ve seen every type of architectural issue imaginable and can help come up with creative solutions for a design challenge. Additionally, we’re experts in historic buildings! We know what has been altered on a structure and how to restore that feature. I always like to encourage homeowners to reach out to me with any question, no matter how small they think it might be.”

What are your hours and what is the best way to reach you with questions?  “I’m available Monday to Friday during normal work hours, though I am often in the field or in meetings so for the fastest response it’s best to reach out via email. I can be reached at (213) 847-3649, and my office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 2pm-3pm. Or, email me any time at blair.smith@lacity.org. The HPOZ Website http://preservation.lacity.org/hpoz  is also a great place to find out more about the HPOZ program, the Carthay Square HPOZ, and application requirements. There are even examples of successful projects and FAQS.