Redondo Beach panel approves rehabilitation of 519 S. Catalina landmark, requires like-for-like exterior work

Redondo Beach Public Amenities Commission members voted Oct. 8 to approve a certificate of appropriateness and a CEQA exemption allowing exterior rehabilitation of the landmark house at 519 South Catalina Avenue, while requiring that replacement materials and visible windows match the house’s existing character.

The action matters because the property — constructed in 1913 and designated a local landmark by the city’s preservation body on May 4, 1994 — will be repaired after years of deterioration, but the commission imposed conditions intended to preserve the home’s Craftsman-era character and public view from the street.

Staff presentation and legal basis Associate Planner Sean O'Rourke told the commission the municipal code requires a certificate of appropriateness for any change to exterior features that are visible from a public right of way. He noted the administrative report’s recommended conditions, including condition 13, and read language that states: "all new windows are to be like for like / to match existing in terms of materials and design, wood double hung." Staff…