Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves Tower Theater as historic landmark
Summary
Council adopted by consent ordinance designating the Tower Theater at 982 East Main Street as a city historic landmark after public comments from the landmark application author and local academics highlighted the theater's significance to Santa Paula's Mexican community and Main Street history.
The Santa Paula City Council adopted by consent calendar an ordinance designating the Tower Theater at 982 East Main Street as a city historic landmark.
Daniel Paul, the architectural historian who prepared the landmark application, spoke at the meeting and thanked the city for pursuing the designation. He said the property had “an incredible history” beyond his expectation while researching it for the nomination. Professor Jose Lamillo of California State University Channel Islands, chair of Chicano Studies, told council the theater “was really significant to the Mexican community in the 1920s” and described its role as a regional entertainment venue that hosted films and variety shows.
Staff introduced the ordinance (second reading) for adoption as part of the consent calendar. Councilmember Suarez (Vice Mayor Juarez and others thanked the speakers and noted the theater’s place in local heritage. The consent calendar motion to adopt items 10a–10d — which included the Tower Theater landmark ordinance (No. 13‑41) — passed by unanimous vote.
What’s next: Designation as a historic landmark preserves the Tower Theater’s status under the city’s preservation framework; the owner and community may pursue restoration or adaptive reuse consistent with local historic‑preservation rules.
