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Santa Paula council introduces ordinance to designate Tower Theater as historic landmark
Summary
The City Council introduced Ordinance No. 13-41 on Feb. 5 to designate the Tower Theater (982 E. Main St.) as a City historic landmark, citing its 1911 origins, architectural significance and long history of Spanish-language programming; the ordinance now proceeds to second reading and adoption on Feb. 19.
The Santa Paula City Council on Feb. 5 introduced Ordinance No. 13-41 to designate the Tower Theater at 982 East Main Street as a city historic landmark, with council members voting to waive first reading and send the measure to second reading and final adoption on Feb. 19.
City planner Tom Tarantino told the council the designation follows the city's three-step landmark process under City Council Ordinance No. 8-16 and the Santa Paula Municipal Code. He said the Historic Preservation Commission (acting as the Planning Commission) had found the building met the city's criteria for historical, architectural and neighborhood significance.
Architectural historian Daniel Paul, who researched the property for the application, emphasized the theater's age and role in the county's film history. "The Elektra Theater opened on 10/21/1911," Paul said, and described the building as an early "store theater" that retains a long interior volume and characteristic Moderne-era street face. Paul also documented decades of Spanish-language programming and community use dating back to the 1920s.
Owner David Berger, who restored the Ojai Playhouse and purchased the Tower Theater from a prior owner, said his intent is to restore and reopen the space as a community cinema. "The goal is to bring people together through the cinema experience, and to, present all kinds of movies, definitely, Spanish speaking films and nostalgia and classics and new stuff that would inspire, younger generations," Berger told the council.
Why it matters: Staff and the Historic Preservation Commission concluded the Tower meets multiple local criteria: it is an example of a once-common building type that is now rare (early purpose-built single-screen theaters), it is older than most of its kind in Ventura County (opened in 1911), and its design details and street presence materially benefit the historic Main Street setting.
Practical effects and next steps: Tarantino said landmark status will require the owner to maintain the property and that any significant future alterations would require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before work proceeds. He noted the city may perform maintenance and lien the property if an owner fails to maintain a designated landmark. The council also heard that designation is a prerequisite for pursuing a Mills Act agreement, which can provide property tax incentives under California Government Code section 50280 et seq.; the city's Mills Act procedures are codified in Santa Paula Municipal Code chapter 16.34.
Environmental review: Staff recommended the council find the action categorically exempt from CEQA under 14 CCR a7 15308 and a7 15331, which cover protection, restoration and rehabilitation of historical resources.
Council action: Councilmember Cornejo moved and Vice Mayor Juarez seconded the motion to waive the first reading, read by title only and introduce Ordinance No. 13-41; the motion carried unanimously (Mayor Hector Chavez, Vice Mayor Juarez, Councilmembers Cornejo and Crosswhite). The ordinance returns for second reading and anticipated adoption at the Feb. 19 council meeting.
Background: The Tower Theater (originally the Elektra) opened in 1911 and later operated under several names. Historical research presented to the council highlighted the building's continuous association with Spanish-language film programming and community events, and its later 1940s modernization under Fox West Coast that produced the theater's existing marquee and Moderne-era details.
The owner said restoration would include film showings, live events and youth programming; no specific construction timeline or funding commitments were required by the landmark action.
Votes at a glance: - Ordinance No. 13-41 (Introduce; waive first reading): Mover: Councilmember Cornejo; Second: Vice Mayor Juarez; Outcome: Introduced/approved for second reading (unanimous vote by members present: Chavez, Juarez, Cornejo, Crosswhite).
