Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Los Angeles City Council designates two Terminal Island buildings as historic-cultural monument
Summary
The City Council voted to designate two surviving buildings on Terminal Island’s Tuna Street as a Historic-Cultural Monument, citing their connection to a pre‑World War II Japanese fishing village and the wartime removal of residents.
The Los Angeles City Council voted to designate two surviving buildings on Terminal Island’s Tuna Street as a Historic-Cultural Monument, the council announced Wednesday.
The designation, introduced by Councilmember McCosker, recognizes the site’s connection to a Japanese fishing village that once housed about 3,000 residents before World War II internment removed the community. McCosker told the council the two extant structures “still evoke the memories of what that village was,” and urged members to approve the designation.
The measure gives preservation advocates and the Terminal Islanders Association new leverage to seek restoration and protection of the buildings. “I ask for your support of the HCM designation — Terminal Island, Furusato, Tuna Street — for the history and legacy of Terminal Island,” said Terry Hara, president of the Terminal Islanders Association, during public comment.
Supporters from the Japanese American and preservation communities told the council the designation is long overdue and could help ensure the site’s history is preserved for future generations. Bill Fujioka, chair of the board of trustees for the Japanese American National Museum, said the motion would “ensure the history of this community is preserved.” Andrew Slimia, director of advocacy for the Los Angeles Conservancy, told the council the buildings have been overlooked for decades and thanked local advocates and the Port of Los Angeles for working on the matter.
Council discussion recounted Terminal Island’s history as East San Pedro’s fishing village and the wartime removal of residents after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Councilmember McCosker described how most structures were demolished in subsequent years and said the two remaining buildings, though in need of repair, provide a tangible connection to the island’s prewar community.
The council approved the designation by recorded vote. The motion included direction that city staff and partner agencies — including the Port of Los Angeles, which the office said has cooperated with community advocates — continue work on preservation planning and next steps to stabilize and restore the structures.
The designation does not, by itself, fund restoration work. Supporters said the HCM status will help secure attention, planning and potential future funding. Councilmembers urged colleagues and the public to visit the site; several described visiting the island as a moving experience.
The council’s action was carried forthwith, meaning the designation takes effect immediately for the purposes described in the motion. The council and the applicant groups indicated they will follow up with staff and the Port about a preservation plan and next steps to protect and interpret the site for the public.
