HRB approves rehabilitation plan for Oak Court Commercial Block with conditions

The Historic Resources Board on Aug. 18 voted to accept staff’s recommended resolution, with consultant conditions, for a rehabilitation of the Oak Court Commercial Block (DR24087), an approximately 8,000‑square‑foot mixed‑use complex fronting Lincoln southwest of Ocean Avenue.

The project covers three primary fronting buildings constructed in 1937, 1938 and 1941 — identified in the staff report as Buildings A, B and C — which the staff described as locally significant examples of Colonial Revival architecture. A rear building, the Wagner Apartment Building (1973), falls outside the period of significance (1937–1941) and was not a focus of the consultant’s Phase 2 analysis.

Scope items include removal and rehabilitation of shutters, retention and restoration of Dutch doors, repair of damaged brick, modest fenestration changes at rear elevations, removal of an existing nonhistoric wrought‑iron gate, elimination of existing external stairs (upper deck access to be internalized), and replacement of existing pebbled concrete hardscape with hexagonal pavers and new landscaping. Staff noted the project proposes no increase in floor area or building height.

A preservation consultant’s review concluded the project met Standards 1 and 10; Standards 4 and 8 were not applicable; and with draft conditions the project would be consistent with the remaining Secretary of the Interior Standards. Draft conditions recommended restoring Dutch doors rather than replacing them in nonhistoric form, retaining and reinstalling shutters found in storage if present, avoiding Spanish tiles on stair risers (which the consultant called conjectural for Colonial Revival), and specifying accepted preservation cleaning and repair techniques on the plans. The applicant (represented in person and online) confirmed acceptance of the consultant’s recommendations.

Board members praised proposed window and Dutch‑door restoration, the addition of an accessible restroom, and the general approach to unify the buildings while preserving character‑defining features. On a motion, the board adopted staff’s resolution incorporating the consultant’s items; the motion passed unanimously (Board Member Dyer — yes; Board Member Goodhue — yes; Board Member Gualtieri — yes; Board Member Voorhis — yes; Chair Kromen — yes). Staff said the project will proceed to the planning commission for further review of planning‑level items such as lighting.

The applicant said the public sidewalk will not be replaced; the proposed paving is limited to the property interior below the stairs, where hexagonal pavers matching nearby La Rambla will be used. The applicant also said existing planters that encroached into public sidewalk area will be removed and the sidewalk patched as part of the work; encroachment permit requirements remain to be determined.