none of us meant no disrepespect to either building - i think you will find that everyone on this board LOVES this kind of place. They are important contributing structures to our communities.
so of course we care about the buildings. i guess we all get a little jaded about stuff like this and tend to assume the worst... unless there is a significant architect behind them or some other qualifying factor to help with doing a historic nomination, it is difficult to make the case for saving such apartments.
is there a chance to save these apartments? i don't know? if there is - perhaps we can coach you along on your preservation quest. otherwise - i hate to break any expectations - but there is no one 'person' or 'entity' that can 'save the day' or in this case 'save the building.'
the l.a. conservancy and most other preservation community organizations really simply serve to provide backup for private individual citizens willing to go to bat to save a place. (rarely will LAC et al commit paid staff services to save a structure)
off the top of my head - i think of
Rebecca Goodman and her recent perseverance on the Brown Derby.
Chris Nichols and John English and the Downey McDonalds (and countless other buildings)
Daniel Paul and Bottle Village.
Doug Haines and the Cinerama Dome.
Michael Kiralla and Pasadena Bullocks Wilshire
me and my failed attempt to save the Woodland Hills Library and Burbank Machinists Lodge
Alan Lieb and the Gilmore Bank
Michael Palumbo and Amanda Seward for Lincoln Place
Tony Merchell and Peter Moruzzi and the Tramway Gas Station in Palm Springs
Adriene Biondo and Johnnies Broiler
please oh please we should really start a thread to recognize and appaud ALL the preservation efforts everyone has worked on
all of these folks were private individuals who felt strongly enough to do some footwork/research/writing/showing up at city meetings to support certain buildings AND asking the rest of us to send letters and sign petitions. but it's usually all on our time time and budget... that's basically how it works.
if it's any consolation - many of these individual efforts end quite successfully - and if not - you are that much more prepared for the next challenges.
but unfortunately the conclusion i personally jumped to in your case was that usually the best we can do as preservationists for your unique apartments is to thoroughly document the buildings on film and salvage as many of the unique architectural elements as possible. i.e dingbat signage, light fixtures, door handles, tile, etc. after reading that, i know it makes us sound like scavengers in a way - but for us anything is better than seeing EVERYthing hit the trash which so sadly often happens.
please keep us up to date on what's going on and good luck with whatever you decide. i have a special love for S.F. Valley dingbat AND colonial apartments.
the colonial ones actually look very much in the vein of Chase Knolls, Village Green, Lincoln Place - very "Garden City." maybe you could look up the architect /developer?
