Alhambra Preservation Group and Alhambra Historical Society are partnering to save Alhambra’s historic 1930 Alhambra Health Center located at 612 West Shorb Avenue, and we need your help!
You may be aware that the City of Alhambra is proposing the development of a community center at this site. While we enthusiastically support the creation of a community center at this location, we ardently reject any design scheme that proposes the total demolition of this historic Alhambra Health Center building.
The Alhambra Health Center building was built in 1930 and boasts a classic Monterey Colonial Revival architectural style. Due to decades of neglect by the County of Los Angeles, the structure is in a state of disrepair. Despite its current condition, the Alhambra Health Center is listed in the California Register of Historical Resources as well as in the 2023 Alhambra Historic Resources Survey Report that was recently completed as one of four Alhambra structures formally determined as being eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.
On March 8, 2021, many of you lobbied Alhambra City Council to reject community center designs that included the complete razing of the building. City Councilmembers listened and voiced their support for the creation of a hybrid design that included the adaptive reuse of this structure. A month later on April 12, 2021, Alhambra City Council voted to pursue the community center design that included the saving the structure at an estimated cost of $20 million.
Earlier this year, the City of Alhambra received a $25 million grant from the state of California for the construction of a community center. On October 25, the City of Alhambra hosted a community workshop at the site, inviting Alhambrans to provide input on two proposed designs; however, neither one of them included retaining this historic structure. Both designs propose its demolition despite the City Council voting to save it.
This is unacceptable! We need to hold the decision-makers accountable for their promise to save this historic building. The destruction of the Alhambra Health Center should NOT even be considered a viable option.
On Monday, November 13, 2023 at a 6:00 p.m. Alhambra City Council Meeting, the Alhambra City Council will hear a presentation from City staff and KFA Architects and Environmental Science Associates that includes two community center design schemes. They will also present information compiled from an October 25 community workshop where they presented the two design schemes to the community and asked for input on design elements. Neither design scheme includes the adaptive reuse of the Alhambra Health Center. Both design schemes proposed its complete destruction. City staff is recommending that City Council select one of two community center building design options to assist in the development of the Environmental Impact Report project description.
In light of the citywide Historic Resources Survey Report that was presented to City Council in September 2023, we find it unacceptable and incomprehensible that there is no mention of the historic significance of the Alhambra Health Center in the City Council meeting agenda report.
Here’s how you can help us save the threatened Alhambra Health Center:
- Attend the November 13 Alhambra City Council meeting and voice your support for saving the Alhambra Health Center. Encourage the City Council to direct staff to find a solution that creatively and sensitively reuses the current structure. Fill out a blue speaker card (Item #3) and submit it to the City Clerk prior to the start of the meeting.
OR
- Attend the November 13 Alhambra City Council meeting via Zoom and voice your support for saving the Alhambra Health Center. The Zoom link may be found in the meeting’s agenda. Encourage the City Council to direct staff to find a solution for this site that creatively and sensitively reuses the current structure. Use the “Raise Hand” function during the public comments portion of the meeting.
You will find sample speaking points for your consideration below our signatures at the end of this letter. Speakers will have five (5) minutes each to speak.
It is long overdue for the City of Alhambra to reverse its development-at-all-costs policy, which has destroyed too many of our city’s historic resources. The City needs to honor and respect Alhambra’s historically significant resources and preserve the homes, businesses, churches, schools and public facilities that tell our city’s story and make Alhambra unique.
Please lend your voice to save the threatened Alhambra Health Center.
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SAMPLE SPEAKING POINTS – SAVE THE HISTORIC ALHAMBRA HEALTH CENTER
Date: November 13, 2023
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Alhambra City Hall, 111 South 1st Street, Alhambra, CA 91801
Item #3 – Council Direction on Alhambra Community Center Design
Good evening Mayor Maza and Alhambra City Council Members.
My name is __________________________ and I am a resident of Alhambra.
I am here this evening to voice my support for the plan to have a community center at this location and the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the historic Alhambra Health Center into a community center. I do not support the destruction of this historic structure.
The Alhambra Health Center has been a part of the Alhambra community since 1930 and while it has fallen into disrepair, this building has the potential to be given new life and purpose as a vibrant community center. It is listed on the California Register of Historical Resources and is eligible for National Register of Historic Places designation and deserves recognition and to be saved.
This City Council voted in 2021 to save the Alhambra Health Center and to pursue a design that sensitively reuses this structure. Alhambra City Council accepted a draft citywide historic resources survey report in September 2023, which identified this structure as a historically significant structure. I am respectfully requesting that you honor your 2021 vote and the statements you all made regarding the desire of the Council to save this structure. I’m also asking that you respect the historic significance of the Alhambra Health Center and its value to Alhambra. Please instruct City staff to move forward with a design that includes the adaptive reuse of the current Alhambra Health Center and reject any design scheme that proposes the demolition of this historic building.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
The Prose of Preservation 