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54-818: The history of the Lincoln Heights Branch began in 1900 with the establishment of a delivery station at Daly Street and Pasadena Avenue. In 1907, the Daly Street station merged with the East Main Branch to form the East Los Angeles Branch. That branch operated out of rented space at 2603 North Broadway starting in 1913. In 1911, the Los Angeles Public Library received a $ 210,000 donation from Andrew Carnegie to build six new branch libraries, including

108-486: A centrally located delivery desk." The first floor included a children's department, overflow reading room, fiction section, reference room and adult reading room. The basement contained an auditorium with a seating capacity of 300 persons. The branch also included an "open air reading room" at the northwest corner on the Madison Avenue side. The building's exterior also presents an impressive facade. The building

162-517: A circle. ... The arched entry is centered in the middle and three series of concrete walkways with landings leading up to it. This tall one-story design features high clerestory windows which are inset between pilasters." The library suffered structural damage in the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake , and in March 1990, the branch was closed when it was determined to be out of compliance with earthquake safety requirements. A $ 3 million renovation project

216-750: A deal with the Summa Corporation, and other property owners under the Ballona Lagoon, to eliminate any issues with water flow rights to the Venice Canals. A deal was struck between the major underwater land owner to swap the city owned lots on the Venice Canals for land under the lagoon. Assuring the Lagoon and water to the Venice Canals would continue to flow in and out. The final hearing was the Coastal Commission, where there

270-541: A material called Armorflex. Armorflex was a web of open cement blocks that would allow for plants to grow in them. These were to be installed on a gentle slope to allow birds and wildlife to go in and out of the canals. The majority of the neighbors who would be assessed by the new design were opposed to the Armorflex plan. Ruth told the head of the VCA improvement project, Mark Galanty, that she would be open to another plan if

324-531: A music performance by students from nearby Lockwood Avenue Elementary School, and a formal program featuring speeches by L.A. City Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell and City Librarian John Szabo. Attendees sang " Happy Birthday to You " to the library and were served a large birthday cake. The Cahuenga Branch was designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument (#314) by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission in 1986. In 1987,

378-440: A plaque recognizing the building's Historic-Cultural Monument designation was installed inside the library, as well as a sign placed in front of the library on Santa Monica Boulevard, commemorating its 100th anniversary and Historic-Cultural Monument status. Venice Canal Historic District The Venice Canal Historic District is embedded in the residential Venice suburb of Los Angeles, California . The historic district

432-559: A public celebration on December 3, 2016. In the week prior to the event, the LAPL performed the first major improvements to the library since 1996 with repainting, cleaning, repairs, landscaping and the installation of new bicycle racks. At the public celebration, the program included family entertainment, a historic lecture on the Carnegie libraries, an information fair featuring the Los Angeles Public Library and various community organizations,

486-507: A section called Ballona Lagoon. The Ballona Lagoon property under the water was owned by Howard Hughes and the Summa Corporation. Howard Hughes died in 1976, taking away any serious opposition from Summa Corporation. A neighborhood group, the Venice Canals Resident and Homeowners organization, was formed by a few residents of the canals in 1977, to establish an assessment district to restore the canals. This organization name

540-460: Is a combination of Italian Renaissance and Colonial styles. The end extensions are Colonial in design, and the main structure is of Italian Renaissance design. One of the unusual features of the new branch was an outdoor reading garden, an arbor in which benches were placed "for those who wish to read in the open." The new facility also included an auditorium with a stage and seating for 340 persons, and old English oak woodwork and shelves. By 1919,

594-506: Is designed in the Italian Renaissance Revival style with a high basement, a low-pitched overhanging hip roof of clay tiles, and a tawny-colored tapestry brick facing. "The front elevation is symmetrical, and is dominated by a large, formal entranceway featuring a double stairway with matching volutes leading up from the sidewalk to the portal where it forms a veranda with classical balustrade." The city's Handbook of

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648-498: Is located on top of what once was the Venice Lagoon. There were several attempts to rehabilitate, restore or improve the canals. In most of these cases the projects were met with opposition, eventually causing the plans to stall and eventually be cancelled. One of these attempts was a deep-water plan that was stopped in the 1960s. Initially the deep water plan had received City of Los Angeles approval. Assessments were sent to

702-546: Is not necessary to turn to the coarse and sensational. Carnegie paid for a total of six libraries in Los Angeles, and only three of the Carnegie libraries remain: Cahuenga, Vermont Square and Lincoln Heights . The branch was situated in a part of the city with many educational, cultural and medical institutions. The original campus of UCLA was located near the Cahuenga Branch, and even after UCLA moved in

756-424: Is noteworthy for possessing man-made wetland canals, built in 1905 by developer Abbot Kinney as part of his Venice of America . Kinney sought to recreate the appearance and feel of Venice , Italy , in coastal Los Angeles County. The names of the canals were given by Abbot Kinney as follows: Aldebaran Canal, Altair Canal, Cabrillo Canal, Coral Canal, Grand Canal, Lion Canal and Venus Canal. Another set of canals

810-541: The 1918 flu epidemic put an end to such gaterhings. By the 1960s and 1970s, old residents of East Hollywood were moving to the suburbs, and increasing numbers of Asians, Latinos, Russians and Armenians moved into the area. In order to serve its non-English speaking community, the Cahuenga Branch received funds from the federal government in the early 1970s to hire a multi-lingual staff, offer classes in English and citizenship, and to host live entertainment and festivals for

864-525: The National Register of Historic Places . The Caheunga Branch was the last of six branch libraries built with a $ 210,000 grant from steel baron Andrew Carnegie . The architect was Clarence H. Russell (1874–1942), who was also associated with Norman F. Marsh in building the Venice canals . Though the building and equipment were paid for through the Carnegie grant, the land itself was purchased by

918-507: The "Libraries Online!" project funded by Bill Gates and Microsoft Corporation . The confluence of funding at opposite ends of the century by two of the world's wealthiest men, one a steel baron, the other a silicon baron, led Patt Morrison to write: "What a collision of history that these two men, Carnegie and Gates, financial visionaries born more than a century apart, would intersect at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Madison Avenue." The library celebrated its 100th anniversary with

972-555: The "Vertical Wall plan". The city began to move it through the process, and estimated the cost to be around 6 to 8 million, plus the city improvements of public areas like sidewalks, etc. for a total of 15 to 18 million dollars. The cost under the assessment would be shared half by the property owners over 10 years assessment on their property taxes, and half by the City of Los Angeles and the Federal government. The original assessment project

1026-556: The Branch Libraries described the Cahuenga Branch as follows: "It is a substantial and dignified Italian faced building faced with brick laid in pattern and panels, with a grand exterior central stairway leading upward to the main entrance and down to the basement club room and auditorium." At the opening ceremony on December 4, 1916, City Librarian Everett Perry gave a speech welcoming the East Hollywood community to

1080-506: The Cahuenga branch was a dark and grotty hole, a spirit-shriveler of a place that was intended to uplift – 'the scariest place I ever worked,' one of its alumni librarians declared – and indeed, the only people who found it perfect were the film crews that made horror movies in its vanished gloom." In addition to the physical plant, the renovation work included installation of computer work stations and other technological upgrades as part of

1134-664: The California Least Tern as an endangered species who foraged and fished in the Canals. However, the majority of the residents supported the plan submitted by the City of Los Angeles. In 1983, Ruth Galanter was elected to the City Council office and inherited the Vertical Wall plan neighborhood sponsored assessment for improving the Venice Canals. The design was known as the vertical wall plan, similar to

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1188-500: The Carnegie libraries remain: Lincoln Heights, Cahuenga , and Vermont Square ." The Lincoln Heights Branch was designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument (#261) by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission in 1983. In 1987, the Lincoln Heights Branch and several other branch libraries in Los Angeles were added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of a thematic group submission. The application noted that

1242-569: The City, State and National approvals. At the Coastal Commission hearing the Venice Canals Association supported the plan, and there was finally no opposition to the restoring of the Venice Canals. The estimated costs for the improvements were 12 million dollars. 6.9 million paid as an assessment district. The project included dredging the canals and removing the soil to a class 1 toxic site, removing crumbling sidewalks, replacing new sidewalks, 5 feet deep in center, 1 1/2 feet on

1296-402: The Lincoln Heights Branch and several other branch libraries in Los Angeles were added to the National Register of Historic Places as part of a thematic group submission. The application noted that the branch libraries had been constructed in a variety of period revival styles to house the initial branch library system of the City of Los Angeles. In December 2016, for the library's centennial,

1350-710: The Lincoln Heights Branch. Plans for the new branch in Lincoln Heights were approved in 1915, with a design by Lester H. Hibbard and H.B. Cody. Hibbard and Cody based the design on the Italian Renaissance Villa, Papa Giulia near Rome. The new library opened in August 1916 and was initially known as the Northeast Branch Library. The building is in the form of a quarter circle, with an extension of fourteen feet at each end. It

1404-532: The Loffel Block. Many of the plants died in the Armorflex. In addition, the Armorflex began to sag and shift, while the Loffel test site remained stable. After several years of study and review of both materials, Mark Galanty sent a letter to Ruth Galanter congratulating her on her success. She was able to meet her original goal of finding a material that would allow plants to grow, was environmental qualities,

1458-560: The Loffel Plan. Mark Galanty, worked with the residents, property owners, and canal stakeholders to eliminate any opposition to the compromise plan using Loffel Block. The VCA negotiated a fund to pay for anyone that could not afford the assessment amount. No-one applied for the money established in this fund. The city designed the restoration to be built in two phases in order to not disrupt the wildlife (tern, Coots, egrets, herons, ducks, etc.). Meanwhile, Councilwoman Galanter, negotiated

1512-650: The Marina Del Rey walls. Ruth Galanter was not happy with the environmental aspects, the costs, the Historical design and the safety of the Vertical wall plan, so one of her early actions was to stop the city engineers from pursuing such a plan. Galanter asked the Coastal Conservancy to review the options for the canals, and the state agency returned several plans suggestions, including one using

1566-419: The VCA were to find something better. However, Councilwoman Galanter would continue with the new Armorflex plan. So Mark assembled a committee of the VCA to locate a new material. Loffelstein, or Loffel Block, was identified by a VCA site committee member Andy Shores as possibly meeting those goals. It allowed plants to grow inside the material, could be placed on a slope to allow birds and wildlife to climb out of

1620-510: The area had been renamed Lincoln Heights, and the library was designated at the Lincoln Heights Branch. A bas relief of Abraham Lincoln executed by Mrs. William Wendt was presented to the library in 1922 as a gift of the Auxiliary, B. of L.E. In 1975, a community vote in the predominantly Latino area renamed the facility the "Biblioteca del Pueblo de Lincoln Heights." Carnegie paid for a total of six libraries in Los Angeles, and only three of

1674-479: The branch libraries had been constructed in a variety of period revival styles to house the initial branch library system of the City of Los Angeles. With respect to the Lincoln Heights Branch, the application described the building as being designed in the Classical Revival style with strong Beaux Arts influence. "The building's most unusual feature is its floor plan which is in the shape of a segment of

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1728-479: The canals being redone using the Loffel Block. Councilwoman Galanter and City Engineers drop the gentle slope, and designed the entire project at 55 degrees. A test site was installed at Sherman Canal and Dell for the Armorflex. The Venice Canals Association was able to get the distributor of Loffel Block to install the Loffel test site across the canals from the Armorflex site. Both were planted with native salt water plants, and observed for quality. The ducks preferred

1782-405: The canals, was safe for small children as it allowed them to hold on to the sides, and or climb out of the Canals, and was lower cost than the Armorflex. Mark obtain the services of a local architect to help present an artist rendering of the Loffel Block plan. The first drawing included 55% banks with areas near the public areas at a more gentle slope to allow for birds and wildlife to enter and exit

1836-530: The canals. The plan was presented by Mark Galanty at a public hearing on the project. Councilwoman Galanter agreed to look at the alternative design. Ruth agreed, and instructed the City Engineers to design a plan using the Loffel Block. However, they did not drop the Armoflex design. Meanwhile, the residents were polled: 78% were against the canals being redone using Armorflex, and 82% were in favor of

1890-419: The city with the cost being paid through an assessment district. The library was originally planned for the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Vermont Avenue , but the land at Santa Monica and Madison was chosen "because it was less expensive." Constructed of brick and concrete at a cost of $ 34,000, the library was built in a clover leaf or butterfly pattern "whereby the entire floor may be supervised from

1944-566: The columns. Cahuenga Branch Cahuenga Branch is the third oldest branch library facility in the Los Angeles Public Library system. Located at 4591 Santa Monica Boulevard in the East Hollywood section of Los Angeles , it was built in 1916 with a grant from Andrew Carnegie . One of three surviving Carnegie libraries in Los Angeles, it has been designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument and listed in

1998-447: The community. In 1990, the Cahuenga Branch closed when it was discovered that it did not meet earthquake safety codes. The branch was moved to temporary space at 4627 Santa Monica Boulevard for the next six years while the old building underwent seismic and renovation work. In 1996, the renovation work was completed, and the Cahuenga Branch reopened. Columnist Patt Morrison wrote at the time: "Before it closed for its make-over in 1990,

2052-498: The development. By the 1920s, with cars quickly gaining popularity, the canals were viewed by many as outdated, and as a result a number of canals were filled in 1929 to make room for paved roads. By 1940 the remaining canals had fallen into disrepair, and the sidewalks were condemned by the city. The district remained in poor condition for more than 40 years; numerous proposals to renovate the canals failed due to lack of funding, environmental concerns, and disputes as to who should bear

2106-440: The financial responsibility. The canals were finally renovated in 1992; they were drained, and new sidewalks and walls were built. The canals re-opened in 1993, and have become a desirable and expensive residential section of the city. The residential district surrounding the remaining canals was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. However, in recent years, there has been extensive renovation work on many of

2160-480: The late 1920s, its old campus was occupied by what became Los Angeles City College . Also within a one-mile (1.6 km) radius of the branch are the Braille Institute , Barnsdall Art Park (site of Frank Lloyd Wright 's Hollyhock House ), KCET public television station, Children's Hospital , and Queen of Angels-Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital . The proximity of these centers led to great demand for

2214-468: The library resources at the Cahuenga Branch. During World War I, the Cahuenga Branch (like other city libraries) turned over a portion of its space to war-related activities. One area resident recalled, "I remember when they were rolling bandages in the Library Auditorium during World War I, and they used to have community sings every week." Over 100 people attended the community sings until

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2268-424: The new library. Perry encouraged the community to make full use of the books and other resources, including the auditorium and children's story hour. In describing the scope of the books available at the branch, Perry made comments that might have been viewed a century later as sexist or puritanical: Your boy can borrow here books on wireless telegraphy or raising rabbits; your girl, books on sewing or cooking. […] In

2322-536: The old houses, and many large, modern houses have been built. The water enters the canals through sea gates in the Marina Del Rey breakwater via the Ballona Lagoon , and again in Washington Boulevard. They open at low tide to drain most of the water, and at high tide they are closed, trapping the water for about three days, before being refreshed again. Before 1929, the area covered by canals

2376-474: The property owners, and Mayor Thomas Bradley did a news photo with local residents of the first shovel. This project was to include access by large boats from Marina Del Rey into the Venice Canals. However, a lawsuit by Summa Corporation , the Howard Hughes Company, and a man named Mr. Green stopped the project. This was due to the canal water flowing from Marina Del Rey to the Venice Canals in

2430-493: The room just behind the main desk will be shelved the fiction collection. Do not be surprised if you do not find here the latest novel that you have heard discussed or seen advertised. There is much trash published nowadays in the form of novels and it is the policy of this library to exclude such materials from its collections, and to buy only what is wholesome. There are far more novels at the same time wholesome, entertaining and inspiring, than any of us can find time to read, and it

2484-431: The sides, Loffel Block at 55 degrees through the canals. Rebuilding the foot bridges that go over the canals. The property owners in the canals paid approximately $ 6,600 over a 10 year-period for a 30 by 90 foot lot frontage, and $ 7,800 for a 40 by 90 foot lot frontage. Work began in March 1992, and was completed in 1993. The assessment could be paid in full, or paid over time with interest at approximately 5% interest.[31] As

2538-460: Was a bridge engineer. He was later credited with the street improvement project for Santa Monica Blvd. from the 405 Freeway to Beverly Hills. The plan was presented to the VCA and residents with support and optimism. This plan was similar to the 1960s plan, with straight vertical cement walls, but only five feet high. This plan was designed for human-powered boats and not deep bottom boats. No deeper dredging would be required. The plan became known as

2592-667: Was approximately three to four times as large as today. The number of canals was reduced from thirteen to six. The canals were bounded by Abbot Kinney Blvd., Pacific Ave., Westminster Ave., and Venice Blvd. The seven canals were renamed as concrete roads by the City of Los Angeles as Main St. and Canal St. (formerly Coral Canal), Cabrillo Ave. (formerly Cabrillo Canal), San Juan Ave. (formerly Venus Canal), Windward Ave. (formerly Lion Canal), Altair St. (formerly Altair Canal), Market St. (formerly Aldebaren Canal) and Grand Boulevard (formerly Grand Canal) The traffic circle at Pacific and Windward Avenues

2646-659: Was built south of the Venice Canals, originally known as the New Amsterdam Canals by investors and architects, namely Howland, Sherman and Clark, land owners whom two canals were named after. These canals are roughly bounded by Eastern Court on the east, Court A on the south, Strongs Drive on the west, and Court E on the north. There are four east-west canals (Carroll Canal, Linnie Canal, Howland Canal, and Sherman Canal) and two north-south canals (Eastern Canal and Grand Canal). The lit canals with gondoliers and arched bridges drew widespread publicity and helped sell lots in

2700-558: Was completed with re-opening of the branch in June 1996. The building underwent seismic reinforcement work and was also renovated and expanded from 10,912 square feet (1,013.8 m) to 12,912 square feet (1,199.6 m). Carpeting and air conditioning were added, and a skylight covered for more than 50 years was uncovered and renovated, lighting the reference area. Computer workstations were also installed, and ceramic works of art by local artist Ricardo Rodriguez Duffy were placed on and above

2754-552: Was no opposition to the Venice Canal Improvement project. Mark Galanty spoke on behalf of the Venice Canals Association. There were over 48 supporters in favor of the project, and no one spoke against it. Due to the signal of support from the staff and Coastal Commissioners, most of those in favor of the project passed on speaking. Councilwoman Galanter, and staff member Jim Bichart, as well as City Engineers Luis Ganajas, environmental engineer Russ Ruffing worked on

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2808-427: Was safer for children falling in, was lower-cost than the original vertical wall plan, was closer to the original 1906 historic banks, and was approved by Coastal Commission and the many city agencies involved. The winner was the Loffel Block, and it now had the majority support needed for the assessment district to be approved. Based on this Letter, Councilwoman Galanter dropped the Armorflex plan and only brought forward

2862-420: Was shortened to The Venice Canals Association in 1983. The VCA obtained signatures of 77% of the property owners to form an assessment district and have the Venice Canals restored or rehabilitated. The VCA submitted to the city, and as a result the city engineers began to design a new canal improvement plan to bring back to the community. This plan was designed by Los Angeles City Engineer Luis Ganajas. Luis Ganajas

2916-418: Was sponsored by the Venice Canals Association (VCA) in 1977 during Pat Russel's term as City Councilperson. The first attempted design was done by City of Los Angeles Engineer Luis Ganajas. The plan still faced opposition. Those opposing any improvements did not want to see the sidewalks returned to public use, did not want to pay for the assessment, and used the fish and wildlife as a red herring. Some mentioned

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