Washington Irving Branch
Encyclopedia
Washington Irving Branch is a branch library of the Los Angeles Public Library
located west of Downtown Los Angeles
, at 4117 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles. The original building housing the branch (located at 1802 South Arlington Avenue) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
but has been vacant and fenced for several years.
. The Romanesque Revival
-Mediterranean Revival building was built in 1926 and designed by Allison & Allison. The building has been vacant, boarded and fenced for many years.
Built in 1926, the Irving Branch had a long, airy room with exposed wood trusses and rafters. At the time of its closure, no major physical changes had been made to the building since its construction, and books remained housed on thick wood shelves.
The Washington Irving Branch was designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission in April 1984.
In 1987, the Washington Irving 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. With respect to the Irving Branch, the application described the building as a one-story Mediterranean building, constructed of hollow tile and finished with brick and stucco. It has a rectangular plan with side-facing gables, a symmetrical front elevation, a tiled roof and a bay window on the east side.
When the Los Angeles Library Commission proposed closing the old Irving Branch and re-locating to a modern facility at a new location, the Los Angeles Times
wrote: "It is comforting to know that residents of one Mid-City
Los Angeles neighborhood are arguing vehemently with City Hall because of a library. ... The city proposes a more complete and modern library that would be just 13 blocks away, currently the site of a carwash. This makes sense. So would upgrading the historic building that houses the present branch, perhaps as a community center - where that 'neighborhood' feeling it now encourages would continue to be nurtured."
In June 1990, the Los Angeles Library Commission voted to close the old library and re-open the Washington Irving Branch in a different location. The majority of 62 speakers at a public forum on the closure spoke in favor of saving the old branch by renovating and expanding the existing structure. Commission President Martha D. Katsufrankis said at the time: "I'm old and I appreciate old things, but we have to think about serving the whole community for the future." At the time, City Councilman Nate Holden guaranteed that another "viable funded" use, such as a community center, would be found for the old structure. Area residents, however, were skeptical about promises to preserve the old building, one stating, "I don't believe that for one second. What are they going to turn it into-a police station? A fire station? It's a library, damn it." The library commission agreed in 1991 not to move the Irving branch from its historic Mid-City
home of 65 years until a new tenant could be found to take over the building. Residents had feared that the library would be closed and the building left vacant. Library Commissioner Douglas Ring noted at the time: "Everyone knows if you vacate a building and don't have an alternative tenant it is the same as destroying it. That's not what anyone wants."
Despite the promises, a new tenant or use was not found. The new Washington Irving Branch opened in 2000, and the old branch on Arlington Avenue has been vacant, boarded up, and fenced for many years. As of 2008, it was marred with graffiti and the lot covered with weeds and litter.
Los Angeles Public Library
The Los Angeles Public Library system serves the residents of Los Angeles, California, United States. With over 6 million volumes, LAPL is one of the largest publicly funded library systems in the world. The system is overseen by a Board of Library Commissioners with five members appointed by the...
located west of Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
, at 4117 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles. The original building housing the branch (located at 1802 South Arlington Avenue) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
but has been vacant and fenced for several years.
Original branch
The original branch was located at 1802 South Arlington Avenue, Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. The Romanesque Revival
Romanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
-Mediterranean Revival building was built in 1926 and designed by Allison & Allison. The building has been vacant, boarded and fenced for many years.
Built in 1926, the Irving Branch had a long, airy room with exposed wood trusses and rafters. At the time of its closure, no major physical changes had been made to the building since its construction, and books remained housed on thick wood shelves.
The Washington Irving Branch was designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission in April 1984.
In 1987, the Washington Irving Branch and several other branch libraries in Los Angeles were added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
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. With respect to the Irving Branch, the application described the building as a one-story Mediterranean building, constructed of hollow tile and finished with brick and stucco. It has a rectangular plan with side-facing gables, a symmetrical front elevation, a tiled roof and a bay window on the east side.
When the Los Angeles Library Commission proposed closing the old Irving Branch and re-locating to a modern facility at a new location, the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
wrote: "It is comforting to know that residents of one Mid-City
Mid-City, Los Angeles, California
Mid-City is a district in Los Angeles, California. It is 2.5 miles south of Hollywood and 3.5 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. The Lafayette Square, Victoria Park, Wellington Square, and Vineyard neighborhoods are part of the district.-Geography and history:Mid-City's boundaries are roughly...
Los Angeles neighborhood are arguing vehemently with City Hall because of a library. ... The city proposes a more complete and modern library that would be just 13 blocks away, currently the site of a carwash. This makes sense. So would upgrading the historic building that houses the present branch, perhaps as a community center - where that 'neighborhood' feeling it now encourages would continue to be nurtured."
In June 1990, the Los Angeles Library Commission voted to close the old library and re-open the Washington Irving Branch in a different location. The majority of 62 speakers at a public forum on the closure spoke in favor of saving the old branch by renovating and expanding the existing structure. Commission President Martha D. Katsufrankis said at the time: "I'm old and I appreciate old things, but we have to think about serving the whole community for the future." At the time, City Councilman Nate Holden guaranteed that another "viable funded" use, such as a community center, would be found for the old structure. Area residents, however, were skeptical about promises to preserve the old building, one stating, "I don't believe that for one second. What are they going to turn it into-a police station? A fire station? It's a library, damn it." The library commission agreed in 1991 not to move the Irving branch from its historic Mid-City
Mid-City, Los Angeles, California
Mid-City is a district in Los Angeles, California. It is 2.5 miles south of Hollywood and 3.5 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. The Lafayette Square, Victoria Park, Wellington Square, and Vineyard neighborhoods are part of the district.-Geography and history:Mid-City's boundaries are roughly...
home of 65 years until a new tenant could be found to take over the building. Residents had feared that the library would be closed and the building left vacant. Library Commissioner Douglas Ring noted at the time: "Everyone knows if you vacate a building and don't have an alternative tenant it is the same as destroying it. That's not what anyone wants."
Despite the promises, a new tenant or use was not found. The new Washington Irving Branch opened in 2000, and the old branch on Arlington Avenue has been vacant, boarded up, and fenced for many years. As of 2008, it was marred with graffiti and the lot covered with weeds and litter.
See also
- List of Registered Historic Places in Los Angeles
- List of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in South Los Angeles
- Los Angeles Public LibraryLos Angeles Public LibraryThe Los Angeles Public Library system serves the residents of Los Angeles, California, United States. With over 6 million volumes, LAPL is one of the largest publicly funded library systems in the world. The system is overseen by a Board of Library Commissioners with five members appointed by the...
External links
- "History of Washington Irving Branch Library", 1936.
- "Branch building questionnaire", Annual report 1939/40, Los Angeles Public Library (Information sheet on construction of original Washington Irving Branch).
- "Branch history, 1959-1969", Los Angeles Public Library, 1969.
- "Program from Groundbreaking Ceremony for new Washington Irving Branch", 1997.
- "Library board OKs second site for branch amid public outcry", John D. Wagner, Wave Newspapers, June 6, 1990.
- "Washington Irving Branch celebrates 50th anniversary", Mary D. Brooks, Los Angeles Public Library, 1977.