Resource Description

Resource Summary

Names
Crenshaw Seinan Historic District (Primary)
Resource Types
District
Important Dates
No dates recorded
Keywords (Subjects)
No keywords recorded

Location Information

Addresses
Location Description
No descriptions recorded
Administrative Areas
Los Angeles City Council District 10 (Council District)
West Adams - Baldwin Hills - Leimert Community Plan Area (Community Plan Area)
EMPOWERMENT CONGRESS WEST AREA NDC (Neighborhood Council)

Classification

Classification
Type: Residential District
Use: Historic
Related Features
No features recorded
No features recorded

Resource Descriptions

General Description
"The Crenshaw Seinan Historic District is located on and adjacent to Crenshaw Boulevard, just north of the Leimert Park neighborhood in South Los Angeles. It includes properties on Crenshaw Boulevard, Bronson Avenue, and Norton Avenue between Coliseum Street and 39th Street. The district includes two commercial properties on Crenshaw, multi-family properties on Bronson, and single-family properties on Norton. The topography of the area is generally flat, and streets largely follow a rectilinear street grid pattern (Norton Avenue is slightly curved at its south end). Lot sizes are consistent, and properties retain uniform setbacks with attached or detached rear garages (multi-family residences have parking at the rear of the property). Landscaping on both Bronson and Norton reflects Japanese design traditions, including asymmetrical configuration of elements, widely varied textures, use of rocks and natural materials, and closely clipped vegetation to achieve a sculptural (or bonsai) effect.The multi-family properties on Bronson Avenue are two stories in height and were designed in the Oriental Ranch style. Typical features of the multi-family residences include decorative screens applied to facades, low-pitched roofs with wide overhanging eaves, and the use of stucco and stone veneer as architectural details. The single-family dwellings on Norton Avenue are mostly Minimal Traditional or Minimal Ranch in style, some with Japanese-influenced detailing on window grilles and garage doors. The commercial properties on Crenshaw are two stories in height and are vernacular in style. They retain central courtyards and extensive surface parking. The properties are included in the district for their association with the Japanese community. Of the 71 total properties, 69 are contributors to the historic district."

External System References

SurveyLA ID: 672d082a-8c11-4b57-aba2-1cdbd6bff3e5

Resource Significance

Evaluation Details

Date Evaluated
2016-06-10
Context/Theme
Residential Development and Suburbanization, 1850-1980
Ethnic Enclaves, 1880-1980
Residential Neighborhood
Eligibility Standards
  • May represent a significant event or movement in the social history of Los Angeles
  • As a whole, retains the essential physical and character-defining features from the period of significance
  • May include individual buildings and resources which strongly represent the contributions of ethnic/cultural groups over time such as schools, religious institutions, social halls, commercial and retail businesses and landscape features
  • Is important for its association with numerous historic personages who lived in the neighborhood for the cumulative importance of those individuals to the community
    • Integrity Aspects
    Workmanship
    Setting
    Association
    Retains sufficient integrity to convey significance
    Materials
    Location
    Feeling
    Design
    California Historic Resources Status Codes (explanation of codes)
    5S3
    3S
    3CS
    Significance Statement
    Significant as representative of the re-settlement of the Japanese American community in Los Angeles after World War II. Features residential and commercial properties with Japanese-style landscape features.
    Periods of Significance
    From: 1956-01-01
    To: 1961-01-01
    Date Evaluated
    2016-06-10
    Context/Theme
    Cultural Landscapes, 1875-1980
    Designed Landscapes, 1875-1980
    Japanese Style Gardens, 1946-1969
    Landscape
    Japanese Style Garden
    Eligibility Standards
  • May include examples of traditional Japanese art forms or architectural and design elements, such as lanterns, half-moon bridges, pagodas, stepping stones, koi ponds, bonsai, and statuary
  • Retains a significant number of character-defining features, such that the visual, spatial, and contextual relationships of the property may be understood
  • May include plant species typical of Japanese and/or California environments (e.g., Japanese maple, camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons, ferns, pines, bamboo, redwoods, elms, sycamores)
  • Use of natural materials, such as large boulders, rock, sand, and logs
  • Use of borrowed views, asymmetrical configuration of design elements, attention to ground plane patterns, varied textures, and closely clipped vegetation
    • Integrity Aspects
    Materials
    Setting
    Workmanship
    Feeling
    Association
    Location
    Design
    Retains sufficient integrity to convey significance
    California Historic Resources Status Codes (explanation of codes)
    3CS
    5S3
    3S
    Significance Statement
    Significant concentration of mostly residential buildings featuring Japanese-inspired lanscaping. A vernacular representation of Japanese-designed landscapes and horticultural traditions.
    Periods of Significance
    From: 1956-01-01
    To: 1961-01-01

    Related Resources

    Related Historic Resources

    3845 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3851 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3844 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3815 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3835 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3811 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3814 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3824 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3870 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3801 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3886 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3885 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3866 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3821 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3804 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3831 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3884 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3820 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3834 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3782 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3767 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3810 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3854 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3848 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3860 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3834 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3772 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3877 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3761 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3881 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3861 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3776 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3800 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3805 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3850 S CRENSHAW BLVD (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3878 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3800 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3760 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3865 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3814 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3780 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3855 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3777 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3766 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3786 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3871 S NORTON AVE (District Non-Contributor, Building, is a non-contributor to / has as a non-contributor)
    3760 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3808 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3880 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3825 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3840 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3890 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3830 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3876 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3766 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3820 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3783 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3850 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3773 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3828 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3864 S NORTON AVE (District Non-Contributor, Building, is a non-contributor to / has as a non-contributor)
    3858 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3841 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3866 S CRENSHAW BLVD (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3844 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3891 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3788 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3787 S NORTON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3852 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3870 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)
    3774 S BRONSON AVE (District Contributor, Building, is a contributor to / has as a contributor)

    Related Historic Districts

    None

    Related Activities

    SurveyLA - West Adams - Baldwin Hills - Leimert Survey (was assessed in / assessed)

    Related Historic Events

    None

    Related People/Organizations

    Architectural Resources Group (Surveying Firm, was surveyed by / surveyed)

    Related Information Resources

    Images
    Documents
    SurveyLA: West Adams-Baldwin Hills-Leimert Historic Resources Survey Report (Document/Text, is referred to in / refers to)

    SurveyLA

    SurveyLA is the first comprehensive program to identify significant historic resources throughout the City of Los Angeles, and is scheduled to be completed in 2017. HistoricPlacesLA includes SurveyLA data published to date. Find out more about SurveyLA at: http://www.preservation.lacity.org/survey

    Office of Historic Resources

    Office of Historic Resources
    Department of City Planning
    221 N. Figueroa Street, Suite 1350
    Los Angeles, CA 90012
    (213) 847-3676 phone
    Email: planning.historicplacesla@lacity.org
    http://www.preservation.lacity.org
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