Historic Registry Burdens Homeowners

“They’d Like Registry to Be History” (March 25) showed structures that likely have real merit and public benefit. But communities should not arrogantly burden individual property owners with the inconvenience and expense of preservation. An owner should not be forced to continue to occupy, upgrade and endlessly repair a functionally and structurally obsolete structure. Add seismic and structural upgrades, a new roof, kitchen, modern heating, plumbing, electrical and insulation and you have a museum for a family of four with one bathroom and a one-car garage. Such expenses typically exceed the replacement costs. An owner would be more likely to voluntarily repair a worthwhile structure and submit it to scrutiny if it’s publicly funded. Exercising the power of eminent domain may be appropriate because the seller would be paid.

It has become a trend to abuse the enormous power to designate, victimizing a powerless owner. The agenda might actually be anti-growth or preservation of affordable housing. A community would be less likely to designate an aging tract house if it had to publicly fund it and find a suitable use.

Daniel Abrams

Santa Monica