South Pasadena : Plan to Raze House Rejected

The City Council has turned back a property owner’s bid to demolish a Craftsman-style home built in the early 1900s.

The owner, William Lo of San Marino, was seeking an exemption to the citywide building moratorium that would have allowed him to raze the one-story structure, built across adjoining lots, and replace it with a pair of smaller, contemporary-styled two-story homes.

The council voted 4 to 0 on Nov. 21 to deny the request after several neighbors of the Stratford Avenue home argued that the proposed houses would be incompatible with the neighborhood.

Councilman James Hodge said he would like to the see the house restored. But Lo said it is impractical for him to renovate the house, which he said has electrical, structural and plumbing problems. He added that he probably will apply for another demolition permit after the city’s building moratorium is lifted.

The moratorium expires in April but could be lifted earlier at the council’s discretion.