TO: ARCHITECTURAL AND PRESERVATION COMMISSION
FROM: BRAD JOHNSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
DATE: OCTOBER 29, 2025
SUBJECT:
Title
REGISTER LISTING #25-RL04, REVIEW OF A PROPOSAL TO ADD 1230 HARVARD AVENUE, A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE, TO THE REGISTER OF STRUCTURES OF HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL MERIT OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT. APPLICANTS - NICKOLAS SIFUENTES AND SCOTT SHAW
Body
SUMMARY
The property owners and applicants, Nickolas Sifuentes and Scott Shaw, are requesting that the Architectural and Preservation Commission accept their nomination of 1230 Harvard Avenue to the Register of Historical and Architectural Merit of the City of Claremont (“Register”). The applicants have submitted a Local Register Listing form (application) to the Planning Division. The form outlines the historic context for 1230 Harvard Avenue and provides details about its architectural characteristics, concluding that the property appears to be eligible for the local Claremont Register.
Staff finds that the nominated property reflects the distinctive character of Claremont and that it meets at least one of the six criteria that are required to be met in order for the Architectural and Preservation Commission to approve an addition to the Register.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Architectural and Preservation Commission:
A. Adopt a RESOLUTION OF THE ARCHITECTURAL AND PRESERVATION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF REGISTER LISTING #25-RL04, REVIEW OF A PROPOSAL TO ADD 1230 HARVARD AVENUE, A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE, TO THE REGISTER OF STRUCTURES OF HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL MERIT OF THE CITY OF CLAREMONT. APPLICANTS - NICKOLAS SIFUENTES AND SCOTT SHAW; and
B. Find this item is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Body
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there are the following alternatives:
1. Continue the item for additional information.
2. Express intent to deny the proposed addition to the Register, specifically identifying how none of the Register Criteria identified in Claremont Municipal Code Section 16.302.080 can be met, and continue the item to November 13, 2025, for adoption of a denial resolution.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The costs of this application have been borne by the applicant.
ANALYSIS
Background
Procedures for Adding Properties to the Register
The Claremont City Council adopted the Register of Structures of Historical and Architectural Merit of the City of Claremont (“Register”) in 1980 following an exhaustive inventory of the City’s historic resources. The aim of the creation and adoption of the Register was to further the General Plan’s objectives to foster appreciation for Claremont’s historic resources and to focus attention on their ongoing protection. Since the Register’s adoption in 1980, a number of properties have been added to it. Currently, there are approximately one thousand properties listed on the Register. On January 27, 1998, the City Council adopted formal procedures for the Architectural Commission to follow when designating new additions to the Register. These procedures remained in place until 2024, when they were replaced and codified under Section 16.302.090 of the Claremont Municipal Code as part of the City’s new Cultural Resources Preservation Ordinance (“Preservation Ordinance”). The Preservation Ordinance also lays out the criteria for designating cultural resources (adding new properties to the Register) in Section 16.302.080 and assigns review responsibilities to the City Staff, Architectural and Planning Commission, and City Council (CMC Sections 16.302.040 - 070).
Property Description and History
The subject property is located on the east side of Harvard Avenue, on the block situated between Foothill Boulevard and West Twelfth Street. It is located in the neighborhood identified in the Claremont General Plan as “Historic Claremont.” The property has a General Plan Designation of Residential 6 and is zoned Historic Claremont - 7,500 (HC 7,500).
Constructed in 1926, the residence located at 1230 Harvard Avenue is a well-preserved example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture found in Claremont that was popular between the years of 1915 and 1940. The character-defining features of both the exterior and interior of the home were identified through a site visit to the property. The primary residence is a two-story Spanish Colonial Revival structure with a rectilinear exterior form and floor plan which is defined by its flat roof with articulated parapet walls, low-pitched roofs, eaves with no overhang and wrapped tiles around the gable end, large stuccoed surfaces without breaks, arched windows and asymmetrical façade. More specifically, the residence features exterior walls composed of white textured stucco, two-piece clay tile roofing, arched windows and a combination of roof styles including a shed roof over the front porch, gable roof, and flat roof featuring a balcony. The interior of the home features a coved ceiling in the dining room, original fireplace, a large arched window in the living room, and period appropriate hardware which may be original such as doorknobs, hinges, and front door handle. A detached garage, which was converted into an accessory dwelling unit in 2019 also features textured white stucco, two-piece clay roof tiles, a combination shed and flat roof and decorative rafter tails, which complement the main structure.
Register Criteria
As discussed above, the City’s 2024 Preservation Ordinance codifies procedures for adding structures and/or sites to the Register. This requires staff review of any application for designation (listing), followed by review and recommendation by the Architectural and Preservation Commission and approval or denial by the City Council. The ordinance requires that any property or other resource be at least 45 years old and meet one or more of six criteria before it can be added to the Register (CMC Section 16.302.080). These criteria are:
1. It is identified with important events in national, state, or City history or exemplifies significant contributions to the broad cultural, political, economic, social, or historic heritage of the nation, state, or City;
2. It is associated with a person, persons, or groups who significantly contributed to the history of the nation, state, region, or City;
3. It embodies the distinctive and exemplary characteristics of an architectural style, architectural type, period, or method of construction; or is a noble work of a master designer, builder or architect; or is a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship;
4. It is the work of an architect or master builder whose individual work has influenced the development of the City of Claremont;
5. It has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information important to archaeological prehistory or history of the nation, state, region, or City and/or;
6. It exemplifies the early heritage of the City.
Rationale for Staff Recommendation
Staff finds that the designation of the residence located at 1230 Harvard Avenue, as a Cultural Resource to be listed in the Register is warranted. The home clearly meets the 45-year age requirement and satisfies both Criteria 3 and 6 for designation as a Cultural Resource under the Claremont Municipal Code. The rationale for this finding is detailed below.
Built during the height of the popularity of Spanish Revival architecture in the southwestern states, this residence represents a notable example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. The home is associated with several families over the years such as the first owners George and Alberta Pancoast, where George was an IRS agent. By 1934, Peter and Irene Spencer lived at the residence where Peter was a Professor at the Claremont Graduate University and founded the Claremont Reading Conference, which became nationally known for its workshops and speakers. The longest residents were Jere and Joan French, who lived there for over 30 years since 1963, where Jere French also was a professor at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. The history of professors at 1230 Harvard Avenue is representative of many other homes in the area, as Harvard Avenue has been the home of many other college faculty and personnel, given its proximity to the Claremont Colleges and Claremont Graduate University.
The residence represents the distinctive characteristics of Spanish Colonial architecture through its continued integrity of its defining architectural features, including the textured white stucco, two-piece tile roofing, arched windows, and asymmetrical façade. Overall, the property’s well-maintained condition further contributes to its authenticity and setting.
CEQA REVIEW
The request to add the subject property to the Claremont Historic Register is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Section 15301(e), in that the proposed action, the addition of a resource to the Claremont Historic Register, is covered under the General Rule Exemption of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). The General Rule Exemption applies to actions that can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the action in question may have a significant effect on the environment per CEQA Section 15061 (b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines as the action will not result in construction activities or other direct physical changes or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical changes, nor will it result in the relaxation of standards to allow for environmental degradation. Additionally, any changes to the structure and/or site are subject to review by the City to ensure compliance with the requirements of the municipal code and CEQA. Therefore, no additional review is required at this time.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact Melissa Sanabria at msanabria@claremontca.gov.
Notice of this project was published in the Claremont Courier on October 17, 2025. Copies of this staff report have been sent to the applicant and other interested parties.
Submitted by: Reviewed by:
Brad Johnson Christopher Veirs
Community Development Director City Planner
Prepared by:
Daniel Kim
Assistant Planner
Attachments:
A - Draft Resolution
B - Application
C - Photo Survey
D - References and Historical Documentation
E - Chapter 16.302 Cultural Resources Preservation