Lincoln Place Apartment Homes
Lincoln Place Apartment Homes is a historic apartment community owned by a subsidiary of Apartment Investment and Management Co. (Aimco). Inspired by the garden city movement, it is located at 1050 Frederick Street on a 35-acre site in the Venice community of Los Angeles, one mile east of Venice Beach. Built from 1949-1951, the property is just off Lincoln Boulevard, bound by Lake Street and Penmar Avenue with Elkgrove Avenue and Elkgrove Circle within its interior. History Lincoln Place Apartment Homes is an example of World War II- work force housing, financed under Section 608 Title VI of the National Housing Act of 1934. The community was originally built to house veterans returning from the War. Housing Shortage The passage of the G.I. Bill at end of World War II caused a housing shortage in the United States, with low- to middle-income families finding few rental property options. The Santa Monica Bay area was especially affected as the opening of Douglas Aircraft's plant in 1940 and the Los Angeles Airport in 1947 led to an increase in housing demand. To combat the housing issue, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) “created a mortgage insurance program, whose low cost of lending and liberal valuation of land would encourage developers to meet this housing need.” Ralph A. Vaughn (1907-2000), an architect trained at the University of Illinois, was the son of a prominent Washington D.C. architect, Roscoe I. Vaughn. Upon meeting Heth Wharton, they formed Wharton & Vaughn Associates, and were tasked with designing Lincoln Place. Between 1951 and 1986, Lincoln Place was family-owned. In 1986, Lincoln Place was purchased by TransAction Companies, Ltd with Robert Bisno and James Coxeter as the two main partners. In 1990, Bisno announced a plan to raze Lincoln Place and develop condos on the site; however in 1996, the LA City Council rejected the development plan which resulted in Bisno filing suit against the city. In June 2001, Aimco became a 50% partner in Lincoln Place; and in August 2003, Aimco Venezia LLC, an Aimco affiliate became 100% owner of Lincoln Place Apartment Homes. Controversy In September 2000, Bisno began a revised development plan which was to include the demolition of 2 buildings and the rehabilitation of the remaining 50. Approximately 300 families moved out of Lincoln Place during this time with vacant units taken off of the rental market. This was the largest Eviction in Los Angeles History, with only disabled and elderly allowed to remain. In May 2002, Amanda Seward working with the Modern Committee of the LA Conservancy filed a nomination for Lincoln Place to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. In November of that same year, the City Council re-heard Bisno's condo proposal. Finding that there was “no substantial evidence” that Lincoln Place was an historic resource, Bisno's plan was approved. This sparked a lawsuit against the city by the Lincoln Place Tenants Association. Bisno filed applications in January 2003 for five demolition permits but was rejected. He filed a