Hermosa Beach readies for major renovations to its Art Deco Clark Building – Beach Reporter

The Clark Building, a popular Art Deco building used for community and private events in Hermosa Beach for decades, is due for a major makeover as the city plans to upgrade everything from its kitchen to adding ADA access to the building.

The renovations, discussed during a virtual forum on Oct. 19, include restroom remodeling; installation of new heating, air conditioning and ventilation; and ballroom improvements with new acoustic panels and lighting.

Clark's kitchen needs major work, according to Kelly Orta, the citys community resource manager.

It's been closed for quite some time now because of COVID-19, but even before then we did have very limited usage of it unfortunately, the kitchen has been fully gutted. So it really is just a shell, Orta said.

Orta said how the new kitchen takes shape depends on how the building's main hall will be used in the future.

If the desire is that we expand to allow large scale weddings or that type of event, then we would need to determine what type of equipment in the kitchen would be needed, Orta said.

The building opened officially on May 8, 1937, nearly five years after Mayor Logan Cotton and Councilmember John M. Clark, a former mayor, helped break ground on June 21, 1932.

Orta said the facility has not been formally designated a historical location or site, but whether its ADA or other upgrades, it is the city and architects intention to modernize the facility but with an eye on history.

There are certain elements and things in the facility that we just really want to preserve as much as possible, said Orta, of its Art Deco design elements. So not necessarily that we're required to per se, but the things that are beloved, even so much as the fireplace, some people would say has a historical significance to the facility.

Residents and users of the facility said at Mondays meeting there were various issues with the Clark Building, including noise, trash, and difficulty in finding parking, that should be addressed.

Usually it's noise when there are loud parties, or trash we find in front of the Clark Building on both sides, said a neighbor about the building. That has always been a problem especially when there are private events. Sometimes they will clean up to a great degree and sometimes they won't.

Orta said input will be used to create a final design, which will eventually be presented to the Hermosa Beach City Council. Residents will be able to weigh in on the project at future meetings.

Orta said the tentative start for the project is summer or early fall 2021 with a goal of completion by the end of the year.

Our desire is to get it up and running as soon as possible, Orta said.

For more information on the project, visit hermosabeach.gov/clark.

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Hermosa Beach readies for major renovations to its Art Deco Clark Building - Beach Reporter