The City of Long Beach has over 120 designated landmarks, but it represents just a fraction of significant sites that would benefit from historic preservation incentives and need to be retained for future generations.
Our list of landmarks should consist of more than significant examples of architectural styles, but reflect our diversity as a community. This list also needs to grow to include more sites from the recent past (properties are generally eligible at 50-years of age) to highlight the dramatic growth of our city in the mid-20th century.
Benefits
There are many benefits to historic preservation, such as the Mills Act program and State Historical building code. Landmark designation also ensures that buildings are more likely to be rehabilitated instead of demolished, which results in a more sustainable city.
Will you help create our next City of Long Beach landmark or historic district?
We can help you find the resources needed to get the process started. The City of Long Beach also has a dedicated page for historic preservation with more information.
Criteria for Designation of Landmarks
A landmark or a historic district must meet one or more the following criteria:
1. It possesses a significant character, interest or value attributable to the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the city, the southern California region, the state or the nation; or
2. It is the site of an historic event with a significant place in history; or
3. It is associated with the life of a person or persons significant to the community, city, region or nation; or
4. It portrays the environment in an era of history characterized by a distinctive architectural style; or
5. It embodies those distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type or engineering specimen; or
6. It is the work of a person or persons whose work has significantly influenced the development of the city or the southern California region; or
7. It contains elements of design, detail, materials, or craftsmanship which represent a significant innovation; or
8. It is a part of or related to a distinctive area and should be developed or preserved according to a specific historical, cultural or architectural motif; or
9. It represents an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood or community due to its unique location or specific distinguishing characteristic; or
10. It is, or has been, a valuable information source important to the prehistory or history of the city, the Southern California region or the state; or
11. It is one of the few remaining examples in the city, region,, state or nation possessing distinguishing characteristics of an architectural or historical type.