Twenty years ago on November 7, 2004, Alhambra’s historic preservation movement was born with Alhambra Historical Society and Alhambra Preservation Group co-hosting Alhambra’s inaugural home tour in the northwest corner of Alhambra. Hundreds of people from all around Southern California visited Alhambra for its first-ever historic home tour. “As a home tour docent, I remember being incredibly proud of the opportunity to showcase Alhambra’s beautiful homes,” stated Chris Olson, Alhambra Historical Society’s current president. “It was such a memorable day, watching all the tour-goers discover a few of Alhambra’s Arts and Crafts gems,” continued Olson.
The tour featured six Craftsman homes — four homes on Bushnell Avenue and two on Marguerita Avenue. Tour goers “oohed” and “aahed” as they strolled through early 20th Century homes with pristine original features like Douglas fir woodwork, quarter-sawn Oak floors, cozy brick fireplaces and warm art glass fixtures rivaling those found in Pasadena’s better-known Bungalow Heaven. All throughout the day, tour goers remarked that they had no idea that Alhambra had such a large number of Arts and Crafts homes.
Not much has changed in that picturesque neighborhood since 2004. The one thing that has changed, however, is that this beautiful neighborhood has been recognized as a potential historic district. This recognition came about in a historic resources survey conducted by the City of Alhambra in 2023, part of a three-phase historic preservation program being developed by Alhambra. Phase One included the writing of a historic context statement. Phase Two wrapped up in 2023 and included the implementation of a citywide historic resources survey. It was during the citywide survey that this northwestern Alhambra neighborhood was identified as a potential historic district — the La Marguerita-Souders Potential Historic District. Phase Three, which includes the drafting and adoption of a historic preservation ordinance, is just now beginning. All Alhambrans are encouraged to learn more about this ordinance and participate in the process of drafting a historic preservation ordinance.
To learn more about the draft historic preservation ordinance, please visit historicalhambra.com and click on “Documents” in the upper righthand corner menu. To learn more about the Alhambra Historical Society, or to become a member, please visit alhambrahistoricalsociety.org.
