SantaMonicaDispatch reports the Monterey Trailer Park in Los Angeles, California, was declared a Historical Cultural Monument Landmark in 2002 by the city of Los Angeles for being “a prime example of an early 20th Century recreation and housing resource in the booming Post WWII Los Angeles area.” It was originally established as an “auto camp” in 1923 for travelers and accommodations for workers. Now, the city’s Landmark Commission is seeking the same status for the Village Trailer Park manufactured housing community in Santa Monica. The application reads the community “embodies distinguishing architectural characteristics valuable to a study of a period, style, method of construction, or the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship, or is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail or historical type valuable to such a study.” The Commission fears if the city does not distinguish the Village Trailer lPark community as an historical landmark, the owners, who have made campaign contributions to five of the city council members, will close the community and develop the land into mixed use commercial property.
