Burbank home makes history

To the right of the front door of a two-story home on East Magnolia Boulevard, a brass plate greets incoming guests.

It reads, "On this site in 1897 nothing happened." That might be the case, but 13 years later something did happen: The house was built.

Now, the 100-year-old farmhouse stands as only the second residence to gain historic-landmark status since the implementation of Burbank's preservation laws in 1994.

Last week, Burbank City Council members voted to give the 2,088-square-foot house special status, a process that took about half a year to complete. | Click here to see photo gallery.

Marlene and Kent Burton, the current owners, agreed that the age of their home inclined them to follow through with the city's historic preservation plan. They were the second homeowners to apply to this program.

Some motivation also stemmed from Greg Rehner, owner of what used to be the sole historical home in Burbank, known as the Rock House. Rehner was recently recognized for his advocacy for historical preservation in the community by the Los Angeles chapter of the American Planning Association.

As part of the preservation process, prospective applicants are

required to research their residence. The Burtons came across a panoramic photo which illustrates their home in 1914, surrounded by nothing more than farmland and fields.

"It's one of the oldest existing and remaining structures in Burbank," said Amanda Landry, assistant planner for the city of Burbank. "It's a nice example of transitional architecture with a Craftsman influence."

The wood-framed farmhouse, which has six bedrooms and 2 1/2 bathrooms, was built in 1910. Inside, the Burtons added their unique collection of antiques to complement its quaint essence. They've furnished the home with chairs, dressers and other pieces once belonging to the Burtons' parents and grandparents.

"If it's weird and old, I love it," said Kent, who can recall his son's friends describing their home as museum.

"(The decoration) reflects their personal belief of protecting elements of the past and it shows a lot about them personally," Landry said.

Landry, who assisted the Burtons during the application process, said because a new ordinance for the preservation plan was approved in early June, she hopes it will encourage more homeowners to apply for the program.

"We just changed it to make it easier to understand," Landry said. "With the Burbank centennial coming up, we hope it will bring momentum."

The preservation plan also offers a voluntary financial incentive program known as the Mills Act. It allows the city to offer property tax breaks to owners of designated historic properties in exchange for a 10-year commitment to preserve, rehabilitate and maintain the property.

The Burtons have yet to apply for the ordinance. "We're thinking heavily about (applying)," Marlene said.

Marlene, 65, a lifetime Burbank resident, encourages her neighbors interested in the program to pursue it, and adds that Burbank offers plenty of assistance for the duration of the application process. She wants to help keep some of her hometown's history.

"With all the construction, it's sad to see the character of the city change," she said.

As new members of Burbank history, any future changes the Burtons plan to make to their home must be approved by the city's Heritage Committee. Kent, 68, believes that limitation keeps others from applying.

"It doesn't bother me that I can't make any changes," he said. "I appreciate this house for what it is."

The Burtons do not plan to move out or sell their home anytime soon.

"Once the grandkiddies came around, we're not going anywhere," Kent said.

Source: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_18349045?source=rss

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