ABSTRACT
The gentry freely interpret the meaning of material conservation in public settings to achieve more than the preservation of the historic landscape. Monrovia and Pasadena residents distinguish themselves in the construction of a local symbolic community committed to historic preservation advocacy, even if the unintended consequences are exclusionary. The Cottage Heights Neighborhood Association is the official representative of the landmark district and coordinates all of its educational and advocacy activities. Reviews of proposed remodels on designated landmarks for certificates of appropriateness typically give detailed consideration to the design and materials to be used, and focus on questions of potential damage, retention or enhancement of integrity of the historic structure. The couple had applied for the demolition permit and was referred to the Historic Preservation Commission because the house had been listed on the city’s original 1984 survey as an historic resource.
