 |
|
COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
|
| Developers of The Packing House and Claremont Heritage worked in unison to preserve the original look of the structure. |
Packing House chosen as model for successful preservation
The Los Angeles Conservancy has recognized Claremont’s Packing House as one of 9 structures throughout the county for its annual Preservation Award. The renovation project was awarded for transforming a nearly demolished historical building into a vibrant center for the arts, shopping and community events.
“We’re excited to be recognized,” said Jerry Tessier of Arteco Partners, who took on the renovation project. “Being a regional award, hopefully it will increase some more awareness of the project.”
The Conservancy has handed out more than 200 Preservation Awards over the last 27 years. The organization is dedicated to the recognition, preservation and revitalization of the architectural and cultural heritage throughout Los Angeles County.
A relic of Claremont’s role in the citrus industry, The Packing House was chosen as a model for a successful preservation project.
“We are looking for projects that tell great stories about a community,” said Cindy Olnick, communications manager for the Conservancy. “The jury felt the project really speaks to the area’s agricultural history and is a wonderful example for adaptive reuse that meets so many new needs of the community.” (story continues below)
 |
|
COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
|
| Renovation of The Packing House began nearly two years ago. Recently, the Los Angeles Conservancy awarded developers with a Preservation Award. |
Mr. Tessier and representatives from Claremont Heritage, who helped in the application process for the award, will attend an award ceremony on May 8 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.
Located in the Village Expansion, The Packing House is home to several popular restaurants, shops, the Claremont Museum of Art and work/live lofts on the second floor. Unused and deteriorating since the 1980’s, the building was refurbished and reopened for public use last year.
Arteco has previously earned some local awards for its various projects—from the city of Ontario and Pomona Heritage—but never an award of this caliber. Mr. Tessier was hopeful that some of Arteco’s other high profile projects, such as the renovation of the Fox Theater in Pomona and the Padua Hills Theater in Claremont, would win a similar award in the future. He has also applied for statewide preservation awards, whose winners will be announced at a later time.
The wheels are in motion for Arteco’s next major historical preservation project in Claremont. Mr. Tessier said renovations at Padua Hills Theater are scheduled to begin in December. Negotiations on the terms of the lease with the city have begun, and Arteco has already started drawing up design plans for the project.
—Tony Krickl
