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Three Central Coast properties added to the National Register of Historic Places

Jordan Bell, KCBX News

The State of California is expected to add a few local buildings to the National Historic Registry Friday.

The State Historical Resources Commission will consider 18 California properties for the federal recognition. 

Jay Correia is a historian for the State of California and said being added to the register doesn't come with restrictions to the various buildings, it means a property is worthy of preservation.

"It meets the requirements of the national register and now local government, it's up to you to do with that information what you choose," said Correia.  

The Monday Club in San Luis Obispo is one of two buildings in County being considered. 

The club house was designed in the 1920s by Julia Morgan who was the first female, licensed architect in California.

Jennifer Alderman is a member of the club and said the building has maintained its purpose ever since, as a clubhouse for women in the community.

"There are so few surviving women's clubs and the fact that this women's club is still in existence...in their original building, and going strong, with a membership that's on the upswing," she said. "It's really highly unusual." 

Credit Veterans' Memorial Building Facebook Page
Santa Barbara's Veterans Memorial Building makes National Register of Historic Places.

Its architecture is considered Spanish Colonial Revival, and so is that of the Santa Barbara Veterans Memorial Building, which also up for consideration.

Robert Ooley is the County Architect and said the building is part of a former Chumash Village and it represents a style of architecture that was important in the late 1920s and '30s, when veterans memorial buildings were being constructed across the state. 

He said the building was first constructed as a dance hall for a nearby hotel, but that soon changed.

"Then when the predecessor to Veteran's Day was created and the County took ownership, it was converted from a dance hall to the Veterans Memorial Building," said Ooley.

Credit Derby Wine Estates
The former Paso Robles Almond Growers Association Warehouse is now home to Derby Wine Estates.

The final Central Coast property on the list is the Paso Robles Almond Growers Association Warehouse.

It's now the home of Derby Winery, which is sort of appropriate, because the area which was once the home to the booming almond industry is now wine country.

The warehouse was built in 1922 and changed ownership a few times. About ten years ago,  the community of Paso Robles urged City Council to deny a demolishment permit for the Warehouse.

Smart & Final owned it at the time and wanted to re-purpose the space for a store. But, the process forced the grocery chain have the building historically evaluated.

That historical status could be officially preserved Friday.

The State Historian said there is no opposition to the properties, so approval is highly likely. 

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