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Jay Risk Standard Oil Service Station pictured in 2018 Google Maps image.
Jay Risk Standard Oil Service Station pictured in 2018 Google Maps image.
Google Maps
Eagle Rock -- A tiny service station that’s easy to miss and in sad shape has been nominated as a historic landmark.
The Jay Risk Standard Oil Service Station -- only 14 feet square -- is squeezed between two buildings in the 1600 block of Colorado Boulevard. Doors and windows have been removed, and the pumps have been long gone. The owners have filed a demolition permit.
But preservationists say this 103-year-old service station -- perhaps one of the city’s oldest surviving gas stations -- is worth saving.
David Dellinger, President of the Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society, filed a historic monument application with the City earlier this month. Now, it’s up to the Cultural Heritage Commission to decide whether it wants to review the application.
Standard Oil of California built the station in 1919 on Spring Street in Downtown L.A, according to the city's survey of historic resources. It was moved to its current site in 1931.
The metal building features a canopy that would have extended over the pumps -- a service station design known as “House with a Canopy.” By the mid-1920s, thousands of similar service stations were found nationwide.
According to city historic survey, the building “appears to be the oldest remaining service station building in the city.”
The building was nominated after preservationists grew worried after it appeared the station was on the verge of being demolished. The nomination, however, puts a freeze on any demolition.
Nick Alvarez Wing, speaking on behalf of owner Paradigm Collaboration, told The Eastsider that parts of the building were removed for historical analysis for future restoration.
Despite the demolition permit application, Wing stressed that his company wants the service station restored. He said there’s also the possibility of moving the structure to a more visible location.
Efforts to save other old L.A. gas stations have been mixed. A former Gilmore Gas Station in the Melrose Neighborhood was restored and turned into a Starbucks.
In Silver Lake, a 1940s Silver Lake Texaco station was saved, dismantled and slated to be moved to a spot along the L.A. River. But when that happens is unknown.
The Cultural Heritage Commission is scheduled to decide whether to consider the nomination at an October 6 meeting.
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I’ve walked by it over a hundred times and I don’t find it interesting. Demolishing it isn’t a big deal for me. The BRT will destroy Eagle Rock much more.
Please move it to the lot on the south end of Colorado and Ellenwood across from Eric’s Iron. It would be a beautiful entrance to eagle rock, could be the center of a parklet, and maybe sell coffee …or whatever.
another example of what this town is. it should b put back 2 it's glory days. the developer just wants 2 put a starbucks or the next over priced stuffy food. Look at this town n what it has become. u know the developer did the damage 2 the building. where is the so called city council of e.r.? as usual turning their collectives heads the other way. [thumbdown][thumbdown]
Hi Ms. Rees, I am so glad to see this station getting some attention in your paper. That said, I was disappointed to see you represent the developer, Nick Wing's claim that the unpermitted demo of the station was done for "historical analysis for future preservation." The attempted demolition of the building was not done with any care, the windows and pieces of it are scattered in the back piled underneath the material from their unpermitted demo of the interior of the plumbing building next door. At a recent LUPC meeting, Nick Wing went on public record referring to it as a shack and specifically stated that he did not know who did the careless demolition work on the building, it was just "some guys." Frank Parello and David Dellinger at the Eagle Rock Historical Society are great resources if you want more details about why the demolition attempt was so harmful to what was prior a structure in excellent preservation condition. Thank you.
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I’ve walked by it over a hundred times and I don’t find it interesting. Demolishing it isn’t a big deal for me. The BRT will destroy Eagle Rock much more.
Please move it to the lot on the south end of Colorado and Ellenwood across from Eric’s Iron. It would be a beautiful entrance to eagle rock, could be the center of a parklet, and maybe sell coffee …or whatever.
another example of what this town is. it should b put back 2 it's glory days. the developer just wants 2 put a starbucks or the next over priced stuffy food. Look at this town n what it has become. u know the developer did the damage 2 the building. where is the so called city council of e.r.? as usual turning their collectives heads the other way. [thumbdown][thumbdown]
Hi Ms. Rees, I am so glad to see this station getting some attention in your paper. That said, I was disappointed to see you represent the developer, Nick Wing's claim that the unpermitted demo of the station was done for "historical analysis for future preservation." The attempted demolition of the building was not done with any care, the windows and pieces of it are scattered in the back piled underneath the material from their unpermitted demo of the interior of the plumbing building next door. At a recent LUPC meeting, Nick Wing went on public record referring to it as a shack and specifically stated that he did not know who did the careless demolition work on the building, it was just "some guys." Frank Parello and David Dellinger at the Eagle Rock Historical Society are great resources if you want more details about why the demolition attempt was so harmful to what was prior a structure in excellent preservation condition. Thank you.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.