Norms passes another landmark hurdle

The city's Board of Cultural Heritage Commissioners today voted unanimously to extend history-cultural monument status to the threatened Norms coffee shop on North La Cienega Boulevard. The proposal now goes to the City Council for a vote of whether to actually allow the designation. A new owner of the property under Norms has development plans for the site that for now include keeping the Googie-style building and sign, but surrounding it with a mini-mall. Designation as a city monument would not in and of itself forbid demolition or alteration, but it could shine light and add some steps to the process.

A tweet from author and Googie expert Alan Hess:

Norm's La Cienega passes LA Cultural Historic Commission unanimously. Now to City Council for approval. pic.twitter.com/5880WqqHjh

— Alan Hess (@alhess) March 19, 2015

Add Norms: On its Facebook page, the chain (which has separate owners than the La Cienega property) interrupted the usual chain of menu sales to post a Tunisian flag yesterday along with a note in reaction to the terrorist act in the North African country: "We express our solidarity with the people of Tunisia. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims. ‪#‎PrayForTunisia‬."