How the front columns are constructed (Background Report)

IT TOOK A WHILE to make sense of what I was seeing, but after having peered today at the front corner column from the opened roof above, I can now explain how the front columns are constructed.… 

1. An 8"x8" wooden post stands at the core.
2. At each of 4 or 5 levels, a set of (8) 2"x4" struts extends outward from the core to hold (8) upright 2"x4"s in place.
3. The uprights form an octagonal armature.
4. Tarpaper vapor barrier and stucco wire are attached around the armature.
5. Plaster is built up around the stucco wire. 

The first three items listed are new discoveries. Below the jump, this post presents photographic documentation of the first three of those claims.

A surprise in the corner front column: damp in mid-June (Condition Report)

“MAN, THIS IS CRAZY!” I said to Ruben, as I showed him the moisture-meter’s readouts on the corner front column. For years, I have been hunting the source of the moisture that keeps ruining the paint on this column—as discussed most recently HERE. 

Illustration from the Home Depot product page

The column was wet!

And we have no idea where the moisture is coming from!

Below the jump, I recount the situation in more detail.…

Experiment in water intrusion (Activity Report)

THE CORNER COLUMN keeps getting soaked from the inside, upon rainfall, as does the portico slab beneath it. Somehow. And even after we have eliminated several suspected pathways for water intrusion. 

Rainwater is causing discoloration, bubbling, and cracking of the paint—
only on this column, and only on one side.
Where is it coming from?

Last week, the general contractor Yosi Arbib speculated about a possibility that I had not previously considered: whenever rain soaks the planter that is next to the base of the column, moisture is being drawn, via wicking, both up into the column, and down below the column. 

Yosi’s hypothesis

It seemed to me that Yosi’s hypothesis would be fairly easy to test. Basically the test would consist of pouring water into the planter, and then seeing whether the column gets damp.

Below the jump, this post documents the experiment that I carried out.…

Revealing “new” photos from the 1948 sanctuary dedication

UNTIL TODAY, I had never known what the façade of Mishkon’s sanctuary looked like when the building was dedicated on 9/26/1948. But now I have come across the thumbnail images of two photographic negatives in the online archive of the Santa Monica History Museum. They held several surprises!

(As usual, click/tap on an image to enlarge it—
although in this case it’s a low-resolution image.)

This archive actually holds 15 film negatives of that auspicious day at Mishkon some 75 years ago — including of the Torah procession and the ceremonial ribbon-cutting. Given their glorious detail, they seem to have been made with a large-format camera. All of the images appear to differ from what is now in the possession of our synagogue.

Below the jump, I will focus on the building-related facts that I gleaned from examining the online thumbnail images.…

Three near-term restoration and improvement projects that await funding

Recently I was asked which of our planned projects might be suitable for a donor who wished to honor the memory of a loved one. Given the impression that the contemplated size of the gift was between $1K and $10K, I came up with three options. 

Below the jump, I describe these options. Each one appeals to a certain sensibility. All of them would help to meet a pressing need—and boost the spirits of our members and staff.

What the Federation security expert says about best practices for height

JASON DICE, the Federation vice president in charge of the Community Security Initiative (CSI), has consistently taken a balanced approach, in his conversations with me about the height of potential security barriers at Mishkon. 

Below the jump, I summarize and quote his advice.…

From the City’s preservation architect, on permitting requirements for our fence

From email on 5/2/23 by Lambert Giessinger, Senior Architect, Los Angeles City Planning, Office of Historic Resources:

[If] the proposed fence is allowed by-right…, the discussion then comes down to meeting the Secretary [of the Interior’s] Standards [for Rehabilitation]. The main concept here will be that the proposed fence is designed to be independent of the building and be “reversible” despite the fact that it would alter the open plaza in front of the property.

There is a balance to strike between maintaining the historic character of the property while allowing new challenges to be addressed (like security). Ideally, the fence will be as visually open and low as possible. Perhaps, it can have larger sections that open-up the plaza when there are services or events. Undoubtedly, these are the design issues you’re working through now. 

I’m happy to continue the conversation and review the concepts when they are ready.

A frontage security option that showcases the façade

ANOTHER APPROACH to enhancing security along Main St. is a 6'-high clear glass fence with 3 gates. The main advantage of this design is that it would minimally obscure the view of our historic building.

Here is a rough sketch. (It doesn’t show details involving the gates and planters.)

(As usual, click/tap on an image to enlarge it.)

Below the jump, I describe the features of this design.…

Highlights from security expert at Community Forum, 2/1/23

JASON DICE is the Vice President of CSI (Community Security Initiative) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. (Raised on a ranch near Fresno, he served in the Marines for 21 years, then worked for 7 years as an agent for NCIS = Naval Criminal Investigative Service. He also served on the federal Joint Terrorism Task Force, housed at the Pentagon. He has worked at the Federation for the past 8 years.) 

During our community forum on enhancing security along our Main Street frontage, Jason spoke about what CSI does. He also addressed three questions of particular interest to us. Below the jump, I will share his answers.…

Two options for enhanced security: Sketches

OVER THE PAST MONTH, in seeking to enhance our synagogue’s security along our Main Street frontage, I have engaged with several fence/gate companies and metal fabricators. Last week, I met on site with a rep from each of two companies that do fabrication and custom work. We looked at what’s possible to achieve within the budget.

With pinions you will be covered;
you will find refuge under God’s wings. 
(Psalm 91; RJPS transl.)

Below the jump, I describe the resulting plans, which exist only in rough form so far. Before proceeding further, I am seeking feedback from members of the congregation. Feel free to call me, to discuss. For me, design is an iterative process, so I expect that there will be considerable improvement before the final product.

Applicable Sign Regulations in L.A.

IT’S NOT EASY to decipher the City’s sign ordinances and how they apply to Mishkon. This post makes an attempt.…

Draft Plan of Action for a Front Fence

GUIDING PRINCIPLE: Designing a front fence encap­­sulates the fundamental question of what it means to be a Jew in America today. Conse­quently, such a design process has unique potential to engage (or to alienate) Mishkon’s members. 

This post describes the tentative plan for a design process that I have developed with input from committee member Marcy Drexler. (She deserves credit for having read many background reports, and having interviewed the city’s preservation architect, representatives of neighborhood stakeholder organizations, and a local ironworker/welder.) 

The board has not yet received, reviewed, or accepted this plan. It is a draft — and thus subject to revision.

A Front Fence for Mishkon’s Sanctuary?

This post points to my article in the Winter 2022 Galim, which I wrote on 1/9/22. 

https://www.mishkon.org/galim-blog-winter-2022.html?post_id=1297101

(Otherwise, given that Mishkon's website doesn't archive past issues of Galim, you will no longer have access to that article after the next issue comes out.)

Furthermore, that article references a slide show of wrought-iron fences in front of 16 synagogue façades, in chronological order from 1794 to 1921. Unfortunately, as of this writing, the link given is not active. So here is the intended link:

https://ia601508.us.archive.org/8/items/synagogues-and-wrought-iron-fences.-survey-slides.-9-jan-22/Synagogues_and_Wrought-Iron_Fences.Survey_Slides.9Jan22.pdf

The Restoration Plan, as It Stands

AS MY LOYAL READERS KNOW WELL, last June, the board approved a facilities restoration plan. Its execution is of course subject to the availability of funding, which I have little control over. Yet at least we have a plan, regarding our priorities and how to go about meeting our goals. Here is a status update.…

Flagstone Restoration Project: The Untold Story

PHASE I OF THE FLAGSTONE RESTORATION PROJECT is a great reminder of what such efforts can accomplish. Last spring, the flagstone pavement in front of our sanctuary’s steps was looking pretty darn decrepit. Happily, by November, it had been restored to the point where routine maintenance should be able to keep it in decent condition for a couple of decades. Here is an overview of how the project proceeded.…

5781: “Building & Grounds” Updates in the Messenger

(Weekly posts from July–August 2021)

 

Compiled in one handy location: 

Now you can binge-read the entire series… 😉

 

 

9.  Reckoning with Hole-iness as the Year Turns

An unexpected underground void turns up between our building and our neighbor’s

 

8.  The Season for Going Beneath the Surface 

Surprising challenges that must be faced while restoring the front patio

 

7.  How is This Hole Like My Life?

On dealing with a void that opened up in the “solid” concrete pavement

6.  Donating to Support Our Buildings' Restoration 

About the newly created Capital Improvements Fund

 

5.  Farewell to Termites

How we found and dealt with these voracious critters

4.  How Your Dues Helped Preserve Our Facilities

Tabulation and categorization of expenditures during the 2020–2021 fiscal year

 

3.  Board Plans Facilities Restoration

Defines “restoration” and describes the board’s forthright approach to it

 

2.  Restoring the Building Means Solving Puzzles!

Challenges in dealing with stormwater drainage, given the absence of records

 

1.  Restoration Project Underway: Flagstone on Main Street

Why this project had been undertaken, and its goals