Downey | Los Angeles Conservancy
Photos (clockwise from upper left): Bob's Big Boy Broiler by John Eng; residence; oldest McDonalds restaurant; Mid-Century Modern church by Adrian Scott Fine/L.A. Conservancy (3)

The scoring details for this community appear below. To see scores for all communities, compare specific communities and categories, and learn more about the Report Card, visit our Report Card microsite.

Category (points available)
Score
Total Score (out of a possible 245, plus Extra Credit): 
0
Historic Preservation Ordinance (150) / Honorary Ordinance (10): 
0
Dedicated Historic Preservation Commission (5): 
0
Dedicated Preservation Staff (15): 
0
Ability to Designate Historic Districts (15): 
0
Owner Consent Not Required for Designation (10): 
0
Active Landmark Designation (at least annually) (5): 
0
Survey of Historic Resources: Citywide (15) / Partial (10): 
0
Survey Updated Within Past 5 Years (5): 
0
Mills Act Incentive Program (10): 
0
Additional Incentives (5): 
0
Certified Local Government (5): 
0
Historic Preservation Element or Plan (5): 
0
Extra Credit (1-25): 
0

If you'd like to get involved in preservation in Downey, we suggest the following resources:

City Representative

Crystal Landavazo
Senior Planner
clandavazo@downeyca.org
(562) 904-7154

Express your interest and ask about opportunities, particularly in helping to create a preservation ordinance if the city doesn't have one.

Local Groups

The Downey Conservancy

Downey Historical Society

Visit their websites to learn more about their work and find direct contact information.

If any of this information is out of date, or to suggest additional ways to get involved, please contact us at info@laconservancy.org or (213) 623-2489.

We don't know of any community-specific resources for local preservation in Downey. If you do, please let us know.

For general information about using the California Environmental Quality Act to protect historic places in your community, you can download our Guide to CEQA in English or Spanish.

For other resources, including a model ordinance and glossary of basic preservation terms, please see the Resources tab on our Report Card microsite.

Featured Location(s)

Photo from Conservancy archives

Casa de Parley Johnson

Encapsulating the Southern California lifestyle of the 20s and 30s, this Monterey-style masterpiece also took its cues from Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.
McDonald's Hamburgers
Photo from Conservancy archives

McDonald's Hamburgers

A Googie-style building designed to reveal the restaurant's innovative food preparation techniques, it is the oldest surviving McDonald's restaurant still in operation.
Photo by John Eng

Bob's Big Boy Broiler

When it opened in 1958, Harvey's Broiler was the largest drive-in restaurant in Southern California and soon became the hub of the 1950s cruising culture.