15 - Irvin Tabor Family Residences 605-607 Westminster Avenue

15 - Irvin Tabor Family Residences

605-607 Westminster Avenue

The Irvin Tabor Family Residences, a multifamily residential courtyard property spanning two lots, was developed between 1916 and 1926 as housing for extended family. Tabor and his immediate family lived in the property until the late 1920s, but it remained under ownership by the Tabor family until 1977. It is a representative example of residential properties associated with the African American community in Venice during the early 20th century. The property is identified with a historic personage through its association with Irvin Tabor, the chauffer of Venice founder Abbot Kinney, and one of the first African Americans to settle in the Oakwood neighborhood.

The subject property consists of eight buildings (four on each lot) situated around a central courtyard. Most of the buildings have board and batten or clapboard siding and gabled roofs with composition shingles, except for at least two that have stucco cladding. Fenestration across the buildings vary from fixed single-lite and divided-lite windows to jalousie, vinyl single- hung, and vinyl sliding windows. When Tabor purchased the property in 1916, there was at least one existing building and in 1922, Tabor relocated two bungalows to the site from Abbot Kinney’s St. Mark’s Island, later called the United States Island. Several of the other buildings were constructed by Tabor from recycled lumber from the old Venice boathouse, gondolas, and the amusement park.

The Irvin Tabor Residences became Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Landmark #1149 on 10/4/2017.