Diamond Apartments
Why it's listed
Built in 1913 on a bluff one block from the Pacific Ocean, this two-story Classical Revival building at 321 Diamond Street combines street-level storefronts with ten apartments upstairs. Its painted white brick walls are topped by a brick frieze and dentilled cornice, and the parapet was lowered after the 1933 earthquake. Architect Lovell Pemberton and builder Harry Meacham, both early Redondo Beach settlers, created it as the first commercial building in the area, extending the downtown district. Early tenants included a furniture store, paint store and laundry, and the apartments were arranged around an open patio so each unit had outside windows. Most of Redondo Beach's commercial downtown was demolished during 1960s redevelopment, leaving this as the oldest commercial building that still retains its integrity. It was listed for its link to the city's early commercial growth after the 1906 purchase of the railway line by Henry Huntington set off a building boom.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a rare surviving example of Redondo Beach's early commercial life, under Criterion A in the area of commerce. It is described as the second oldest commercial building in town and the oldest that retains integrity, since most of the downtown was razed in 1960s redevelopment. It was also the first commercial building in the area and helped expand downtown.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 92000260, listed March 26, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 321 Diamond St., Redondo Beach |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | March 26, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000260 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1913 |
| Architect / builder | Pemberton, Lovell Bearse, architect; Meacham, Harry, builder |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recently rehabilitated through a tax certification project to allow use by low-income tenants; currently has apartments and commercial uses. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 33.84409, -118.38858 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 92000260.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16960621
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.