By Jorge Casuso

March 25, 2025 -- A home built for the family of Santa Monica's first black doctor in 1937 that would help spur new housing in the Pico Neighborhood was officially designated as a local historic landmark this month.

Designed by a prominent Black architect for the family of Dr. Marcus O. Tucker, the two-story residence at 1958 20th Street was officially designated a historic building on March 10 after meeting three of the five criteria.

Landmark Tucker residence at 1958 20th Street (Courtesy City of Santa Monica)

The property is "identified with historic personages," is "the product of a notable architect" and "exemplifies, symbolizes, or manifests elements of the cultural, social, economic, political or architectural history of the City."

According to the designation unanimously approved by the Landmarks Commission on February 10, "Following the construction of the Tucker residence, other middle-class African Americans began developing new housing around the subject property" that included multi-family homes.

"The area around 20th Street became an enclave of African American real estate ownership and development, with Essie Tucker (the wife of Marcus O. Tucker) participating in the creation of housing and business opportunities for community members."

A school teacher and real estate entrepreneur, Essie Tucker served as president of the NAACP Santa Monica-Venice branch in the 1940s and owned the Shore Hotel in Downtown Santa Monica from 1957 until she sold it in 1986.

In 1966, she co-founded the Santa Monica Fair Housing Council after hundreds of Black families -- as well as Latino and Japanese residents -- were displaced to pave the way for construction of the I-10 Freeway.

The couple's son, Marcus O. Tucker, Jr., was Santa Monica's first Black deputy City Attorney before being appointed as a Long Beach Municipal Court Judge.

The property -- which was designed by architect Paul R. Williams -- also met the criteria as "a significant or a representative example of the work or product of a notable builder, designer, or architect."

Williams, who earned his architectural license in 1921, became the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) two years later.

"Williams is widely known for his early work in high-end residential design in various revival styles that attracted an elite, predominantly white clientele in exclusive neighborhoods, as well as for post-war commercial and institutional designs," according to the findings.

"As a work of a master architect, 1958 20th Street is just one
of three of Paul R. Williams’ remaining residential works in Santa Monica," the findings state.

An example of the American Colonial Revival style prevalent at the time, the property failed to meet two of the five criteria.

It was not found to have "aesthetic or artistic interest or value" or embody "distinguishing architectural characteristics."

"Though modest relative to Williams’ best-known work from the 1930s, (the residence) is significant as a lasting representative of a design made for a successful African American client in an increasingly African American neighborhood."

The landmark designation comes less than one year after a meeting hall for Santa Monica's oldest active Black women's club was designated a historic landmark ("Santa Monica's First Black Women's Clubhouse Designated a Historic Landmark," April 19, 2024).

The Tucker house was nominated as a landmark by the Santa Monica Conservancy and the Quinn Research Center, which promotes Black family history and culture in the Santa Monica Bay area.