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HomeMy WebLinkAbout010119_Template-SemiTropicHotel_312WFourth.pdfPage 1 of 4 cm\historic\templates\Fourth 312 W (Semi-Tropic Hotel) 8/9/01 NAME Semi-Tropic Hotel REF. NO. 243 ADDRESS 312, 314, 316 West Fourth Street CITY Santa Ana ZIP 92701 ORANGE COUNTY YEAR BUILT 1888; c. 1933 LOCAL REGISTER CATEGORY: Key HISTORIC DISTRICT Downtown Santa Ana NEIGHBORHOOD NATIONAL REGISTER CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION C NATIONAL REGISTER STATUS CODE 1D Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted USGS 7.5” Quad Date: T R ¼ of ¼ of Sec : B.M. Prehistoric Historic Both ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Moderne/Streamlined Moderne DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND RELATED TO PERIOD ARCHITECTURE: The Moderne style encompassed the Modernistic, Streamlined Moderne, and Art Moderne variants. An evolution of the Art Deco style, the Streamlined Moderne flourished during the 1930s and lingered through the decade following World War II in a simplified version. In contrast to the verticality of earlier Art Deco designs, the Streamlined Moderne emphasized the horizontal, through bands of windows, use of decorative raised or incised horizontal lines, railings, flat canopies with banded fascia, and narrow coping at the roofline. Other characteristics include smooth wall surfaces, usually of stucco; metal detailing; glass block windows; rounded corners, porthole windows, and asymmetry. Incorporation of aerodynamic, transportation related imagery, especially nautical, is a signature of the style. Page 2 of 4 cm\historic\templates\Fourth 312 W (Semi-Tropic Hotel) 8/9/01 CONSTRUCTION HISTORY: (Construction data, alterations, and date of alterations) Built in 1888 Façade remodeled circa 1933 RELATED FEATURES: (Other important features such as barns, sheds, fences, prominent or unusual trees, or landscape) None DESCRIPTION: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, settings, and boundaries.) The Semi-Tropic Hotel building was constructed during the Victorian era; however, its façade dates to a post 1933 earthquake remodel. Two stories in height, the building of is of brick construction. Stucco sheathes the upper story façade while the street level frontage is faced with diamond patterned crimson and coral tile. A parapet hides the roof from view. The ground level contains storefronts and the entry to the former hotel on the second story in five unevenly sized and differently tiled bays. The upper story is symmetrical in arrangement, with of five bays of metal-framed sash. Three rows of crimson tile moldings band the wall surface between the windows. Applied moldings above the windows and at the bottom and top of the parapet provide additional horizontal accents. A noteworthy feature of the building is an old painted sign, which is visible on the west elevation. Alterations include storefront modifications and recent seismic work, including anchor bolts and two segmental head openings which have been enclosed on the west. HISTORIC HIGHLIGHTS: This building was constructed in 1888 for Levi Gildmacher and housed the Semi-Tropic Hotel on the upper story and various retail concerns, including a grocery and a farm implement business, on the street level. Following the 1933 earthquake, repairs were made and a new façade provided, leaving the hotel interior mostly intact. In the 21st century, the building was converted to retail and office use. RESOURCE ATTRIBUTES: (List attributes and codes from Appendix 4 of Instructions for Recording Historical Resources, Office of Historic Preservation.) (HP 6) 1-3 story commercial building Page 3 of 4 cm\historic\templates\Fourth 312 W (Semi-Tropic Hotel) 8/9/01 RESOURCES PRESENT: Building Structure Object Site District Element of District Other MOVED? No Yes Unknown Date: Original Location: STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: (Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, geographic scope, and integrity.) Santa Ana was founded by William Spurgeon in 1869 as a speculative townsite on part of the Spanish land grant known as Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana. Early growth and development was stimulated by the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1878 and the Santa Fe Railroad in 1886. By the end of the 1880s, Santa Ana’s downtown business district was defined by five city blocks of brick commercial buildings on Fourth Street, with the heart of the city at the intersection of Fourth and Main Streets (Thomas, 8:1). The period of 1911-1915 saw many characteristic new business blocks or remodels along 4th Street, and by the 1920s Santa Ana’s downtown had expanded in each direction to include both commercial and civic development. In 1933 the Long Beach earthquake hit the Southern California area, causing extensive damage to many of the storefronts in Santa Ana’s downtown. Where repair was possible, many of the buildings dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s were remodeled with Art Deco or Streamlined Moderne storefronts, the popular architectural styles of the day. The exterior appearance of the Semi-Tropic Hotel dates from the post earthquake era and illustrates the Streamlined Moderne influence through its incorporation of horizontal accents, generous use of tile, and preference for metal casement windows. The new design would have been a marked departure from the Victorian era scheme of bay windows and an elaborate cornice. Character-defining exterior features of the Semi-Tropic Hotel which should be preserved include, but are not limited to: stucco façade cladding, bay divisons, stringcourses, tile banding and storefront facing; metal casements, and the sign remnant on the brick west elevation. SUMMARY/CONCLUSION: This building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 as a contributor to the Downtown Historic District. Under the regulations implementing the California Register of Historical Resources, the building is also listed in the California Register. As a largely intact example of a Streamlined Moderne remodel of a 19th century building, and for the remnants of the Victorian era hotel which have survived, the Semi-Tropic Hotel building satisfies Criterion 1 for inclusion in the Santa Ana Register of Historical Property. Additionally, the property has been categorized as “Key” because it has a “distinctive architectural style and quality” and “is characteristic of a significant period in the history of the City of Santa Ana” (Municipal Code, Section 30-2.2(2)). OWNER AND ADDRESS: Won Cha 310-310 ½ West Fourth Street Santa Ana, CA 92701 Page 4 of 4 cm\historic\templates\Fourth 312 W (Semi-Tropic Hotel) 8/9/01 RECORDED BY: (Name, affiliation, and address) Leslie Heumann & Liz Carter Science Applications International Corporation 35 S. Raymond Avenue, Suite 204, Pasadena, CA 91105 DATE RECORDED: January 19, 2001 SURVEY TYPE: (Intensive, reconnaissance, or other) Intensive Survey Update REPORT CITATION: (Cite survey report and other sources) Les, Kathleen. “Santa Ana Historic Survey, Final Resources Inventory: Downtown.” May 1980. Thomas, Harold M. “Downtown Santa Ana Historic District” National Register nomination form, 1984. REFERENCES: (List documents, date of publication, and page numbers. May also include oral interviews.) Harris, Cyril. American Architecture: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. 1998. Heritage Orange County Inc. “Downtown Santa Ana Historic District Walking Tour.” nd. McAlester, Virginia and Lee. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984 National Register Bulletin 16A. “How to Complete the National Register Registration Form.” Washington DC: National Register Branch, National Park Service, US Department of the Interior, 1991. Whiffen, Marcus. American Architecture Since 1780. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1969. EVALUATOR: Leslie Heumann DATE OF EVALUATION: January 19, 2001 EXPLANATION OF CODES: • National Register Criteria for Evaluation: (From Appendix 7 of Instructions for Recording Historical Resources, Office of Historic Preservation) • National Register Status Code: (From Appendix 2 of Instructions for Recording Historical Resources, Office of Historic Preservation) EXPLANATION OF CODES: • National Register Criteria for Evaluation: (From Appendix 7 of Instructions for Recording Historical Resources, Office of Historic Preservation) C: that embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction. • National Register Status Code: (From Appendix 2 of Instructions for Recording Historical Resources, Office of Historic Preservation) 1D: Contributor to a listed district.