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HomeMy WebLinkAbout030130_Template-CotantHouse_2003NVictoria.pdfState of California  The Resources Agency Primary #______________________________________________ DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI #__________________________________________________ PRIMARY RECORD Trinomial______________________________________________ NRHP Status Code_____________________________________ Other Listings_____________________________________________________________________ Review Code________ Reviewer________________________ Date_______________ Page _1_ of _4_ Resource name(s) or number (assigned by recorder) Cotant House P1. Other Identifier: *P2. Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted *a. County Orange County *b. USGS 7.5’ Quad TCA 1725 Date: *c. Address 2003 North Victoria Drive City Santa Ana Zip 92706 *e. Other Locational Data: Assessor’s Parcel Number 002-151-14; ORANGE GROVE TR LOT 88 X 198.5 FT. *P3a. Description: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, setting, and boundaries.) A low-pitched, cross-gabled, red-tiled roof characterizes this two-story Spanish Colonial Revival house. Shallow eaves and exposed rafter tails trim the roof edges. Smooth stucco finishes the exteriors. The asymmetrical, rectangular, west-facing residence has a cantilevered Monterey style balcony that wraps around its south wing. Balcony detailing includes exposed beam supports and turned balusters punctuated by square wood posts. The larger north wing of the house is defined by a series of second floor multi-pane casement windows. On the first floor of the north wing, a pair of narrow multi-pane casements flank a center fixed window with a decorative molded hood. On the lower northwest corner, a pierced stucco screen in a diamond pattern shields the recessed window behind it. Projecting from the center of the façade, the front-gabled center wing contains the deeply recessed entry. A solid wood door is embellished with iron bolts and iron hardware. (See Continuation Sheet 3 of 4.) *P3b. Resource Attributes: (list attributes and codes) HP2. Single-family Property *P4. Resources Present: Building Structure Object Site District Element of District Other P5b. Photo: (view and date) West elevation January 2003 *P6. Date Constructed/Age and Sources: historic 1928 / City of Santa Ana Building Permits *P7. Owner and Address: Michael & Joanne Sokolski 2003 North Victoria Drive Santa Ana, CA 92706 *P8. Recorded by: Leslie J. Heumann, Peter C. Moruzzi SAIC 35 S. Raymond Ave. # 204 Pasadena, CA 91105 *P9. Date Recorded: January 30, 2003 *P10. Survey Type: Intensive Survey Update *P11. Report Citation: (Cite survey report and other sources, or enter “none”) None. *Attachments: None Location Map Sketch Map Continuation Sheet Building, Structure, and Object Record Archaeological Record District Record Linear Feature Record Milling Station Record Rock Art Record Artifact Record Photograph Record Other (list) DPR 523A (1/95) *Required information P5a. Photo State of California  The Resources Agency Primary #__________________________________________ DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI#______________________________________________ BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD Page 2 of 4 *NRHP Status Code_ 3S_________________________ *Resource Name or #: Cotant House B1. Historic Name: Cotant House B2. Common Name: Same B3. Original Use: Single-family Residence B4. Present Use: Single-family Residence *B5. Architectural Style: Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival *B6. Construction History: (Construction date, alterations, and date of alterations): November 26, 1928. Residence and garage. Owner, Roy Russell. $15,000. December 2, 1954. Termite repairs for Dr. George Hawkins. $435. March 23, 1956. Swimming pool (18’ x 36’) for Dr. L. Cella. November 20, 1964. Remodel kitchen and add back porch for Dr. L. J. Cella. $4,500. June 28, 1990. Remodel interior floor plan, enclose porch (room addition, second floor bath). $85,000. *B7. Moved? No Yes Unknown Date:__________ Original Location:_____________________________ *B8. Related Features: Detached garage, mature tree in front yard. B9a. Architect: Unknown b. Builder: Unknown *B10. Significance: Theme Residential Architecture Area Santa Ana Period of Significance: circa 1888-1953 Property Type: Single-family Residence Applicable Criteria: C (Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, and geographic scope. Also address integrity) The Cotant House is architecturally distinguished as an intact and characteristic example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style which achieves added prominence through its generous scale. Its period revival design, substantial scale, and generous setback contribute to the elegant and distinctive streetscape on North Victoria Drive. According to the original, 1928 building permit, the owner and builder was Roy Russell, the primary developer of North Victoria Drive. The house and garage cost $15,000, a large sum at the time. The first owner residents, according to the 1931 Orange County Directory, were Charles L. and Eileen Cotant. Mr. Cotant was the manager of Bank of America. In 1934, the Orange County Directory indicated that physician Francis M. Findlay and his wife Lois were the occupants. From 1935 until 1939, the owner was (See Continuation Sheet 3 of 4.) B11. Additional Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes) *B12. References: City of Santa Ana Building Permits Santa Ana History Room Collection, Santa Ana Public Library Sanborn Maps (See Continuation Sheet 4 of 4.) B13. Remarks: *B14. Evaluator: Leslie J. Heumann *Date of Evaluation: January 30, 2003 DPR 523B (1/95) *Required information Sketch Map (This space reserved for official comments.) Cotant House 2003 North Victoria Dr. State of California  The Resources Agency Primary # _____________________________________________ DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI # ________________________________________________ CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial _____________________________________________ Page 3_ of 4_ Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) Cotant House *Recorded by Leslie J. Heumann, Peter C. Moruzzi, SAIC *Date January 30, 2003 ⌧ Continuation Update DPR 523L *P3a. Description (continued): Wrought iron sconces flank the opening, with a small window enhanced by a wrought iron grille to one side and a double casement window on the other. Arched corbelling marks a shallow second story overhang. Another pierced stucco screen is adjacent to the balcony. The south elevation is marked by a red brick chimney while the north elevation features a bay with molded hood on the ground floor. An iron gate blocks the concrete driveway leading to the original two-car garage along the rear of the property. The garage, like the house, is side-gabled with a red tile roof and stucco finish. The meticulously tended grounds are a mix of subtropical vegetation, a broad expanse of lawn in front, and shaped hedges. A large, mature tree shades the south half of the front yard near the house. The residence, garage, and grounds appear original and are in excellent condition. *B10. Significance (continued): Frank Curran, president of Frank Curran Lumber Company, and his family. From 1940 until at least 1945, Herschel R. and Floss M. Brinkerhoff were residents. Mr. Brinkerhoff was the principal of “ H. R. Brinkerhoff and company and outdoor bowling alley”. The Cotant House is located in Floral Park, a neighborhood northwest of downtown Santa Ana bounded by West Seventeenth Street, North Flower Street, Riverside Drive, and Broadway. Groves of oranges, avocados, and walnuts and widely scattered ranch houses characterized this area before 1920. Developer and builder Allison Honer (1897-1981), credited as the subdivider and builder of a major portion of northwest Santa Ana, arrived in Santa Ana from Beaver Falls, New York in 1922 (Talbert, pages 353-356). “Before nightfall on the day of his arrival, Mr. Honer purchased a parcel of land. And that month, he began building custom homes in Santa Ana” (Orange County Register, September 15, 1981). The parcel chosen became the Floral Park subdivision between Seventeenth Street and Santiago Creek. “When built in the 1920s, the Floral Park homes were the most lavish and expensive in the area. They sold for about $45,000 each” (Orange County Register, September 15, 1981). Revival architecture in a wide variety of romantic styles was celebrated in the 1920s and 1930s and Floral Park showcased examples of the English Tudor, French Norman, Spanish Colonial, and Colonial Revival. The Allison Honer Construction Company went on to complete such notable projects as the 1935 Art Deco styled Old Santa Ana City Hall, the El Toro Marine Base during World War II, and the 1960 Honer Shopping Plaza. Honer lived in the neighborhood he had helped to create, at 615 West Santa Clara Avenue. In the late 1920s and 1930s, another builder, Roy Roscoe Russell (1881-1965), continued developing the groves of Floral Park. An early Russell project was his 1928 subdivision of Victoria Drive between West Nineteenth Street and West Santa Clara Avenue. The homes were quite grand and displayed various revival styles, including Russell’s own large, Colonial Revival mansion at 2009 Victoria Drive. In the early post World War II years, Floral Park continued its development as numerous, smaller, single-family houses were built. Continuing in the Floral Park tradition, they were mostly revival in style. In the 1950s, low, horizontal Ranch Style houses completed the growth of Floral Park. Today (2003) Floral Park maintains its identity as the premier neighborhood of Santa Ana, historically home to many affluent and prominent citizens. The Cotant House appears eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historical Resources. It also qualifies for listing in the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties under Criterion 1 for its exemplification of the Spanish Colonial Revival style. Characteristic features of the style include the signature combination of stucco exteriors and red clay tiled roofing, broad asymmetrical massing, corbelled overhang, Moorish inspired pierced stucco screens, and wooden balcony. The house also contributes to the historic character of the Floral Park neighborhood through its age, style, scale, and historic association with members of the local business and professional communities. Additionally, the house has been categorized as “Landmark” for its unique architectural significance as an example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style that contributes to the historic streetscape of North Victoria Drive. All original exterior features of the Cotant House are considered character defining and should be preserved. These features include, but may not be limited to: materials (wood) and finishes (stucco); roof configuration, materials and treatment; massing and composition; balcony; porch; projections; doors and windows; chimney; architectural detailing (pierced screens, wrought iron elements, sconces, etc.); original garage, and landscape features such as subtropical vegetation and mature trees. State of California  The Resources Agency Primary # _____________________________________________ DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI # ________________________________________________ CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial _____________________________________________ Page 4_ of 4_ Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) Cotant House *Recorded by Leslie J. Heumann, Peter C. Moruzzi, SAIC *Date January 30, 2003 ⌧ Continuation Update DPR 523L *B12. References (continued): Harris, Cyril M. American Architecture: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York, WW Norton, 1998. Marsh, Diann. Santa Ana, An Illustrated History. Encinitas, Heritage Publishing, 1994. 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 Dept. of the Interior, 1991. Office of Historic Preservation. “Instructions for Recording Historical Resources.” Sacramento: March 1995. Whiffen, Marcus. American Architecture Since 1780. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1969. “Alison Honer Dies at 84,” The Santa Ana Journal, September 21, 1981. “Builder of Honer Plaza Dies,” Orange County Register, September 15, 1981. “History of Floral Park.” http://www.floral-park.com/page2.html Talbert, Thomas (editor-in-chief). Historical Volume and Reference Works Including Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens, Volume I. Whittier, Historical Publishers, 1963. Armor, Samuel. History of Orange County. 1921. Orange County Directories, 1927-1941, 1945, 1947.