4 - SPR19-01; DBA 19-01_114 117 E 5TH STREET COMMENTS

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First American Title / Toll Brothers Residential Development Project Santa Ana Planning Commission September 23, 2019 Submitted by Jeff Dickman (photo credits - Chris Jepsen's O.C History Roundup web site) The Historical Property Survey of the First American Title building, as prepared for the City of Santa Ana, is inadequate. The Survey failed to identify important, existing elements of the original Orange County / First American Title building. The survey also failed to assess the physical state of preservation of the 1931 Art Deco (zig-zag Moderne) style structure; which likely rests underneath the modern Jeffersonian facade. The Survey also fails to appreciate the remarkable and outstanding legacy of the founder and leaders of the Orange County Title Company, later renamed as the First American Title Company. Reasons to postpone the public hearing for the First American / Toll Brothers project include: A. The Historic Property Survey failed to identify substantial existing exterior elements of the 1931 Zig Zag, Art Deco building. The survey states: “The subject property does not appear to meet the criteria for inclusion in the NRHP or the CRHR, or for local designation in the City of Santa Ana under any significance criteria. While the property’s component buildings were first constructed in 1931 and circa 1949, virtually nothing remains of either building’s exterior following the substantial 1966 and 1976-77 alterations to the exterior.” The Survey then concludes, without acknowledging the presence of the original exterior entry elements of the building, and without ever performing a physical investigation to identify the condition of the original exterior, that: “...the property does not retain sufficient integrity to convey any potential significant associations prior to 1966.” The Main Street entry of the original 1931 Zig Zag, Art Deco building is mostly intact. Photograph #1 shows the original facade between 10-15 years following construction. Photograph #2 shows the west facade as it appears today. The original entry is still visible in both pictures. The entry retains the two original, round, and fluted columns, with decorative capitals (tops), and decorative bases. The columns create and define the entry space, which includes the original decorative 3-panel, low-relief ceiling (Photograph #4), and the likely original decorative floor (Photograph #5). On the rear wall of the entry are the two original flat (engaged) columns (see Photograph #6). These rise from their decorative bases, to the ceiling, and connect with the upper decorative ceiling panels. Also on the rear wall of the entry are two large, elongated original windows. The two windows are covered with a painted panel, and framed with trim.