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9/22/2019 <br /> <br />Mr. Mark McLoughlin, Chair <br />Planning Commission, City of Santa Ana <br /> <br />Re: Orange County and First American Title Building/Toll Brothers Project <br /> Agenda Item 4 for the 9/23/19 Planning Commission Hearing <br /> <br /> <br />Dear Chairman McLoughlin: <br /> <br />As a concerned preservationist, Santa Ana resident, and past-President of the Santa Ana Historical <br />Preservation Society, I am writing to urge the Commission to postpone the scheduled public hearing for <br />the First American project. In addition to the cultural resource section of the Transit Zoning Code (TZC) <br />EIR, a site specific supplemental EIR is needed before hearings commence. <br /> <br />The Historical Property Survey of this building is completely inadequate, and failed to identify the many <br />remaining architectural features of the original 1931 Art Deco structure. These were not removed but <br />were in some cases covered over in the “modernizations” done to the building in the 1960s and 1970s <br />by First American Title. Much more research must be done to evaluate this building and no project <br />approvals should be granted until a thorough study is done. <br /> <br />The reasons this building was not included in Santa Ana’s Historic Register are unclear, as it is obvious <br />that its architectural details and Orange County Title’s cultural importance would make it eligible for <br />inclusion. <br /> <br />The consultants made no effort that I, or Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society, are aware of to <br />reach out to the preservation community on this project. At this point I would be completely against the <br />demolition of the structure because of its historical importance to the community and its contribution to <br />the look and feel of historic downtown. Once proper evaluation is done, instead of demolition, other <br />options should be considered in discussion with the preservation community, such as incorporation of <br />historic elements into a new project. <br /> <br />Thank you for your consideration. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Alison Young <br /> <br />Santa Ana, CA 92707 <br />@sbcglobal.net <br /> <br />cc: Planning Commissioners <br /> Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society