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

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From:timrush@bhhscaprops.com To:Bernal, Sarah Subject:09/23/19 Planning Commission Agenda Item No. 4, First American Title project Date:Monday, September 23, 2019 3:38:56 PM Planning Commission City of Santa Ana Sent via email RE: Your agenda today, item No. 4 Dear Chairman McLoughlin and Members of The Planning Commission; I respectfully request a continuance of thirty days on the above project so that investigation may be undertaken on the existing one or two buildings that I believe qualify (or will when the investigation is completed)as historic landmarks. Discussion should then proceed to determine the best method to incorporate a process of adaptive reuse into the proposed project. I fully concur with comments you have already received from the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society, Preserve Orange County and Mr. Jeff Dickman, President of the Historic French Park Neighborhood Association. It is important to take note of the fact that the developer was led astray by our Planning Staff, most notably Executive Director Minh Thai and his then second in command Candida Neal. Had they told the developer that even though the project was not IN a designated historic district…..it was adjacent to THREE and further that the developer might wish to have a conversation with the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society and Preserve Orange County……I serve on both boards and can attest we were never contacted by either the developer or First American. In addition, myself and several members of the Historical Resource Commission asked staff about the project over the course of about two years were told their was either nothing to report or finally some months ago, “you will have a presentation on it, but you have no purview over it Commissioners…” Also, First American is well aware of what lies under the façade of their former home office. It is unfortunate that they remained silent about the history and provenance of the buildings. No outreach was made to the preservation community except at the eleventh hour and that is regrettable. The good news is, if we take a step back we may well be able to move forward with a better project that the preservation community and all of Santa Ana will heartily support. Thank you for your deliberative efforts to help us have a rich and vibrant DTSA. Sincerely, Timothy D. Rush 1225 South Broadway Street Yost-Carlton House Wilshire Square, Santa Ana, CA 92707-1207 DISTRIBUTED DURING MEETING