Item 23 - Approval of Historic Property Preservation Agreements

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HRCA No. 2023-20, HRC No. 2023-06, HPPA No. 2023-12 – Woitke House (925 North Lowell Street) January 11, 2024 Page 4 The Woitke House qualifies for listing in the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties under Criterion 1 as an intact example of a Spanish Revival style home in Santa Ana. The recommended categorization is “Contributive” because it contributes to the overall character and history of Washington Square and is a representative example of Spanish Revival architecture in Santa Ana. Mills Act Agreement Ordinance No. NS-2382 authorized the Historic Resources Commission to execute Historic Property Preservation Agreements (HPPA), commonly known as Mills Act agreements for eligible properties (Exhibit 2). To be eligible for the Mills Act, the property must be listed on the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties. The Historic Resources Commission Application and Historic Register Categorization actions proposed for this site authorize the listing of the property on the local register. The agreement provides monetary incentives to the property owner in the form of a property tax reduction in exchange for the owner’s voluntary commitment to maintain the property in a good state of repair as necessary to maintain its character and appearance. Once recorded, the agreement generates a different valuation method in determining the property’s assessed value, resulting in tax savings for the owner. Aside from the tax savings, the benefits include: •Long term preservation of the property and visual improvement to the neighborhood •A mechanism to provide for property rehabilitation •Incentives for potential buyers to purchase historic structures •Discouraging inappropriate alterations to the property The property has no identified unauthorized modifications. Upon consideration of the application, it is recommended that the City enter into a Historic Property Preservation Agreement subject to a completion of future improvements as described in an attached Work Plan. Overall, future improvements (Work Plan) proposed by the homeowner during the initial ten years of the Mills Act Agreement include the following: replace electrical knob-and- tube wiring, replace all security lighting with compatible lighting, repair in-kind all wood windows as needed and replace any wood rot that is beyond repair to match existing, rear yard gate replacement or removal of the decorative iron ornamentation on existing gate, front door and garage door replacement with compatible style doors, stucco restoration with compatible smooth stucco with trowel pattern, earthquake retrofit of property’s foundation, driveway and garage floor repairs, and interior wood restoration including doors, floors, and window casing, along with general on-going maintenance. Staff will ensure that the proposed work will be done sensitively and will maintain the property’s character-defining features as part of the Mills Act Agreement for this property. Historic Resources Commission 1-4 1/11/2024