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From: Ed Murashie <br />To: eComments. PBA <br />Subject: March 28 Hearing Re: Request for Variance at historic "Maharaja" house <br />Date: Sunday, March 27, 2022 10:48:01 PM <br />Attachments: aae003.ona <br />Hello, I am Ed Murashie, a Floral Park resident, and Historic Resources Commissioner. <br />I will be speaking tomorrow night and I want to go on record opposing the variance, and provide a few photos that I will refer to when I speak. <br />The Maharaja House is a Landmark historic property that is on the Santa Ana Register of Historic Properties (SARHP) and the owners have a Mill Act contract with the city. The <br />home owner has had no respect for the historic integrity of the house and has been trying to change the Moderne architecture style since they bought the house. Considering <br />its registered historic status, modifications of the exterior character defining features are not allowed but have occurred. The owners have also intentionally ignored the city <br />permitting process at least twice. This is shown by the following actions documented in the city's online planning history shown below <br />1. Tried to modify the home on 4/10/2003 and was denied a permit. <br />2. Tried to appeal the 6/19/2003 decision to place the home on the SARHP on 10/13/2003. <br />3. Installed an oriental tea house 10/27/2003. It was permitted. The style was not in keeping with the Moderne or Indore, but half of it is hidden by front block wall. <br />4. Exterior modification 08/24/2007. 1 don't have a record of what was changed. <br />5. Tried to be removed from the SARHP on 1/15/2013 but was denied. <br />6. Summer of 2021, reroofed and extended the height of pool house above the 15' limit without a variance and without a permit, see the images below. <br />7. Added a horse sculpture, and oriental sculpture garden in the front side yard which is a misrepresentation of the Maharaja of Indore or his daughter the Princess. <br />8. Without a permit, changed out the casement windows and awnings which are historic defining features called out in the DPR and they have yet to be replaced. <br />9. Window change out on 02/18/2014. The matter was not included in any 2014 HRC minutes so I am not sure if it was presented to the HRC, which it should have. <br />The Maharaja House is the most historically significant structure in the Floral Park neighborhood. The owners are aware of the historical nature of the house and have been <br />taking advantage of the Mills Act tax saving which protect the historical integrity of the home. The casement windows and awnings should be restored and the pool roof return <br />to its original structure and height before this variance is considered. <br />Best Regards, Ed <br />The reroofing of the pool house can be seen in the two images below take over a span of three years. <br />The earlier image shows the pool house circled in red. Notice the new house circled in green with the incomplete front and back yards. <br />This is a later image taken within the past year. You can tell by looking at the finished front and backyard of the house circled in green . Notice the pool house roof circled in red <br />is different. <br />So you know the image is not "PhotoShop'd", you can see it for yourself at httos://zoom. earth /#view=33.7664S 1.-117.874889.20z <br />