Item 15 Historic Property Preservation Agreement for the Property Located at 2301 N. Westwood Avenue

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HRCA No. 2025-01, HRC No. 2025-01, HPPA No. 2025-01– Brophy House (2301 N. Westwood Avenue) March 6, 2025 Page 2 4 8 2 6 Historical Listing In March 1999, the City Council approved Ordinance No. NS-2363 establishing the Historic Resources Commission and the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties. The Historic Resources Commission may, by resolution and at a noticed public hearing, designate as a historical property any building or part thereof, object, structure, or site having importance to the history or architecture of the city in accordance with the criteria set forth in Section 30-2 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC). This project entails applying the selection criteria established in Chapter 30 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code (Places of Historical and Architectural Significance) to determine if this structure is eligible for historic designation to the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties. The first criterion for selection requires that the structures be 50 or more years old. The structure identified meets the selection criteria for inclusion on the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties pursuant to criteria contained in Section 30-2 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code, as the structure is 68 years old and is a sound example of period architecture. No known code violations exist on record for this property. The Brophy House is architecturally significant as an intact example of a Mid-Century Modern-style house in Santa Ana. The original building permit is dated September 10, 1957 and indicates it was built as a single-family six-room residence and garage by contractor A.K. Herrick, at a cost of $23,000. The original architect is unknown. The earliest known occupant is Joseph P. Brophy, who is listed on the original building permit. City directories note Mr. Brophy as the building's owner through 1962. The years 1963- 1987 do not include the subject address in the directory or the directory itself was not available for research. Newspaper articles indicate that prior to owning 2301 N Westwood Avenue, Mr. Brophy moved to Santa Ana in 1939 and owned a café located at 220 E. 4th Street for at least ten years. Mr. Brophy, without any public office experience, ran for state assembly in 1954 and lost to Assemblyman Earle Stanley (Santa Ana Register February 18, 1954 and Santa Ana Register June 9, 1954). No pertinent information was uncovered regarding Mr. Brophy during his time occupying 2301 N Westwood Avenue. The next known owner, Bernie Barnette, owned the subject property from circa 1989 to 2008, per available city directories. Mr. Barnette worked for MacLean sales department in the 1950s as well as worked as a used car manager (Santa Ana Register May 1, 1955). No other information was uncovered. The property remained in the Barnette family until 2024, when current owner Kevin Nguyen purchased the property from Bradley Barnette. Located on a corner parcel in West Floral Park, the Brophy House is a one-story, single- family Mid-Century Modern Style residence with an attached garage and rear pool. The building features a U-shaped plan that emphasizes privacy with two primary facades: the main living area in the west wing facing Westwood Avenue, and a louvered privacy wall with a rear yard entrance and an attached garage in the south wing facing Santa Clara Avenue. Asymmetrical in design, the house exhibits a horizontal emphasis expressed Historic Resources Commission 1 -2 3/6/2025