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Planning and Building Agency <br />Item # 4 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />Historic Resources Commission Staff Report <br />September 5, 2024 <br />Topic: HRC No. 2024-07 – Levengood-Bist House (1205 South Birch Street) <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Adopt a resolution approving and Historic Register Categorization No. 2024-07 <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />The City of Santa Ana is requesting approval for re-categorization and renaming of an <br />existing Spanish Colonial Revival-style, single-family residence at 1205 South Birch <br />Street, which was placed on the Santa Ana Register of Historic Resources (“Register”) <br />and categorized as “Contributive” in 2003. Subsequent analysis confirmed the property <br />is significant not only for its previously recognized architectural merit, but also due to the <br />historical contributions of Lisa and Brian Bist to the Santa Ana community. Based on this <br />analysis, it is recommended that the property be re-categorized as “Key,” because it is <br />associated with significant people in Santa Ana’s history. To reflect the re-evaluation of <br />the property’s significance, it is also recommended its name be appended as the <br />Levengood-Bist House. <br />DISCUSSION <br />Background <br />On December 4, 2003, the Historic Resources Commission (HRC) held a duly noticed <br />public hearing to consider Historic Register Categorization (HRC-2003-60) and Historic <br />Register Categorization Application (HRCA-2003-58) for the property at 1205 S. Birch <br />Street. The HRC unanimously voted to list the property on the Register under Criterion 1, <br />and within the “Contributive” category, because it contributes to the overall character and <br />history of Wilshire Square. Moreover, as a building with “distinguishing characteristics of <br />an architectural style or period,” it is an intact example of a Spanish Colonial Revival-style <br />home in Santa Ana. At that time it was named the Levengood House. <br />On May 8, 2024, the HRC unanimously approved a motion to recommend that the City <br />Council authorize the City Manager and City Clerk to execute a Historic Property <br />Preservation Agreement (Mills Act) with the current property owner. This recommendation <br />  <br />    <br />