Item 13 - Historic Property Preservation Agreements

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HRCA No. 2024-10, HRC No. 2025-07, and HPPA No. 2025-09 — The R. Miller House (1412 N. Louise Street) September 23, 2025 Page 4 The R. Miller House qualifies for listing in the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties under Criterion 1 as an intact example of a Tudor Revival -style residence in Santa Ana. The recommended categorization is Contributive because it is a good example of the Tudor Revival style and contributes to the historical and architectural character of the neighborhood (Santa Ana Municipal Code, Section 30-2.3). 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: new roof and general maintenance. Staff suggests adding the following items to the Work Plan: 1) address discoloration on planter wall adjacent to the primary fagade; 2) assess condition of paint and stucco and repair as necessary, subject to staff approval; 3) replace non -compatible window and door on north side of detached garage, subject to staff approval; 4) assess condition of roofing, eaves, fascia, exposed rafter tails, and rain gutters throughout the residence and repair and replace in -kind, as necessary, subject to staff approval; and 5) assess all historic windows and window framing and repaint, repair, or replace in -kind, as necessary. Window repair and replacement is subject to staff approval. 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.