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Ad Hoc Committee Nominations for the 2025 City of Santa Ana Historic Preservation Awards November 6, 2025 Page 4 5 4 2 2 roof and porch elements, the project successfully balances practical rehabilitation needs with long-term preservation values. Award of Merit: 616-618 S. Van Ness Avenue Award Winner: Siamak Siyami (owner); Benjamin Norouzi, BN Design Build, Inc. (architect) Location: 616-618 S. Van Ness Avenue (east of South Broadway, between West Bishop and Richland streets) Background Originally constructed in 1922, 616-618 S. Van Ness Avenue has architectural merit as a rare example of a bungalow court multi-family residential property in Santa Ana. Historically, the property was characterized by its court-type internal plan consisting of a pair of one-story multi-family front units and a two-story rear unit comprised of a garage and residence. Historically, the buildings were situated in a rough U plan around an internal court. The property’s individual historical buildings share consistent design elements, including gabled roofs with exposed rafter tails, clapboard siding, and a general lack of ornamentation. While the property is not formally listed on any historic register, it is located within SD-40 where the City has adopted special design guidelines to preserve and celebrate the area’s historic character. Description The property at 616-618 S. Van Ness Avenue was selected for merit, due to the property owner’s efforts to maintain the property in a manner consistent with its historic character. By late 2024, the owner initiated work on the property’s historic buildings that included legalizing unpermitted changes, restoring deteriorated architectural features, repainting, and the conversion of garage spaces to residential. Specific work involving the historical buildings included: • The legalization of unpermitted vinyl windows that match the appearance of the property’s lost historical windows, including their dimensions, glazing patterns, styles, and methods of operation. • Restoration of demolished and deteriorated architectural features, such as decorative trim, overhangs, and stairs, based on a review of surviving features and photographic evidence. • Installation of new front doors appropriate to the California Bungalow style. • An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) conversion of the ground-level garages rear unit was completed with sensitivity to the historical development and style of the property.