Item 17 - Approval of Historic Property Preservation Agreements

Home Browse Search

HRCA No. 2025-18, HRC No. 2026-1, HPPA No. 2026-1 — The M.I. Thomson House (2214 N. Westwood Avenue) March 5, 2026 Page 3 flanked by three-pane side lights situated above wood-panel wainscoting. The floor of the porch is surfaced with brick, while the porch ceiling features wood-plank cladding. Low brick planters extend left and right from the entrance; the planter on the right is incorporated into the brick external chimney. Windows on the main elevation are generally wood-sash multi-pane units in fixed and hung configurations, including a hexagonal bay window looking over the porch. Located at the south end of the main exterior, the gabled wing houses the attached two-car garage, accessed by a non-original roll-up garage door. Secondary facades generally feature stucco walls punctuated by wood sash windows in multiple configurations, including multi-pane hung wood units similar to those on the primary facade, and a few fixed or awning type windows located on the south fagade. At the rear (west) facade the main roof is crossed with gable-on-hip extensions, forming a shallow court. Just off the court, the recessed rear patio is covered by an extension of the roof. Secondary entrances are located adjacent to the patio and feature original and non- original solid, glazed, and louvered doors. Landscaping includes front and back lawns, mature trees, and flowering and non-flowering shrubs. Character-defining features of the house's original Ranch-style construction include, but are not limited to, its wing-and-gable main (south) fagade composition; wood shake roof cladding, horizontal lap wood, brick, and stucco siding; principally gable-on-hip roof form; closed eaves; wood-sash windows in multiple configurations; recessed front and back porches; and brick planters and integrated brick external chimney. The M.I. Thomson House qualifies for listing in the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties under Criterion 1 as an intact example of a Ranch-style home in Santa Ana. The recommended categorization is "Contributive" because it contributes to the overall character and history of its neighborhood and is a good example of period architecture (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: