CORRESPONDENCE_75B - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

May 4, 20� 2 Santa Ana City Council City Council Chambers 22 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92703 Dear Council Members; On Monday, May 7, 20y 2, you will vote on an agenda item regarding an appeal to a recent decision of the Historic Resources Commission (SAHRC). The Commission voted to deny the application to the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties for the Sexlinger Orchard and Farmhouse at '1584 E. Santa Clara Avenue. Part of the reason for the denial was due to the uniqueness of designating a living, natural resource as historic, and part of it was due to the practical consideration that the current owners have no interest in keeping the orchard intact. In fact, the owners have completed an EIR to dismantle the resource, and pursue residential development. The appeal is based on the SAHRC staff report that recommended the property's inclusion on the register, the endorsement by the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society, public support expressed over the last six years, as well as supporting documentation within the Cultural Resource Studies that recommends the historic designation. You don't need another letter of support for placing the Sexlinger Orchard on the historic register. The number of historic experts, community leaders, and citizens who favor historical preservation of the Sexlinger Orchard far outweigh the handful of people who favor building single family homes on the five -acre site. The City of Santa Ana is in possession of hundreds of letters, public statements and professional reports, which clearly demonstrate the political support and factual justification that the City leaders need to formally recognize this historic resource. Perhaps you just need to achieve clarity on exactly who is opposing the designation of the property as an historic resource. Outside the non - profit organization who was bequeathed the Sexlinger fortune, and a local family who, as rumors have it, held a grudge against the Sexlinger spinster sisters, is there anyone else who doesn't have a vested interest in destroying the history of the Sexlingers? No. Has any reputable historic expert, not on the payroll of the beneficiary, claimed that the Orchard has no historic value? No. Further, has the non - profit beneficiary of the estate ever shown any interest in celebrating the Sexlingers? For the many millions of dollars that it has received from the Sexlingers, is there a facility named in their honor, a named scholarship fund, or even a historic museum photo exhibit of what the Sexlingers accomplished? All that money, and no recognition? A huge donation, and no equitable legacy for a family that '�