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N R-2013-01-RML <br />March 7, 2013 <br />Page 2 <br />Pro[ect Description <br />On August 7, 2003, the Maharajah House was brought before the Historic Resources Commission for <br />designation to the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties and categorization as Landmark <br />(Exhibit 2). Drs. Chan and Quynh Kieu were the owners at that time, and were not in favor of the <br />designation. The item was continued to the Commission's September 4, 2003 meeting to allow the <br />owners time to gain knowledge about the potential benefits andlor restrictions related to historic <br />designation. On September 4, 2003, the owners requested additional time to discuss the designation. <br />The item was continued to October 2, 2003. On October 2, 2003, the property owners still objected to <br />the historic designation, and they requested a three month continuance so they could proceed on roof <br />repairs. However, the Historic Resources Commission voted unanimously to designate the property <br />and categorize as Landmark. The applicants appealed the action to the City Council and the <br />application was brought to the December 1, 2003 Council meeting, It was continued to the January 5, <br />2004 meeting, and continued again to February 2, 2004. At the February meeting the City Council <br />upheld the Historic Resources Commission action to designate the property to the Santa Ana Register <br />of Historical Properties and subsequent categorization by denying the appeal. <br />In November of 2006, the property owners were cited for unpermitted work which included remodeling <br />the cornice, canopy, and balcony areas with heavy stucco covered Styrofoam trim. The unpermitted <br />work was contrary to the Art Moderne style of architecture, and did not meet the Secretary of the <br />Interior's Standards. Since the owners did not comply with the citation, the City filed misdemeanor <br />charges in Superior Court. The owners then filed a Historic Exterior Modification Application (HEMA) to <br />obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness for the alterations. The Historic Resources Commission met on <br />this item on October 4, 2007, and the HEMA was approved with conditions that the size of the balcony <br />trim be reduced by half, and the cornice line be deemphasized through the use of a lighter color <br />thereby complying with the citation and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. The <br />court case was resolved. <br />On November 10, 2012, a complaint was filed with the City for further unpermitted work at the <br />Maharajah House including 10 window change-outs, The windows in question were steel casement <br />windows, the most common type of window used in the Art Moderne style of architecture. They have <br />been changed to aluminum sliding windows. <br />The applicants request the property be removed from the SARHP. <br />Proiect Analysis <br />The applicants' request to have the Maharajah House removed from the SARHP is due to their view <br />that alterations made to the home in 1993, 1997, and 1998 have substantially altered the structure's <br />style (Exhibit 3). The alterations include bedroomlbath additions and the enclosure of balconies, <br />creating sunrooms. Other alterations are to the interior. <br />