HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-11-17_ITEM NO. 5 CORRESPONDENCEITEM NO. 5
ITEM NO. 5
ITEM NO. 5
ITEM NO. 5
ITEM NO. 5
ITEM NO. 5
ITEM NO. 5
December 11, 2017
City of Santa Ana
Clerk of the Santa Ana Planning Commission
20 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, CA 92701
emailed to:
eComment@santa-ana.org
RE: Support for Proposed Hotel and Related Project at 2129 N. Main Street, Santa Ana
Honorable Members of the Santa Ana Planning Commission:
I am re-sending a letter similar to what I had submitted to the City Council in May 2017, in support of
the above-referenced project. As a proud resident of the Floral Park neighborhood in Santa Ana, who
regularly hosts guests and takes them to the downtown area for a true “new urban” experience, I
enthusiastically support the proposed 135-room hotel with restaurant and bar/lounge, proposed for
2129 N. Main Street. As a resident of a registered historic landmark (historic home) in Floral Park, I also
enthusiastically commend the project’s proposed preservation of two historical homes that are next to
the proposed hotel. A new and sophisticated downtown hotel is the precise economic development
stimulus that would assist residents like me hosting guests, as well as visitors to Southern California,
easily experience Santa Ana’s “buzzing” downtown scene, hidden gems like the Bower’s Museum, and
other nearby attractions like Main Place Shopping Mall.
In the spirit of full disclosure, please be advised that Mr. Kevin Coleman is a good friend of mine, as we
know each other very well through the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce and other city-wide
organizations. Additionally, my law firm, Rutan & Tucker LLP, does work for Mr. Coleman’s company,
Net Development.
This letter of support, however, is based on Mr. Coleman’s proven track record to design, build, lease-
up, and maintain top-quality hotel projects and ancillary buildings. I have visited and stayed at such
hotels. I have also worked with him personally, through Habitat for Humanity, with the construction of
a single family home in Santa Ana, at the corner of Flower Street and Edinger Avenue.
This project would be the beneficiary of Mr. Coleman’s and Net Development’s strong expertise in
construction and admirable understanding in maintaining good community relations. In other words,
this project will not only be a huge economic benefit to the city, through hotel (TOT), sales and property
taxes, but also will be yet another shining star in the City’s inventory of unique and community-oriented
projects.
I urge the Planning Commission to approve the project at its meeting this month. Thank you for your
consideration.
Sincerely,
William H. (Bill) Ihrke
Santa Ana Resident
ITEM NO. 5