Hello,
I am submitting this email to you as public comment regarding the Hilltop House in Apple Valley, for the next meeting on March 22nd.
My name is Virginia Jennings. I moved to Apple Valley in Nov. 2017 from Washington state. I moved here because my husband had previously lived in Hesperia and he wanted to get back to Southern California, so we were on the move!
I was excited to live in a new place I'd never been to, and one of the first things to catch my attention was this "house up on the hill". Turns out, our new home was just on the other side of that hill, not too far away. So I started doing some research and found lots of information on this historic site.
We watched a Perry Mason episode that was filmed there, I researched the history, architecture and more. I was FASCINATED by this place! It helped me find out even more about my new surroundings.
As time went on, I even heard that the Town of Apple Valley had a PLAN, a plan to make this a great tourist attraction, with educational information about the area. As a former educator I was thrilled! However, at the time, I was in horrible pain due to needing my hip replaced. So I was literally an armchair researcher. Then in March 2021, I had my hip replaced. My fitness/strength goal was to be able to walk to the top and see Hilltop House and the views for myself! After about 9 months of rehab and physical therapy, I finally made the trek up that hill. It was exhilarating!! I made it! FINALLY! I'm telling you this today to let you know that there are many people like me who would love to hike that hill, but can't. I want everyone to have the experience of seeing the views from up there. In fact, my husband is a 100% disabled Vietnam Veteran and has yet to be able to go there himself. I do hope whatever plans you have include handicap accessibility. And as for demolishing the place, I hope you do so with reverence and understanding for the meaning this place has in this community, even to newbies like me! Thank you,
Virginia Jennings