Agenda Item
City Council
Item #: 3.30. 11/15/2022 File #: 22-0667
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Jeffrey S. Adams, Interim Community Development Director
1. SUBJECT
Addition of 167 N. Little Main Street to the City of Orange Historic Resources Inventory.
2. SUMMARY
A request to include a single-family residence located outside of a historic district in the City of Orange Historic Resources Inventory. The Community Development Department’s Historic Preservation Program has received an intensive-level cultural resource assessment that evaluates the historic significance of two different properties. Staff recommends approval of the report’sfindings and formal recognition of 167 N. Little Main Street as a local historic resource.
3. RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt findings of the cultural resource assessment and include 167 N. Little Main Street in the City of Orange Historic Resources Inventory.
4. FISCAL IMPACT
None.
5. STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
Goal 5: Recognize, promote, and Preserve Orange’s Rich Heritage. a. Expand and strengthen processes and practices related to protection and cultural resources.
6. DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
The property owner requested recognition of 167 N. Little Main Street as a historic resource in anticipation of applying for a Mills Act Contract.
Issue 1: Determination of Historic Status
In July 2021, IS Architecture conducted a Determination of Eligibility for a single-family residence built in 1923 at 167 N. Little Main Street to determine if the property is a historic resource that meets established criteria for State or National Significance.
IS Architecture conducted an intensive-level field survey to evaluate the home and consulted a comprehensive list of research and archival materials, including historic aerials, California State Archives, the National Register, historic newspapers, and local library research, to determine the potential significance of the property. IS Architecture evaluated the resource’ssignificance under the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR) criteria A/1-D/4. The firm also prepared a draft State of California Department of Parks and City of Orange Printed on 11/10/2022Page 1 of 2
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Item #: 3.30. 11/15/2022 File #: 22-0667
criteria A/1-D/4. The firm also prepared a draft State of California Department of Parks and Recreation Historic Resource Survey Form (DPR form) pending City Council’s approval.
The property assessment finds that the Tudor Revival Style Home was one of the first homes built in the Mission Gardens tract and sold to William and Elsie Hart in January of 1924, who were among Orange’sfounding fathers. In 1928, the property was sold to Walter Smith, who rented the house to Casey (C.C.) and Cecil Bonebrake. Mr. Bonebrake was the city planner for both the Cities of Santa Ana and Orange. His signature can be found on the original tract drawings for the Mission Gardens as the City Engineer. In 1938, the owner of Orange Pharmacy, Elmer Swift, purchased the property.
IS Architecture developed and used the following historic contexts to determine the eligibility of the property:
· Growth and westward expansion of the City of Orange
· The business development of Orange
· Residential styles of Orange
· The Mission Gardens subdivision development
· The Batchelder Tile Company
Their research confirmed that 167 N. Little Main Street is significant at the local level of the National Register of Historic Places under the following Criteria:
· Criteria A/1: under the theme of community planning and social history for its association with the westward expansion of the City of Orange and for its association with prominent businessmen of Orange, including William O. Hart.
· Criteria C/3: Under the theme of architecture for its rare and intact Tudor Revival style within the City of Orange.
The complete Determination of Historic Eligibility prepared by IS Architecture is attached to this report.
7. ATTACHMENTS
· 167 North Little Main Street Determination of Historic Eligibility (with DPR form) City of Orange Printed on 11/10/2022Page 2 of 2
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