RECORDING REQUESTED BY
AND WHEN RECORDED MAIL TO:
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza (M-30)
Santa Ana, CA 92702
Attn: Clerk of the Council
FREE RECORDING PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE § 27383
_________________________________________________________________________
HISTORIC PROPERTY PRESERVATION AGREEMENT
This Historic Property Preservation Agreement (“Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the City of Santa Ana, a charter city and municipal corporation duly organized and existing under the Constitution and laws of the of the State of California (hereinafter referred to as “City”), and Steven E. Meese and Joelle K. Meese, husband and wife as joint tenants, (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Owner”), owner of real property located at 2402 North Riverside Drive, Santa Ana, California, in the County of Orange and listed on the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties.
RECITALS
A. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana is authorized by California Government Code Section 50280 et seq. (known as the “Mills Act”) to enter into contracts with owners of qualified historical properties to provide for appropriate use, maintenance, rehabilitation and restoration such that these historic properties retain their historic character and integrity.
B. The Owner possesses fee title in and to that certain qualified real property together with associated structures and improvements thereon, located at 2402 North Riverside Drive, Santa Ana, CA, 92706 and more particularly described in Exhibit “A,” attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, and hereinafter referred to as the “Historic Property.”
C. The Historic Property is officially designated on the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 30 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code.
D. City and Owner, for their mutual benefit, now desire to enter into this Agreement which defines and limits the use and alteration of this Historic Property in order to enhance and maintain its value as a cultural and historical resource for Owner and for the community; to prevent inappropriate alterations to the Historic Property and to ensure that repairs, additions, new building, and other changes are appropriate; and to ensure that rehabilitation and maintenance are carried out in an exemplary manner.
MILLS ACT AGREEMENT
2402 North Riverside Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92706
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E. Owner and City intend to carry out the purposes of California Government Code, Chapter 1, Part 5 of Division 1 of Title 5, Article 12, Section 50280 et seq., which will enable the Historic Property to qualify for an assessment of valuation as a restricted historical property pursuant to Article 1.9, Sec. 439 et seq., Chapter 3 Part 2 of Division 1 of the California Tax and Revenue Code.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City of Santa Ana and the Owner of the Historic Property agree as follows:
1. Effective Date and Terms of Agreement.
This Agreement shall be effective and commence on November 5, 2025, and shall remain in effect for a term of ten (10) years thereafter. Each year, upon the anniversary of the effective date of this Agreement, such initial term will automatically be extended as provided in California Government Code Sections 50280 through 50290 and in Section 2, below.
2. Renewal.
a. Each year on the anniversary of the effective date of this Agreement, a year shall automatically be added to the initial ten (10) year term of this Agreement unless written notice of nonrenewal is served as provided herein.
b. If the Owner or the City desire(s) in any year not to renew the Agreement, the Owner or City shall serve written notice of nonrenewal of the Agreement on the other party.
Unless such notice is served by the Owner to the City at least ninety (90) days prior to the annual renewal date, or served by the City to the Owner at least sixty (60) days prior to the annual renewal date, one (1) year shall automatically be added to the term of the Agreement as provided herein. c. Within 30 days from receipt of City’s notice of nonrenewal, the Owner may file a written protest of City’s decision of nonrenewal. The City may, at any time prior to the annual renewal date of the Agreement, withdraw its notice to the Owner of nonrenewal. d. If either the Owner or the City serves notice to the other of nonrenewal in any year, the Agreement shall remain in effect for the balance of the term then remaining, either from its original execution or from the last renewal of the Agreement, whichever may apply.
3. Standards and Conditions for Historic Property.
During the term of this Agreement, the Historic Property shall be subject to the following conditions, requirements and restrictions:
a. Owner shall maintain the Historic Property in a good state of repair and shall preserve, maintain, and, where necessary, restore or rehabilitate the property and its character- defining features described in the “Executive Summary” and “Historical Property Description” attached hereto, marked collectively as Exhibit B, notably the general architectural form, style, materials, design, scale, proportions, organization of windows, doors, and other openings, textures, details, mass, roof line, porch and other aspects of the appearance of the exterior to the satisfaction of the City.
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b. All changes to the Historic Property shall comply with applicable City plans and regulations, and conform to the rules and regulations of the Office of Historic Preservation of the State Department of Parks and Recreation, namely the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Historic Preservation Projects. These guidelines are attached hereto, marked as Exhibit C, and incorporated herein by this reference. Owner shall continually maintain the Historic Property in the same or better condition.
c. A view corridor enabling the general public to see the Historic Property from the public right-of-way shall be maintained, and Owner shall not be permitted to block the view corridor to the property with any new structure, such as walls, fences or shrubbery, so as to prevent the viewing of the historic landmark by the public.
d. The following are prohibited: demolition of the Historic Property or destruction of character-defining features of the building or site; removal of trees and other major vegetation unless removal is approved by a rehabilitation plan approved by the Historic Resources Commission; paving of yard surface; exterior alterations or additions unless approved by the Historic Resources Commission and such alterations are in keeping with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards; deteriorating, dilapidated or unrepaired structures such as fences, roofs, doors, walls, and windows; storage of junk, trash, debris, discarded or unused objects such as cars, appliances, or furniture; and other unsightly by decoration, structure or vegetation which is unsightly by reason of its height, condition, or inappropriate location.
e. Owner shall allow reasonable periodic inspection by prior appointment, as needed or at least every five (5) years after the initial inspection, of the interior and exterior of the Historic Property by representatives of the City of Santa Ana, the County Assessor, the State Department of Parks and Recreation, and the State Board of Equalization, to determine the Owner’s compliance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. As part of the periodic inspection, Owner shall supply information in a format determined acceptable by the representatives of the City of Santa Ana, the County Assessor, the State Department of Parks and Recreation, and the State Board of Equalization information required to determine compliance with the terms of this Agreement.
f. Owner shall implement the rehabilitation and restoration work items as discussed in detail in Exhibit D, “Proposed Structure Improvements” or “Work Plan” and the City Council Historic Property Preservation Agreement (HPPA No. 2025-7) staff report dated November 4, 2025. All work items shall be completed within the first ten years of the Mills Act Agreement, with specific items completed within the first five years including replacing missing horizontal upper window frame member at east façade, using the design of the similar adjacent window as a model; restaining the fence around the recreational vehicle enclosure as necessary, subject to Planning Division staff approval; assessing the condition of all windows, including frames and sashes, and repairing or replacing in-kind, as necessary and subject to Planning Division staff approval; assessing the condition of the roof, roof cladding, eaves, exposed rafters, and fascia and repairing or replacing in-kind, as necessary and subject to Planning Division staff approval; and assessing paint and stucco throughout the residence and repairing or replacing, as necessary and subject to Planning Division staff approval. Proof of completion, as requested by the City of Santa
MILLS ACT AGREEMENT
2402 North Riverside Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92706
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Ana, will be required in order to satisfy and maintain the Mills Act Agreement. Staff approval is required before items are amended or removed/replaced from the improvements list.
4. Furnishing of Information.
The Owner hereby agrees to furnish the City with any and all information requested which may be necessary or advisable to determine compliance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement.
5. Cancellation.
a. The City, following a duly noticed public hearing by the City Council as set forth in Government Code Section 50280, et. seq., may cancel this Agreement if it determines that the Owner have breached any of the conditions of this Agreement, or has allowed the property to deteriorate to the point that it no longer meets the standards for a qualified Historic Property, or if the City determines that the Owner have failed to restore or rehabilitate the property in the manner specified in Section 3 of this Agreement. If a contract is cancelled for these reasons, the Owner shall pay a cancellation fee to the County Auditor as set forth in Government Code Section 50286.
This cancellation fee shall be a percentage (currently set at twelve and one-half (12 ½) percent by Government Code Section 50286) of the current fair market value of the property at the time of the cancellation, as determined by the county assessor, without regard to any restriction imposed pursuant to this Agreement.
b. If the Historic Property is destroyed by earthquake, fire, flood or other natural disaster such that in the opinion of the City Building Official more than sixty (60) percent of the original fabric of the structure must be replaced, this Agreement shall be canceled immediately because, in effect, the historic value of the structure will have been destroyed. No fee shall be imposed in the case of destruction by acts of God or natural disaster. c. If the Historic Property is acquired by eminent domain and the City Council determines that the acquisition frustrates the purpose of this Agreement, this Agreement shall be cancelled and no fee imposed, as specified in Government Code Section 50288.
6. Enforcement of Agreement.
a. In lieu of and/or in addition to any provisions to cancel the Agreement as referenced herein, City may specifically enforce, or enjoin the breach of, the terms of the Agreement. In the event of a default, under the provisions to cancel the Agreement by Owner, the City shall give written notice to Owner by registered or certified mail, and if such a violation is not corrected to the reasonable satisfaction of the City Manager or designee within thirty (30) days thereafter, or if not corrected within such a reasonable time as may be required to cure the breach or default, or default cannot be cured within thirty (30) days (provided that acts to cure the breach or default may be commenced within thirty (30) days and shall thereafter be diligently pursued to completion by Owner), then City may, without further notice, declare a default under the terms of this Agreement and may bring any action necessary to specifically enforce the obligations of Owner growing out of the terms of this Agreement, apply to any court, state or federal, for injunctive relief against any violation by Owner or apply for such relief as may be appropriate.
MILLS ACT AGREEMENT
2402 North Riverside Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92706
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b. City does not waive any claim of default by the Owner if City does not enforce or cancel this Agreement. All other remedies at law or in equity which are not otherwise provided for in this Agreement or in City’s regulations governing historic properties are available to City to pursue in the event that there is a breach of this Agreement. No waiver by City of any breach or default under this Agreement shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other subsequent breach thereof or default hereunder.
7. Binding effect of Agreement.
a. Owner hereby subjects the Historic Property, located at 2402 North Riverside Drive, Assessor Parcel Number, 002-064-20, and more particularly described in Exhibit A, in the City of Santa Ana, to the covenants, conditions, and restrictions as set forth in this Agreement. b. City and Owner hereby declare their specific intent that the covenants, conditions and restrictions as set forth herein shall be deemed covenants running with the land and shall pass to and be binding upon Owner’s successors and assigns in title or interest to the Historic Property.
Every contract, deed, or other instrument hereinafter executed, covering or conveying the Historic Property or any portion thereof, shall conclusively be held to have been executed, delivered, and accepted subject to the tenants, restrictions, and reservations expressed in this Agreement regardless of whether such covenants, conditions and restrictions are set forth in such contract, deed, or other instrument.
c. This property is listed in the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties (Register).
In any real property transaction, the owner of this property or the owner’s representative shall provide the buyer of this property with notice that the property is listed on the City’s historic Register.
8. No Compensation.
Owner shall not receive any payment from City in consideration of the obligation imposed under this Agreement, it being recognized that the consideration for the execution of this Agreement is the substantial public benefit to be derived therefrom and the advantage that will accrue to Owner as a result of the effect upon the assessed value of the Property on the account of the restrictions on the use and preservation of the Property.
9. Notice.
Any notice required by the terms of this Agreement shall be sent to the address of the respective parties as specified below or at other addresses that may be later specified by the parties hereto.
City: City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza (M-30)
Santa Ana, CA 92702
Attn: City Clerk
MILLS ACT AGREEMENT
2402 North Riverside Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92706
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Owner: Steven E. Meese and Joelle K. Meese
2402 North Riverside Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92706
10. General Provisions.
a. None of the terms, provisions, or conditions of this Agreement shall be deemed to create a partnership between the parties hereto and any of their heirs, successors, or assigns, nor shall such terms, provisions or conditions cause them to be considered joint ventures or members of any joint enterprise.
b. The Owner agrees to and shall indemnify and hold the City and its elected and appointed officials, officers, agents, and employees harmless from liability for damage or claims for damage for personal injuries, including death, and claims for property damage which may arise from the direct or indirect use or operations of the Owner or those of his or her contractor, subcontractor, agent, employee, or other person acting on his or her behalf which relates to the use, operation, and maintenance of the Historic Property. The Owner hereby agrees to and shall defend the City and its elected and appointed officials, officers, agents, and employees with respect to any and all actions for damages caused by, or alleged to have been caused by, reason of the Owner's activities in connection with the Historic Property.
c. This hold harmless provision applies to all damages and claims for damages suffered, or alleged to have been suffered, and costs of defense incurred, by reason of the operations referred to in this Agreement regardless of whether or not City prepared, supplied, or approved the plans, specifications or other documents for the Historic Property. d. All of the agreements, rights, covenants, conditions, and restrictions contained in this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties herein, their heirs, successors, legal representatives, assigns, and all persons acquiring any part or portion of the Historic Property, whether by operation of law on in any manner whatsoever. e. In the event legal proceedings are brought by any party or parties to enforce or restrain a violation of any of the covenants, reservations, or restrictions contained herein, or to determine the rights and duties of any party hereunder, the prevailing party in such proceeding may recover all reasonable attorney’s fees to be fixed by the court, in addition to court costs and other relief ordered by the court.
f. In the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable or invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, or by subsequent preemptive legislation, the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions, or portions thereof, shall not be effected thereby.
g. This Agreement shall be construed and governed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, with venue in Orange County.
MILLS ACT AGREEMENT
2402 North Riverside Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92706
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11. Recordation.
No later than twenty (20) days after the parties execute and enter into this Agreement, the City shall cause this Agreement to be recorded in the office of the County Recorder of the County of Orange.
12. Amendments.
This Agreement may be amended, in whole or in part, only by a written recorded instrument executed by the parties hereto.
13. Effective Date
This Agreement shall be effective on the day and year first written above in Section 1.
{Signature page follows}
MILLS ACT AGREEMENT
2402 North Riverside Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92706
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ATTEST: CITY OF SANTA ANA
________________________ _________________________
JENNIFER L. HALL ALVARO NUÑEZ
City Clerk City Manager
OWNER
Date: ___________________ By:__________________
STEVEN E. MEESE
Date: ___________________ By:__________________
JOELLE K. MEESE
APPROVED AS TO FORM: RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL:
SONIA CARVALHO
City Attorney
By: _____________________ _____________________
BRANDON SALVATIERRA ALI PEZESHKPOUR
Deputy City Attorney Executive Director
Planning and Building Agency
MILLS ACT AGREEMENT
2402 North Riverside Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92706
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EXHIBIT A
LEGAL DESCRIPTION
REAL PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF SANTA ANA, COUNTY OF ORANGE, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:
LOT 97 OF TRACT NO. 425, IN THE CITY OF SANTA ANA, AS PER MAP RECORDED IN BOOK 16, PAGES 33 AND 34 OF MISCELLANEOUS MAPS, IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER OF SAID COUNTY.
Assessor’s Parcel Number: 002-064-20
Exhibit B
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
H.A. Petersen House
2402 North Riverside Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92706
NAME H.A. Petersen House REF. NO.
ADDRESS 2402 North Riverside Drive
CITY Santa Ana ZIP 92706 ORANGE COUNTY
YEAR BUILT 1951 LOCAL REGISTER CATEGORY: Contributive
HISTORIC DISTRICT Floral Park NEIGHBORHOOD Floral Park
CALIFORNIA REGISTER CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION C/3 CALIFORNIA REGISTER STATUS CODE 5S3 Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted Prehistoric Historic Both
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: Contemporary Modern
The Contemporary Modern style emerged in the early post-World War II period as a popular application of architectural modernism to residental properties. At its emergence in the 1940s, the style was notable for its lack of ornament, relatively large building footprints, and open floorplans. In addition, a key to the style’s popularity was its integration of outdoor and indoor spaces, echoing common practices in residential architecture in Japan, Greece, and China, among other places, where private courts were a common element of residential planning. The popularity of the indoor-outdoor concept after World War II may have resulted from the exposure of American GIs to East Asian architecture during the war. Although the Contemporary Modern style was much less common in postwar residential subdivions than the Ranch house, it was an important feature of the residentail architectural landscape in the 1950s and 1960s. In California, the style’s most notable proponent was developer Joseph Eichler, who built more than 10,000 Contemporary Modern homes in stylistically cohesive developments throughout the state. Residential variants of the Contemporary Modern style are characterized by their roof forms, most commonly gabled, butterfly, and slant. A common set of character-defining features applies to most examples, whatever the variant. These include plans with one or more private court, often covered; generous use of windows, with especially large windows overlooking key locations at the rear of the property; recesedexterior doors to promote privacy; carports; grilles; exposed post-and-beam construction; and a general lack of ornament.
SUMMARY/CONCLUSION:
The H.A. Petersen House qualifies for listing in the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties under Criterion 1 as an intact example of a Contemporary Modern-style home in Santa Ana. The recommended categorization is “Contributive” because it is a good example of the style and contributes to the historical and architectural character of its neighborhood. (Santa Ana Municipal Code, Section 30-2.3).
EXPLANATION OF CODES:
California Register Criteria for Evaluation: (From California Office of Historic Preservation, Technical Assistance Series # 7, “How to Nominate Resources to the California Register of Historical Resources,” September 4, 2001.)
3: It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values.
It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values.
5S3: Appears to be individually eligible for local listing or designation through survey evaluation.
State of California The Resources Agency Primary # ______________________________________________ DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI #__________________________________________________ PRIMARY RECORD Trinomial______________________________________________ NRHP Status Code_____________________________________
Other Listings _____________________________________________________________________ Review Code________ Reviewer________________________ Date_______________ Page _1_ of _6_ Resource name(s) or number (assigned by recorder) H.A. Petersen House P1. Other Identifier:N/A
*P2. Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted *a. County Orange County *b. USGS 7.5’ Quad:Orange Quadrangle California-Orange County 7.5-Minute Series Date:2022 * c. Address 2402 North Riverside Drive City: Santa Ana Zip: 92706 * e. Other Locational Data: Assessor’s Parcel Number 002-064-20
*P3a. Description: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, setting, and boundaries)
Located on a corner parcel in the Floral Park neighborhood, the H.A. Petersen House consists of a one-story, single-family residence and attached garage constructed in the Contemporary Modern style(Figure 1). The parcel is bound east by North Benton Way and north by North Riverside Drive. The residence is irregular in plan with exterior walls sheathed in stucco and a narrow section of vertical wood lap siding on the upper half of the north and east facades. The residence is capped by a low-pitched cross-hipped roof clad in composite shingles with overhanging eaves. The asymmetrical main façade has a recessed entry with a floor-to-ceiling glass block window and flush wood door accessed by brick steps (Figure 2). Windows on the north elevation are wood sliding sash units with aluminum-framed screens (Figure 3). Other notable primary-façade elements include brick lining around planter beds (Figure 4).
(See Continuation Sheet 3 of 5.)
*P3b. Resource Attributes: (list attributes and codes) HP2. Single-Family Residence
*P4. Resources Present: Building Structure Object Site District Element of District Other
P5b. Photo: (view and date)
(Figure 1) Primary (north) facade,
view southeast, taken July 18, 2025.
*P6. Date Constructed/Age and
Sources: historic
1951, Assessor data
*P7. Owner and Address:
Steven E. & Joelle K. Meese
2402 Riverside Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92706-1615
*P8. Recorded by:
James Williams
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza M-20
Santa Ana, CA 92702
*P9. Date Recorded:
September 23, 2025
*P10. Survey Type:
Intensive Survey Update
*P11. Report Citation: (Cite survey
report and other sources, or enter “none”)
None
*Attachments: None Location Map Sketch Map Continuation Sheet Building, Structure, and Object Record Archaeological Record District Record Linear Feature Record Milling Station Record Rock Art Record Artifact Record Photograph Record Other (list)
DPR 523A (1/95) *Required information
P5a. Photo
State of California The Resources Agency Primary # __________________________________________ DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# ______________________________________________
BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
*Resource Name or #: H.A. Petersen House
B1. Historic Name: H.A. Petersen House
B2. Common Name: Same
B3. Original Use: Single-family residence B4. Present Use: Single-family residence *B5. Architectural Style: Contemporary Modern Style
*B6. Construction History: (Construction date, alterations, and date of alterations):
July 6, 1951. Residence and garage constructed. $15,000.
June 28, 1956. Swimming pool constructed. Value unknown.
January 24, 2006. Re-roof with composition shingles. Value unknown.
Date unknown. Pool filled in and backyard landscaped with brick pavers, addition of roll-up garage door. *B7. Moved? No Yes Unknown Date:__________ Original location:_______ _______ *B8. Related Features: N/A
B9a. Architect: Unknown b. Builder: R.C. Kidde
*B10. Significance: Theme Residential Architecture AreaSanta Ana Period of Significance: 1951 Property Type: Single-family residence Applicable Criteria: C/3 (Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, and geographic scope. Also address integrity) The H.A. Petersen House is architecturally significant as an intact example of a Contemporary Modern-style house in Santa Ana. The property is currently a contributor to the Floral Park Historic District which is roughly bounded by Santiago Creek, 17th Street, Broadway, and Flower Street. The district includes 576 contributing buildings and 97 non-contributing buildings that are single-family or multi-family residential.
Assessor data indicates the property was built in 1951 by contractor Douglas W. Edwards for $15,000. The six-room residence and garage were constructed for Homer A. Petersen. Homer Petersen and his wife Grace are listed in the 1954 Santa Ana City Directory, and Petersen was listed as an internal revenue agent (Ancestry.com 2011a). The Petersen family owned and occupied 2402 North Riverside Drive until Dr. Paul Lambert and his wife Jean L. Lambert purchased the property in 1955 (The Register 1955). Dr. Lambert was a physician and general practitioner in Santa Ana and served in the Korean War. According to city building permits, in 1956, Anthony Bros Inc. constructed a swimming pool for Paul Lambert, though the property does not currently have a swimming pool and black and white aerials make it difficult to confirm a swimming pool was constructed in the narrow backyard.
(See Continuation Sheet 3 of 6).
B11. Additional Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes) None *B12. References:
(See Continuation Sheet 4 of 6.)
B13. Remarks: None
*B14. Evaluator: Ashley Losco, City of Santa Ana.
*Date of Evaluation: September 23, 2025
DPR 523B (1/95) *Required information
Sketch Map
(This space reserved for official comments.)
H.A. Petersen House
2402 N. Riverside Drive N
State of California The Resources Agency Primary # _____________________________________________ DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATIONHRI # ________________________________________________ CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial _____________________________________________
*Recorded by James Williams *Date September 23, 2025 Continuation Update DPR 523L
*P3a. Description (continued):
The east elevation faces North Benton Way and features an exterior brick chimney, four wood-frame horizontal sliding sash or double-hung windows, and an aluminum vertical sliding window. At the southern end of the east elevation is an attached garage with a non-historic aluminum roll-up door. Secondary façades on the south, west, and east have a large wood-frame, 21 pane fixed window, three wood-framed sliding glass doors and screens, and two secondary entrances with glazed wood paneled doors (Figures 5 and 6). The secondary, rear facades are shaded by exposed roof beams that extend from the west side of the roof slope (Figure 7). A small shed of modern fabrication is located at the rear of the property.
Landscaping on the property consists of a lawn north and east of the residence, palms and ornamental plants in the brick planter beds on north and east sides of the house, and a mature tree and various plantings in the back yard. *B10. Significance (continued):
According to a newspaper article from 1958, the pool was used as a model pool for Anthony Bros. Inc. (The Register 1958).
The Lambert family lived at the property until 1960 (Ancestry.com 2011b). Between 1964 and 1968, Mary Ann and Matthew A. Brown occupied 2402 North Riverside Drive; Mr. Brown was the owner of the Santa Ana Book Store and Mrs. Brown worked for the Santa Ana recreational program (The Register 1964).
The H.A. Petersen House is located in Floral Park, a neighborhood northwest of downtown Santa Ana bounded by West Seventeenth Street, North Flower Street, Riverside Drive, and Broadway. Groves of orange, avocado, and walnut trees and widely scattered ranch houses characterized this area before 1920. Developer and builder Allison Honer (1897-1981), credited as the subdivider and builder of a major portion of northwest Santa Ana, arrived in Santa Ana from Beaver Falls, New York in 1922 (Talbert, pages 353-356). “Before nightfall on the day of his arrival, Mr. Honer purchased a parcel of land.
And that month, he began building custom homes in Santa Ana” (Orange County Register, September 15, 1981). The parcel chosen became the Floral Park subdivision between Seventeenth Street and Santiago Creek. “When built in the 1920s, the Floral Park homes were the most lavish and expensive in the area. They sold for about $45,000 each” (Orange County Register, September 15, 1981). Revival architecture in a wide variety of romantic styles was celebrated in the 1920s and 1930s and Floral Park showcased examples of the English Tudor, French Norman, Spanish Colonial, and Colonial Revival.
The Allison Honer Construction Company went on to complete such notable projects as the 1935 Art Deco styled Old Santa Ana City Hall, the El Toro Marine Base during World War II, and the 1960 Honer Shopping Plaza. Honer lived in the neighborhood he had helped to create, at 615 West Santa Clara Avenue.
In the late 1920s and 1930s, another builder, Roy Roscoe Russell (1881-1965), continued developing the groves of Floral Park. An early Russell project was his 1928 subdivision of Victoria Drive between West Nineteenth Street and West Santa Clara Avenue. The homes were quite grand and displayed various revival styles, including Russell’s own large, Colonial Revival mansion at 2009 Victoria Drive. In 1937, Roy Rodney Russell, joined his father’s firm and by 1945 it was renamed as Roy Russell and Son. In the early post World War II years, Floral Park continued its development as numerous, smaller, single-family houses were built. Continuing in the Floral Park tradition, they were mostly revival in style. In the 1950s, low, horizontal Ranch Style houses completed the growth of Floral Park. Today (2023) Floral Park maintains its identity as the premier neighborhood of Santa Ana, historically home to many affluent and prominent citizens.
The H. A. Petersen House qualifies for listing in the Santa Ana Register of Historical Properties under Criterion 1 as an intact example of a Contemporary Modern-style house in Santa Ana. Located in Floral Park, the house was constructed in 1951.
The recommended categorization is “Contributive” because it contributes to the overall character and history of its neighborhood and is a good example of period architecture (Santa Ana Municipal Code, Section 30-2.3). Character-defining features of the Contemporary Modern-style exhibited by the house include: its one-story, low-to-the-ground horizontal massing; low-pitched cross-hipped roof with overhanging eaves; stucco and vertical wood lap wall cladding; floor-to-ceiling glass block side lite; wood sash windows, including horizontal sliding and 21-pane fixed configurations; extended beam shade feature; flush wood door with original mail slot and handle; and exterior brick chimney.
*B12. References (continued):
Ancestry.com. 2011a. Listing for Homer Peterson. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA:
Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2469/records/235413595?tid=&pid=&queryId=28565dd5-988c-40a7-88db- 357646a1a5d0&_phsrc=JhD1787&_phstart=successSource (accessed July 2025). _____. 2011b. Listing for Paul W. Lambert. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2469/records/1169516106?tid=&pid=&queryId=8b56709a-2d74-4bff-bfbd- 139a6c20dac3&_phsrc=JhD1790&_phstart=successSource (accessed July 2025).
State of California The Resources Agency Primary # _____________________________________________ DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATIONHRI # ________________________________________________ CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial _____________________________________________
*Recorded by James Williams *Date September 23, 2025 Continuation Update DPR 523L
Marsh, Diann. Santa Ana: An Illustrated History. Encinitas, Heritage Publishing, 1994.
McAlester, Virginia Savage. 2013. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Office of Historic Preservation. “Instructions for Recording Historical Resources.” Sacramento: March 1995. https://scic.sdsu.edu/_resources/docs/manual95.pdf(accessed July 2025).
The Register. 1955.“Births.” June 3, 1955.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/995301937/?match=1&terms=%22paul%20lambert%22 (accessed July 2025). _____. 1958. “Cerebral Palsy Pool Name Contest Begins.” June 26, 1958. https://www.newspapers.com/image/996643558/?match=1&terms=%22Anthony%20Bros.%22(accessed July 2025). _____. 1964. “Ex-Santa Anan New SD Judge.” March 26, 1964. https://www.newspapers.com/image/996877802/?match=1&terms=%22mary%20ann%20brown%22(accessed July 2025).
State of California The Resources Agency Primary # _____________________________________________ DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATIONHRI # ________________________________________________ CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial _____________________________________________
*Recorded by James Williams *Date September 23, 2025 Continuation Update DPR 523L
Additional Figures:
Figure 2. Main entrance on the primary (north) façade
recessed with wood front door and stucco and vertical
wood lap, facing east.
Figure 3. This window is representative of wood sash
windows on the primary façade, facing west.
Figure 4. Primary, east façade with exterior brick
chimney and wood sash windows, facing northwest.
Figure 5. Garage addition east elevation with non-historic roll-up door, facing southwest.
Figure 6. On the south and west elevations, there are
two sliding glass doors and large fixed pane window
facing north.
Figure 7. On the south elevation, an additional sliding glass door, facing northeast.
State of California The Resources Agency Primary # _____________________________________________ DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATIONHRI # ________________________________________________ CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial _____________________________________________
*Recorded by James Williams *Date September 23, 2025 Continuation Update DPR 523L
Figure 8. Entrances on the south and west elevations
exhibit glazed, wood paneled doors, facing north.
Figure 9. Extended roof-beam cover over rear court,
facing northeast.
MILLS ACT AGREEMENT
2402 North Riverside Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92706
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Exhibit C
Exterior work shall be reviewed by the Historic Resources Commission and subject to the U.S.
Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings, as follows:
1. Every reasonable effort shall be made to provide a compatible use for a property which requires minimal alteration of the building, structure, or site and its environment, or to use a property for its originally intended purpose.
2. The distinguishing original qualities or character of a building, structure or site and its environment shall not be destroyed. The removal or alteration of any historic material or distinctive architectural features should be avoided when possible.
3. All buildings, structures, and sites shall be recognized as products of their own time. Alterations that have no historical basis and which seek to create an earlier appearance shall be discouraged.
4. Changes which may have taken place in the course of time are evidence of the history and development of a building, structure, or site and its environment.
These changes may have acquired significance in their own right, and this significance shall be recognized and respected.
5. Distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship which characterize a building, structure, or site shall be treated with sensitivity.
6. Deteriorated architectural features shall be repaired rather than replaced, whenever possible. In the event replacement is necessary, the new material should match the material being replaced in composition, design, color, texture, and other visual qualities. Repair or replacement of missing architectural features should be based on accurate duplications of features, substantiated by historic, physical, or pictorial evidence rather than on conjectural designs or the availability of different architectural elements from the other buildings or structures.
7. The surface cleaning of structures shall be undertaken with the gentlest means possible. Sandblasting and other cleaning methods that will damage the historic building materials shall not be undertaken.
8. Every reasonable effort shall be made to protect and reserve archaeological resources affected by, or adjacent to any project.
9. Contemporary design for alterations and additions to existing properties shall not be discouraged when such alterations and additions do not destroy significant historical, architectural or cultural material, and such design is compatible with
MILLS ACT AGREEMENT
2402 North Riverside Drive
Santa Ana, CA 92706
- 2 -
size, scale, color, material and character of the property, neighborhood, or environment.
10. Wherever possible, new additions or alterations to structures shall be done in such a manner that if such additions or alterations need to be removed in the future, the essential form and integrity of the structure would be unimpaired.
Exhibit D: Proposed Structure Improvements (“Work Plan”) 2402 North Riverside Drive
Item Year Improvement
1 2026 Replace missing horizontal upper window frame member at east elevation, using the design of the similar adjacent window as a model.
2 2027 Restain fence around recreational vehicle enclosure as necessary, subject to Planning Division staff approval.
3 2028 Assess condition of all windows, including frames and sashes, and repair or replace in-kind, as necessary and subject to Planning Division staff approval. 4 2030 Assess condition of roof, roof cladding, eaves, exposed rafters, and fascia and repair or replace in-kind, as necessary and subject to Planning Division staff approval. 5 2031 Assess paint and stucco throughout the residence and repair or replace, as necessary and subject to Planning Division staff approval.