Mindy Bish, Esq 22505 Market St Suite 104 Newhall, CA 91321 (213) 392 - 3385 [email protected] April 28, 2025 The City Council of Santa Clarita 23920 Valencia Blvd #120 Valencia, CA 91355 Honorable Members of the City Council of Santa Clarita: My name is Mindy Bish. I am the owner of the building on Market Street and Railroad Avenue
that
houses
both
my
law
firm
and
the
Rafter’s.
Firstly,
thank
you
all
for
doing
the
due
diligence
expected
of
you
by
the
good
people
of
Santa
Clarita.
As
a
resident
of
Santa
Clarita
since
1993,
I
appreciate
the
work
to
ensure
the
city
grows
responsibly
and
respectfully.
I
wanted
to
take
the
time
to
address
your
concerns
about
the
inclusion
of
the
building
in
the
work
being
proposed
by
Serrano
development:
the
historic
nature
of
the
building,
the
issue
of
parking,
and
the
relocation
of
the
Rafter’s
clubhouse.
I
thank
you
in
advance
for
your
time
reviewing
this
letter.
In regard to the historic nature of the building; unfortunately what remains is tenuous at best.
Nothing
exists
documenting
the
original
form
of
the
building
to
determine
if
the
building
in
its
current
form
is,
in
any
way,
the
same
as
it
was.
There
is
nothing
to
see
on
the
exterior
of
the
building.
The
building
attracts
no
visitors
based
on
its
alleged
historic
value.
No
one
showed
any
interest
in
the
building
as
a
historic
landmark
until
the
time
it
was
up
for
inclusion
by
Serrano
in
their
development
plans.
While
I
respect
people’s
desire
to
keep
important
landmarks
of
the
past,
especially
as
a
History
major
myself,
this
building
simply
is
not
the
landmark,
in
any
way,
it’s
being
ascribed
to
be.
Parking is a major issue in Downtown Newhall. No one refutes this as an issue. However, that problem
exists
whether
or
not
this
development
goes
forward.
Parking
is
a
problem
that
needs
to
be
resolved
regardless
of
this
development.
That
resolution
should
come
quickly
in
the
form
of
another
parking
structure.
Placing
the
burden
on
Serrano
to
build
much
needed
and
required
housing
and
fix
a
long-standing
problem
is
an
undue
burden
that
will
result
in
less
housing
not
more
parking.
I
would
ask
the
council
allow
the
parking
to
go
forward
as
specified
and
move
forward
with
a
new
parking
structure
to
fix
the
current
parking
problem
in
the
area.
The Rafters has found a new place for its clubhouse. While the Rafters does good work in the community
they
have
not
been
good
tenants.
They
did
not
respond
timely
to
requests
to
keep
common
areas
clean
or
to
ask
their
members
to
avoid
loitering
for
prolonged
periods.
As
such,
they
were
asked
to
find
a
new
place
regardless
of
the
building’s
inclusion
in
this
development.
Further, the Rafters stands to get an incredible amount of help for their move if the development proceeds.
In
that
situation
they’ll
be
able
to
remove
as
much
of
the
interior
of
their
clubhouse
as
they’d
like
and
get
$25,000
in
assistance
to
renovate
their
new
space
plus
they’ll
also
be
provided
with
discounted
contractor
work
from
Hahn
Contractors.
Rafters
stands
to
gain
if
the
development
is
allowed
to
proceed.
Lastly, while I have enjoyed my time in Santa Clarita, I have relocated to Florida for the past three
years
to
help
an
elderly
colleague
transition
to
retirement.
As
such,
I
will
be
moving
to
sell
the
building
regardless
of
the
outcome
of
the
development.
In
doing
so,
the
building
will
likely,
as
the
Mayor
indicated,
be
sold
to
someone
else
trying
to
develop
it.
Someone
who
might
not
have
the
same
kind
of
interest
as
Serrano
in
building
something
as
mutually
beneficial.
And
someone
who
may
adhere
to
the
letter
of
the
law
when
it
comes
to
what
is
required
of
them.
I
believe
it
will
result
in
the
best
possible
outcome
for
this
building
and
the
city
for
Serrano
to
take
ownership,
a
known
partner
to
the
city,
as
opposed
to
leaving
this
work
for
someone
else.