Historic Preservation Element

The purpose of this Historic Preservation Element is to provide guidance in developing and implementing activities that ensure that identification, designation, and protection of architectural, historical, cultural, and archaeological resources are part of the City’s planning, development, and permitting processes. Through General Plan historic preservation policies and programs, Santa Ana’s heritage and diversity will continue to be a source of community pride.

Santa Ana was incorporated as a city in 1886. When Orange County separated from Los Angeles County in 1889, Santa Ana was designated the county seat. Historic preservation of the city’s cultural and architectural heritage is an essential part of the City of Santa Ana’s economic vitality and city identity.

Santa Ana residents take pride in the architectural heritage of the city, including its historical buildings and unique neighborhood character. Sites such as the Old Orange County Courthouse, Pacific Substation, and Yost Theatre reflect the city’s rich cultural history and architectural diversity.

The City’s preservation efforts are consistent with local implementation programs and local ordinances, such as the Santa Ana Municipal Code, specifically Chapter 30 (Places of Historical and Architectural Significance), Chapter 41 (Zoning Code), and the State Historical Building Code, adopted by reference in Chapter 8 (Building and Structures).

Additional direction is provided in the Citywide Design Guidelines, Chapter 13 (Historic Structures Guidelines), Chapter 8 (Downtown Development Guidelines), and Appendix A (Santa Ana Architectural Styles). In 2014, the City passed the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance to encourage the preservation and use of historical buildings.

Incentives to preserve and rehabilitate historic buildings include the Mills Act and the federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program.

The City of Santa Ana has two listed National Register historic districts: Downtown Santa Ana and French Park. The City also maintains zoning protection for the historical resources in French Park through Specific Development 19 (SD-19) and in the Heninger Park neighborhood through SD-40.

Through the community engagement process for this General Plan, participants identified numerous historic preservation considerations and values that they believe should form the basis of and be addressed by this element. Specifically, participants highlighted the following topics, areas of concern, and community strengths:

• Rich cultural and architectural history
• Unique neighborhoods
• Protect existing neighborhoods from intrusive development
• Maintain character, sense of place, and identity
• Pride in neighborhoods
• Adaptive reuse of buildings

Preserve and enhance Santa Ana’s historic areas and resources to maintain a unique sense of place.

• Policy HP-1.1
  Architectural and Design Standards
  Preserve unique neighborhoods and structures in Santa Ana through implementation of the Citywide Design Guidelines and historic preservation best practices.
  
• Policy HP-1.2
  Federal Standards for Rehabilitation
  Ensure rehabilitation of historic buildings complies with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and that new construction in historic districts is compatible with context.
  
• Policy HP-1.3
  Historic Districts and Design Standards
  Explore opportunities to preserve neighborhoods with largely intact historic buildings and character through the creation of historic districts, identification of historically sensitive areas, or neighborhood context-sensitive design standards.
  
• Policy HP-1.4
  Protecting Resources
  Support land use plans and development proposals that actively protect historic and cultural resources. Preserve tribal, archeological, and paleontological resources for their cultural importance to communities as well as their research and educational potential.
  
• Policy HP-1.5
  Structure and Systems Maintenance
  Encourage maintenance, care, and systems upgrades of historic resources to avoid the need for major rehabilitation, prevent loss of historic resources, and remediate health concerns such as lead based paint and mold.
  
• Policy HP-1.6
  Lead by Example
  Ensure that all City-owned historic resources and cultural facilities reflect exceptional architecture and historically appropriate features to celebrate Santa Ana as a world-class city.
  
• Policy HP-1.7
  Preserving Human Element
  Encourage participation in oral history programs to capture Santa Ana’s historic and cultural narrative.
  
• Policy HP-1.8
  Reuse of Historic Buildings
  Support flexible land use standards to facilitate the adaptive reuse of historic buildings with a variety of economically viable uses, while minimizing impacts to the historic value and character of sites and structures.
  
• Policy HP-1.9
  Historic Downtown
  Strengthen the image and identity of Downtown through unifying design and architectural themes that are compatible with existing historic fabric.
  

Promote the City’s cultural and historic resources to advance Santa Ana’s role in Southern California history.

• Policy HP-2.1
  Resource Stewardship
  Expand community outreach to educate property owners and businesses regarding responsibilities and stewardship requirements of the city’s historic resources.
  
• Policy HP-2.2
  Educational Awareness
  Provide educational opportunities to foster community awareness and pride in Santa Ana’s history.
  
• Policy HP-2.3
  Commemorating History
  Support efforts to identify and commemorate historic structures and sites, and historically sensitive areas in Santa Ana through murals, plaques, and educational exhibits.
  
• Policy HP-2.4
  Local and Regional Partnerships
  Strengthen relationships and programs with local and regional institutions and organizations to promote the appreciation, maintenance, rehabilitation, and preservation of Santa Ana’s historic and cultural resources.
  
• Policy HP-2.5
  Economic Development Tool
  Promote economic development through heritage education and the promotion of tourism.
  
• Policy HP-2.6
  Center Core
  Promote Santa Ana’s identity as the cultural and historic downtown of Orange County.
  

Develop, implement, and maintain a nationally recognized historic preservation program.

• Policy HP-3.1
  Historic Resource Survey
  Maintain a comprehensive program to inventory and preserve historic and cultural resources, including heritage landscape and trees.
  
• Policy HP-3.2
  Incentivize Preservation
  Support incentive programs that promote restoration, rehabilitation, salvage, and adaptive reuse of historic buildings.
  
• Policy HP-3.3
  Accessible Preservation Program
  Explore strategies to promote a historic preservation program that is robust, equitable, and accessible.
  
• Policy HP-3.4
  Preservation Program Certification
  Maintain Santa Ana’s status as a Certified Local Government (CLG) to further the City’s historic resource program and pursue all available funding for preservation.
  
• Policy HP-3.5
  Local Preservation Groups
  Collaborate with the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society, community groups, and individuals to promote public awareness and educational opportunities that highlight historic preservation.
  
• Policy HP-3.6
  Staff Development
  Collaborate with local and regional historic preservation groups to maintain a training program that promotes best practices in preservation techniques.
  

An implementation plan is a coordinated series of actions the City desires to take in the future that are intended to advance, over the long term, the City’s Shared Vision, Core Values, and the General Plan goals and policies. An implementation plan is thus a follow-up measure for this element. Taken as a whole, these programs represent the City’s best thinking today on what actions should be taken to address the considerations and concerns of the community and make sure that the plan’s aspirations are achieved.

Implementation is in large part contingent upon adequate funding. Many of these actions can be pursued through initiatives already underway. Other programs will require additional resources. Therefore, the exact mix and timing of programs the City may pursue will in part be opportunity driven, dependent on the availability of funding, staffing, and other necessary resources. The Time Frame in the Implementation Table below is the target for completion of the Action.

This element may be implemented by amendments to existing plans, ordinances, development standards and design guidelines; capital investments/projects; and interagency/interjurisdictional coordination. The following table identifies the implementation action, the responsible City agency, and targeted timeline for accomplishment.