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From:Ed Murashie To:eComments, PBA Subject:March 28 Hearing Re: Request for Variance at historic "Maharaja" house Date:Sunday, March 27, 2022 10:48:01 PM Attachments:image003.png Hello, I am Ed Murashie, a Floral Park resident, and Historic Resources Commissioner. I will be speaking tomorrow night and I want to go on record opposing the variance, and provide a few photos that I will refer to when I speak. The Maharaja House is a Landmark historic property that is on the Santa Ana Register of Historic Properties (SARHP) and the owners have a Mill Act contract with the city. The home owner has had no respect for the historic integrity of the house and has been trying to change the Moderne architecture style since they bought the house. Considering its registered historic status, modifications of the exterior character defining features are not allowed but have occurred. The owners have also intentionally ignored the city permitting process at least twice. This is shown by the following actions documented in the city’s online planning history shown below : 1. Tried to modify the home on 4/10/2003 and was denied a permit. 2. Tried to appeal the 6/19/2003 decision to place the home on the SARHP on 10/13/2003. 3. Installed an oriental tea house 10/27/2003. It was permitted. The style was not in keeping with the Moderne or Indore, but half of it is hidden by front block wall. 4. Exterior modification 08/24/2007. I don’t have a record of what was changed. 5. Tried to be removed from the SARHP on 1/15/2013 but was denied. 6. Summer of 2021, reroofed and extended the height of pool house above the 15’ limit without a variance and without a permit, see the images below. 7. Added a horse sculpture, and oriental sculpture garden in the front side yard which is a misrepresentation of the Maharaja of Indore or his daughter the Princess. 8. Without a permit, changed out the casement windows and awnings which are historic defining features called out in the DPR and they have yet to be replaced. 9. Window change out on 02/18/2014. The matter was not included in any 2014 HRC minutes so I am not sure if it was presented to the HRC, which it should have. The Maharaja House is the most historically significant structure in the Floral Park neighborhood. The owners are aware of the historical nature of the house and have been taking advantage of the Mills Act tax saving which protect the historical integrity of the home. The casement windows and awnings should be restored and the pool roof return to its original structure and height before this variance is considered. Best Regards, Ed The reroofing of the pool house can be seen in the two images below take over a span of three years. The earlier image shows the pool house circled in red. Notice the new house circled in green with the incomplete front and back yards. So you know the image is not “PhotoShop’d”, you can see it for yourself at https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7664955,-117.8748372,94m/data=!3m1!1e3 This is a later image taken within the past year. You can tell by looking at the finished front and backyard of the house circled in green . Notice the pool house roof circled in red is different. So you know the image is not “PhotoShop’d”, you can see it for yourself at https://zoom.earth/#view=33.766451,-117.874889,20z City Council 34 – 153 11/19/2024