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EL CENTRO <br />1 CULTURAL <br />;�♦,r!;� DE M]EXICO <br />January 201h, 2026 <br />Mayor Amezcua and Members of the Council <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />Re: Letter of support for 1901 W. Walnut St. Land Acquisition <br />Dear Mayor Amezcua and Members of the Santa Ana City Council, <br />On behalf of El Centro Cultural de Mexico, we appreciate the opportunity to express our <br />strong support for THRIVE Santa Ana's efforts to purchase and permanently own the site of <br />La Colmena (1901 W. Walnut Street) from the City of Santa Ana. Building on its success, <br />THRIVE has now secured state funding to permanently acquire the site. We respectfully ask <br />that the City Council direct staff to prepare a purchase and sale agreement, along with the <br />required Economic Subsidy Report, to allow the City to accept THRIVE's offer of $8.52,000 for <br />the property. <br />El Centro Cultural de Mexico is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing together <br />Orange County's diverse community of immigrant workers, families, and students to support <br />community -based organizing and initiatives that advance justice and equity. Since our founding <br />in 1994, we have served as a vital community resource for cultural, educational, and artistic <br />activities that strengthen identity, nurture local talent, and develop community -based <br />leadership. <br />We have worked alongside THRIVE Santa Ana since its founding. In 2020, the City of Santa <br />Ana approved a 99-year lease for the site, including an Option to Purchase —demonstrating the <br />City's long-term commitment to developing a community land trust strategy. Since then, <br />THRIVE has collaborated closely with the City to advance a purchase agreement using <br />funding awarded by the State of California through an Economic Development Pilot grant. <br />Council approval is now needed to move forward with the purchase offer and to approve an <br />economic subsidy reflecting the difference between the appraised land value prior to <br />construction and its value following completion. We understand this item will be considered in <br />closed session at the upcoming City Council meeting. <br />At El Centro Cultural de Mexico, having a permanent, community -owned space has allowed us <br />to train generations of community -based organizers working in health equity, housing justice, <br />