HRC FULL PACKET 2012-06-28 - Laserfiche WebLink

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HEMA No. 2010-03 June 28, 2012 Page 3 Pro[ect Analysis The McGowan House meets the Santa Ana Municipal Code Chapter 30, Section 30-2, Criteria for Selection and qualifes for the Register of Historic Properties under Criterion 1 for its representation of the distinguishing characteristics of the Colonial Revival style and Criterion T as a building or structure that was connected to a business or use which was once common, but now is rare. In addition to the placement, the farmhouse was categorized as "Landmark" for its historicallcultural significance to the City of Santa Ana as a symbol of the agrarian era in Santa Ana. The structure also meets the criteria for eligibility for inclusion on the California Register of Historical Resources. Character defining features of a historic structure must be retained and preserved according to the California Environmental Quality Act (Section 15064.5(b}, Exhibit 5)). Character defining features of the McGowan House include original fenestration patterns, overall massing and roof configuration as noted in the Department of Parks and Recreation form (DPR} noting this structure's historic significance on primary elevations. Primary elevations, or those visible from the right-of-way, are considered the most significant. Proposed alterations must meet the criteria established by the Secretary of the Interior (Exhibit 4} to prevent potential negative impacts to the resource. Proposed Changes to the North Front Elevation The applicant wishes to have a covered front porch so as to provide an entertaining area for guests, and shade for the front of the house. The owners also believe a front porch will supplement the architectural merit of their home. Primary elevations are the most important to preserve on a historic structure. The McGowan House's facade is substantially intact dating back to 1938, with the western elevation being primarily original to first construction in the 1800`s (Exhibit 6). Although the proposal is attractive and in keeping with the Colonial Revival style, the proposed wrap-around porch would alter the character defining features of the 1938 Colonial Revival front entry, and would alter the symmetrical design of the structure and do not meet the Secretary of the Interior Standards 2, 3, 4, 5, and 9. The existing entry entails sidelights, fanlight, fluted pilasters, and an unadorned pediment, and the prominence of these features would be compromised by the proposal. Per the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, the alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property must be avoided, as well as changes that create a false sense of historical development. Adding conjectural or new features that change the look of the property, such as reconfiguring the front porch, and would have a significant negative effect on this resource. Although the front entry was changed to its current configuration in 1938, changes that have acquired historic significance in their own right, such as the current front entry, shall be retained and preserved in order to meet the Standards. Distinctive features and finishes must be preserved in order to meet these national standards.