September 23, 2019
FROM: DANIEL ZACK, AICP
Assistant Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: LAURA GROVES van ONNA
Historic Preservation Specialist
Planning and Development Department
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF REQUESTS BY PROPERTY OWNERS TO ENTER INTO MILLS ACT HISTORICAL PROPERTY CONTRACTS PURSUANT TO FMC 12-1706:
1. The Ira Brooks Home (HP #204) Located at 226 N Fulton Street.
2. The Ivan C. & Maude McIndoo Home (contributor to Wilson Island Historic District) Located at 655 E Home Avenue.
3. The Harris Home (contributor to Porter Tract Historic District) Located at 1022 E Cambridge Avenue.
4. The Anderson Home (contributor to Porter Tract Historic District) Located at 1035 E Cambridge Avenue.
5. The Bonner Home (contributor to Porter Tract Historic District) Located at 1037 E Cambridge Avenue.
6. The Calvin H. Antrim Home (contributor to Wilson Island Historic District) Located at 1471 N Echo Avenue.
7. The Romain Home (NR; CR; HP #147) Located at 2055 San Joaquin Street.
8. The C.M. & Gertrude Prescott Home (HP #285; contributor to Huntington Boulevard Historic District) Located at 3707 E Huntington Boulevard.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Commission hold a public hearing and recommend that the Director of Planning and Development enter into Historic Property Contracts for the subject properties pursuant to FMC 12-1706. Upon approval, respective property owners shall return executed and notarized contracts to City staff, who will subsequently execute and record contracts with the County Recorder.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Eight Mills Act Program Application Submittals were received by June 28, 2019 and issued initial approval. Site visits were completed in July 2019 with the property owner, the Historic Preservation Specialist, and a Commission member present. A staff report as well as revised work plans and survey forms for each respective property are being presented to the Commission on September 23, 2019 for review. Once approved, property owners will return executed and notarized contracts to City staff, who will subsequently execute and record contracts with the County Recorder prior to the end of calendar year 2019.
BACKGROUND
PURPOSE
In California, Mills Act legislation grants participating local governments the authority to enter into contracts with owners of qualified historic properties who actively participate in the restoration and maintenance of their historic properties and in exchange receive a reduction in property taxes. The City of Fresno adopted the Mills Act Program in 2016.
The minimum duration for a Mills Act Contract is 10 years. Once granted a Mills Act contract, a property owner saves approximately 40%-50% of the individual assessed tax valuation of the property. The estimated loss of revenue to the City for a property valuated at $1,000,000 would be approximately at $800 to $1,000 per year.
PROVISIONS
Qualified Historical Properties
1) Properties must be privately owned within the City of Fresno and not exempt from property taxation;
2) Properties must be listed in the National Register of Historic Places, located in a registered historic district, or listed in any state, city, county, or city and county official register of historical or architecturally significant sites, places, or landmarks;
3) Heritage Properties do not qualify for participation;
Required Contract Provisions
4) Contracts entered into must have a term of a minimum of 10 years;
5) Owners must preserve and, when necessary, restore and rehabilitate the property to conform to the rules and regulations of the Office of Historic Preservation of the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and the State Historical Building Code;
6) City officials must be granted permission to inspect the interior and exterior of the premises, prior to the execution of a new contract, and every five years thereafter, to determine the owner’s continued compliance with the contract;
7) All successors in interest of the owner are bound to the benefits and burdens of the contract;
8) Unless written notice is provided by owners at least 90 days prior to the renewal date or by the City at least 60 days prior to the renewal date, 1 year shall automatically be added to the term of the contract on the anniversary date of the contract or such other annual date as is specified in the contract;
9) Owners must furnish the City with any information requested in order to determine the eligibility of the property involved; and
10) Owners or agents of the owners must provide written notice of a contract to the Office of Historic Preservation within six months of entering into a contract.
PROCEDURE
Eight Mills Act Program Application Submittals were received by June 28, 2019 and issued initial approval. Site visits were completed in July 2019 with the property owner, the Historic Preservation Specialist, and a Commission member present. A staff report as well as revised work plans and survey forms for each respective property are being presented to the Commission on September 23, 2019 for review. Once approved, property owners will return executed and notarized contracts to City staff, who will subsequently execute and record contracts with the County Recorder prior to the end of calendar year 2019.
Respective owners have requested to enter into a Historical Property Agreement (also known as a Mills Act contract) with the City.
In order to ensure compliance with the Mills Act Program, City staff and/or Commission members shall conduct periodic inspections of the properties to verify that the agreed-to improvements are being fulfilled by the owner.
Please note: Proposed exterior alterations that have the potential to affect the historic character of a designated property are still subject to review by the Historic Preservation Specialist upon project proposal and prior to the commencement of work. Furthermore, proposed projects which require a permit are subject to review by the Current Planning and Building & Safety divisions. Although anticipated projects may qualify for the Mills Act Program, approval of a Mills Act Application and execution of a Mills Act Contract do not equate with formal project approval.
1. The Ira Brooks Home (1905) located at 226 N Fulton Street consists of a two-story, single-family residence and a detached, three-car garage within the rear portion of the property, with a driveway that is accessed by the alley. The residence is one of the first houses to be erected in North Park and was likely one of the earliest true Craftsman bungaloids built in Fresno. The first known owner and occupant is Ira H. Brooks, president of Brooks Furniture Co., founded in 1910-1911. The residence was moved a short distance to a location further south on Fulton Street during the 1990s as a mitigation measure for the Highway 180 project.
The Resolution designating the Ira Brooks Home to the Local Register of Historic Resources was adopted by Fresno City Council on June 22, 1993. The property is greater than 50 years of age and possesses integrity of design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association (FMC 12-1607). Additionally, it is significant because it is associated with and contributed to the development and character of the greater North Park neighborhood in Fresno, it is associated with prominent Fresno businessman Ira H. Brooks, and it embodies strong representative characteristics of the early Arts and Crafts movement as a primary example of the Craftsman and Colonial Revival architectural styles.
2. The Ivan C. & Maude McIndoo Home (c. 1919) located at 655 E Home Avenue consists of a two-story, single-family residence and a detached two-car garage within the rear portion of the property, with a driveway that leads to E Home Avenue along the east property line. The residence was designed in the Prairie and Craftsman architectural styles.
The Ivan C. & Maude McIndoo Home is a contributor to the Wilson Island Historic District. The Resolution designating the Wilson Island Historic District as a Local Historic District was adopted by City Council on October 29, 2009 pursuant to FMC 12-1607(b) under Criteria i, ii, iii and iv. The “Wilson Island” is located within Fresno’s Tower District and encompasses 80 properties which are within the larger Wilson’s North Fresno Tract, a subdivision first developed in 1908 by Rosanna C. Wilson and her son A. Polette Wilson. It is one of the most architecturally distinct neighborhoods in Fresno, with a mix representing the major styles prevalent during the period of 1910-1954. Several of the homes in this 6-block neighborhood were designed by prominent local and regional architects (and/or building firms). From an earlier era when people lived in more socially mixed neighborhoods, the Wilson Island represents a move to a new “suburbia,” based to some extent on social standing and education.
3. The Harris Home (1918) located at 1022 E Cambridge Avenue consists of a two-story, single-family residence and a detached gazebo within the rear portion of the property, with a driveway that leads to E Cambridge Avenue along the west property line. The residence was designed in the Classical Revival architectural style.
The Harris Home is a contributor to the Porter Tract Historic District. The Resolution designating the Porter Tract Historic District as a Local Historic District was adopted on April 3, 2001. The District consists of 45 properties, all of which are greater than 50 years of age, and possesses integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association (FMC 12-1607). Additionally, the District is significant for its architecture and social history.
4. The Anderson Home (1917) located at 1035 E Cambridge Avenue consists of a two-story, single-family residence and one-story granny flat within the rear portion of the property, with a driveway that leads to E Cambridge Avenue along the east property line. The residence was designed in the Beaux-Arts architectural style.
The Anderson Home is a contributor to the Porter Tract Historic District. The Resolution designating the Porter Tract Historic District as a Local Historic District was adopted on April 3, 2001. The District consists of 45 properties, all of which are greater than 50 years of age, and possesses integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association (FMC 12-1607). Additionally, the District is significant for its architecture and social history.
5. The Bonner Home (1918) located at 1037 E Cambridge Avenue consists of a two-story, single-family residence and detached two-car garage within the rear portion of the corner property, with a driveway that leads to N College Avenue along the north property line. The residence was designed in the Prairie architectural style. Charles G. Bonner was associated with Bonner Packing Company and was president of the Howden-Butler Co., raisin packers, when he and his wife Marie owned and occupied the home.
The Bonner Home is a contributor to the Porter Tract Historic District. The Resolution designating the Porter Tract Historic District as a Local Historic District was adopted on April 3, 2001. The District consists of 45 properties, all of which are greater than 50 years of age, and possesses integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association (FMC 12-1607). Additionally, the District is significant for its architecture and social history.
6. The Calvin H. Antrim Home (1936) located at 1471 N Echo Avenue consists of a two-story, single-family residence with an attached two-car garage within the rear portion of the corner property, with a driveway that leads to E Pine Avenue along the west property line. The residence was designed in the Colonial Revival architectural style.
The Ivan C. & Maude McIndoo Home is a contributor to the Wilson Island Historic District. The Resolution designating the Wilson Island Historic District as a Local Historic District was adopted by City Council on October 29, 2009 pursuant to FMC 12-1607(b) under Criteria i, ii, iii and iv. The “Wilson Island” is located within Fresno’s Tower District and encompasses 80 properties which are within the larger Wilson’s North Fresno Tract, a subdivision first developed in 1908 by Rosanna C. Wilson and her son A. Polette Wilson. It is one of the most architecturally distinct neighborhoods in Fresno, with a mix representing the major styles prevalent during the period of 1910-1954. Several of the homes in this 6-block neighborhood were designed by prominent local and regional architects (and/or building firms). From an earlier era when people lived in more socially mixed neighborhoods, the Wilson Island represents a move to a new “suburbia,” based to some extent on social standing and education.
7. The Romain Home (1905) located at 2055 San Joaquin Street consists of a two-story building with original use as a single-family residence, modified use as a funeral home, and current use as commercial offices. There is a parking lot within the rear portion of the corner property, with a driveway that is accessed by the alley. The residence was designed with elements of the Craftsman architectural style for Frank Romain, who established a raisin packing plant in the area and became general manager of the California Packing Company.
The Resolution designating the Romain Home to the Local Register of Historic Resources was adopted by Fresno City Council on May 6, 1980. The property is greater than 50 years of age and possesses integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association (FMC 12-1607). Additionally, it is significant because it is associated with early 20th century residential development in Fresno and with Frank Romain, one of Fresno’s pioneer entrepreneurs, and it is one of the earliest grand residences in Fresno that represents Romain’s success and design elements of the Craftsman architectural style.
Furthermore, the Romain Home is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historical Resources.
8. The C.M. & Gertrude Prescott Home (1921) located at 3707 E Huntington Boulevard consists of a two-story, single-family residence and detached two-car garage within the rear portion of the corner property, with a driveway that leads to S Seventh Street along the north property line. The residence was designed in the Tudor Revival architectural style for C.M. “Ned” and Gertrude Prescott, who helped establish Prescott Lumber Co. and thereafter Valley Lumber. They were especially active in the early logging of the Hume district. The period of significance identified for this property is 1921-1938.
The Resolution designating the C.M. & Gertrude Prescott Home to the Local Register of Historic Resources was adopted by Fresno City Council on October 6, 2014. The property is greater than 50 years of age and possesses integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association (FMC 12-1607). Additionally, it is significant under Local Register Criterion i because it is a contributor to the Local Huntington Boulevard Historic District, Criterion ii because it is associated with a family important in early Fresno, and Criterion iii because it is a particularly grand example of a variation of the Tudor Revival, a style of residential building particularly popular in Fresno between the two World Wars.
Furthermore, the C.M. & Gertrude Prescott Home is a contributor to the Huntington Boulevard Historic District. The Resolution designating the Huntington Boulevard Historic District as a Local Historic District was adopted by City Council on May 21, 2015 pursuant to FMC 12-1607(b) under Criteria i, ii, iii and iv. The Huntington Boulevard Historic District includes 121 residential properties (116 contributors) located on both sides of the grassy median that once served as the streetcar corridor. Homes on the boulevard date from 1914 to 1974 and represent some of the finest examples of Craftsman and Period Revival architecture in the City. In addition, many of Fresno’s influential families with important ties to banking, education, architecture and commerce have lived on the street.
Mills Act Program Application Procedure:
The City’s Mills Act Program is located at Chapter 12, Article 17 of the Fresno Municipal Code. Section 1706 references the Mills Act Program Application Procedure:
Applications to the city shall be initially evaluated and reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission. The Historic Preservation Commission shall hold a public hearing on every application for a Historical Property Contract. The public hearing shall be scheduled for a date not less than ten days but not more than ninety days from the date the application is filed. After the hearing, the Historic Preservation Commission shall recommend to the Director of Development and Resource Management Department that the application be denied, granted in whole or in part, or modified subject to such conditions as it deems appropriate. The Director of the Development and Resource Management Department may, in the Director’s discretion, enter into Historical Property Contracts if all of the conditions of this article are met. The Director of the Development and Resource Management Department shall be responsible for assuring performance of the Historical Preservation Contracts including contract administration, extension, cancellation, and enforcement.
Attachments
Exhibit 1: Revised Work Plan (2020-2029) and Survey Forms for the Ira Brooks Home (HP #204) located at 226 N Fulton Street.
Exhibit 2: Revised Work Plan (2020-2029) and Survey Forms for the Ivan C. & Maude McIndoo Home (contributor to Wilson Island Historic District) located at 655 E Home Avenue.
Exhibit 3: Revised Work Plan (2020-2029) and Survey Forms for the Harris Home (contributor to Porter Tract Historic District) located at 1022 E Cambridge Avenue.
Exhibit 4: Revised Work Plan (2020-2029) and Survey Forms for the Anderson Home (contributor to Porter Tract Historic District) located at 1035 E Cambridge Avenue.
Exhibit 5: Revised Work Plan (2020-2029) and Survey Forms for the Bonner Home (contributor to Porter Tract Historic District) located at 1037 E Cambridge Avenue.
Exhibit 6: Revised Work Plan (2020-2029) and Survey Forms for the Calvin H. Antrim Home (contributor to Wilson Island Historic District) located at 1471 N Echo Avenue.
Exhibit 7: Revised Work Plan (2020-2029) and Survey Forms for the Romain Home (NR; CR; HP #147) located at 2055 San Joaquin Street.
Exhibit 8: Revised Work Plan (2020-2029) and Survey Forms for the C.M. & Gertrude Prescott Home (HP #285; contributor to Huntington Boulevard Historic District) located at 3707 E Huntington Boulevard.