HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-26 - AGENDA REPORTS - AWARD OF A GRANT TO THE SCV HISTORICAL SOCIETY (2)Agenda Item: 16
DATE: November 26, 2019
SUBJECT: AWARD OF A GRANT TO THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
PRESENTER: Jerrid McKenna
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Award a one-time grant to the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society in the amount of
$25,000 to replace the roof of the Newhall Ranch House.
2. Appropriate $25,000 from the City Council's Contingency Account (19300-5401.001) to
Expenditure Account 13100-5171.011.
3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute a grant agreement and all other required
documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
The Newhall Ranch House was the headquarters of The Newhall Land and Farming Company. It
was started in 1865 by a prior owner of the Rancho San Francisco and was expanded into its
present form in the 1890s. Originally located in what is now the Six Flags Magic Mountain
parking lot, it was donated by Newhall Land to the Historical Society in 1990 and moved to
Heritage Junction with assistance from the City of Santa Clarita.
In October 2019, the Santa Ana winds that occurred during the Tick Fire affected the roof of the
Newhall Ranch House. Owned by the Santa Clarita Valley (SCV) Historical Society and located
in Heritage Junction Historic Park, the Newhall Ranch House is one of the most historically
significant structures in the valley, and is protected under the City of Santa Clarita's Historic
Preservation Ordinance.
The Santa Ana winds resulted in the roof of the Newhall Ranch House to become deteriorated
and unsafe. As the inclement weather season approaches, if left in its current condition, the
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Newhall Ranch House is susceptible to water intrusion that could lead to wood rot and mold.
Similar to past grants provided to the Historical Society to rehabilitate historic structures, the
SCV Historical Society is requesting $25,000 in a one-time funding grant from the City of Santa
Clarita to begin the replacement of the roof on the historical building in furtherance of the
preservation of Santa Clarita history.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action(s) as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
This one-time grant of $25,000 would need to utilize general fund dollars from the City
Council's Contingency account (19300-5401.001) for Fiscal Year 2019-20.
ATTACHMENTS
Newhall Ranch House Request Letter
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24101 Newhall Avenue, Santa Clarita, CA 91321 — Post Office Box 221925, Newhall, CA 91322
November 19, 2019
Dear Mayor McLean and City Council Members:
The Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society has an urgent, unanticipated need to replace
the roof of the Newhall Ranch House. Owned by the Historical Society and located in
Heritage Junction Historic Park, the Newhall Ranch House is one of the most historically
significant structures in our valley and is protected under the City of Santa Clarita's
Historic Preservation Ordinance.
Honestly, we thought we had a bit of time with the Newhall Ranch House. We intended
to address it, and its roof, during the 2020/21 fiscal year. However, the recent Santa Ana
winds that drove the Tick Fire blew off 70 percent of the shingles that cap the cedar shake
roof —all of which is seriously deteriorated and unsafe. According to experts, it cannot be
repaired; the entire roof must be replaced. Leaving the building in its current condition
would result in water intrusion that will lead to wood rot and mold, potentially rendering
the structure derelict.
1 1 SCV Historical Society / Newhall Ranch House
Before year's end — certainly before the typical heavy rains of February -March — the roof
must be replaced. We intend to use the same 100-year metal roofing material previously
approved by the City, which we installed on five other buildings in Heritage Junction
within the past month.
The estimate for the roofing material and installation is $55,000. (It is a large, 4,000-
square-foot building.) We respectfully request grant funding in the amount of $25,000
from the City of Santa Clarita to cover part of the cost. We are actively seeking additional
donations from major local businesses and will make up the difference out of Historical
Society cash -on -hand.
The Newhall Ranch House was the headquarters of The Newhall Land and Farming
Company (now known as FivePoint). It was started in 1865 by a prior owner of the Rancho
San Francisco (essentially the area that became Newhall, Saugus and Valencia) and was
expanded into its present form in the 1890s by one of Henry Mayo Newhall's sons.
Originally located in what is now a Six Flags Magic Mountain parking lot, it was donated
by Newhall Land to the Historical Society in 1990 and moved to Heritage Junction with
assistance from the City of Santa Clarita.
Thank you for your consideration, and please contact me by email (alan@scvhistory.com)
if I can provide any additional information.
Sincerely,
Dr. Alan Pollack
President, Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society
2 1 SCV Historical Society / Newhall Ranch House