Santa Ana : Ruling Near on Razing to Allow Condo Project

A Superior Court judge will decide by Wednesday whether to continue to prevent demolition of downtown buildings earmarked for a 194-unit condominium project.

Attorney Fran Layton, representing Heritage Orange County, which argues that the buildings should be preserved, told Judge Judith Ryan at a hearing Monday that the group did not receive notices of hearings on the condominium project held last July. “I think the record could not be clearer that the city has tried to cut the public out of the issue,” she said.

But City Atty. Edward Cooper said an agenda was mailed to the organization and a notice was published in the newspaper. “Nobody from Heritage appeared at that meeting, so the City Council did not receive any public testimony on historical resources in the area,” he said, adding that several other groups did attend. Heritage President Hal Thomas said he never received the agenda.

After the City Council approved the project on a block bounded by 3rd, 4th, French and Minter streets, a citizens group, the Alliance for Fair Redevelopment in Santa Ana, sued the city and the developer. The suit sought city commitments for more low-income housing. Heritage joined the suit later.

Ryan will rule Wednesday on Heritage Orange County’s request to block demolition of the old buildings. She said she would give them enough time to appeal her decision before demolition could start. A trial date has been set for next April.

Layton and Alliance attorney Salvador Sarmiento said they would appeal if the judge rejects their request. They also said they would consider pursuing sanctions against the city for beginning some of the demolition, of the old Pacific Electric depot, last week. Ryan issued a restraining order which halted the work after the roof and some other features of the structure had been destroyed.

Sarmiento said Cooper had stated earlier that there would be no further demolition pending the hearing and that if any was scheduled, 48 hours’ notice would be given. Cooper, who said the city is committed to preserving the depot’s facade for reconstruction later, said there was no such agreement.