SANTA PAULA : Packinghouse Gets Landmark Status
A building in Santa Paula that was the office for one of the largest citrus packinghouses in the world has been declared a historic landmark by city officials.
The Santa Paula Citrus Fruit Assn. Building, constructed between 1917 and 1923 during the county’s lemon and orange boom, received the special status at a Planning Commission hearing Tuesday night. “It is a reminder of the history of the citrus industry and its impact on Santa Paula,” said Joan E. Kus, city planning director.
According to records, the two-story, neocolonial building served as an administrative office for the vast packinghouse and was commonly referred to as Buenaventura Lemon Co. No. 2. It served as an entryway for workers, who would come in through one of three doors to have their time cards stamped.
The packinghouse was destroyed in a 1979 fire that was apparently set during a labor dispute.
Since the fire, the office building has been vacant. Owner Bob Banman said he plans to reinforce the stucco building to meet earthquake standards and then renovate it for use as a professional office.
The building is now eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places because of its local significance and because it has remained unchanged over the years, officials said. The historic status will enable the building’s owner to receive a 25% tax credit for renovation.
About 150 apartments for the elderly will be built on the land where the packinghouse stood.
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