Historic Structures Spared for 2 Weeks

Legal maneuverings have saved the sites of former President Richard M. Nixon’s first law office and the historic Wester Hotel from destruction for at least another two weeks.

The office where Nixon practiced law from 1939 to 1942 and the hotel, built in 1916, are two of nine city-owned structures in the 100 block of West La Habra Boulevard scheduled to be torn down and replaced with a community center.

The City Council was scheduled to vote on demolition bids Tuesday but delayed action after receiving a strongly worded letter from William Delvac, an attorney and president of the California Preservation Foundation, saying that the state Environmental Quality Act requires an impact report before any historical building can be razed.

Mayor James Flora has said in the past that the city would not spend money to preserve the sites. All nine buildings are considered unsafe.

Preservationists say they don’t know what they’ll do if officials decided to go ahead with the demolition at their May 18 meeting.

“We’re not looking for a legal battle,” said Kent Roberts, a former councilman and leading member of the preservationist group.