ORANGE : Buildings Require Seismic Retrofitting

The City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday that will require construction on 79 buildings, including 37 historic structures, to make the buildings earthquake safe.

To encourage building owners in the city’s Plaza Historic District to preserve historic architecture during construction, the council also passed a measure that will provide funding to offset the costs of seismic retrofitting. The Plaza Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“It’s the carrot-and-stick approach,” said Jack McGee, director of community development. “Other cities have said: ‘You have to upgrade.’ We’ve said: ‘You have to upgrade and here’s some money to help you.’ ”

State law requires local governments to make an inventory of buildings that are constructed with unreinforced masonry and then pass ordinances that establish safety standards for structures that are particularly dangerous during earthquakes.

The city’s plan, more than two years in the making, allocates more than $2 million to be disbursed to building owners to help pay for engineering and construction costs.

For the first phase of the program, building owners will be reimbursed from $300 to $1,000 for masonry testing and up to $6,000 for construction and other engineering costs. Owners whose seismic engineering costs exceed $6,000 may be eligible for interest-free loans.

The city is also encouraging owners to restore building facades while the structures undergo seismic retrofitting. Local architectural firms have volunteered to help with a study that will provide preliminary design services.

Building owners interested in the program can contact the city Redevelopment Agency at (714) 771-2315.