LA HABRA : Nixon Office to Be Part of Demolition

The City Council has decided to seek bids on the destruction of nine condemned buildings, one of which contains former President Richard M. Nixon’s first law office.

Opponents and supporters of the demolition spoke passionately at a council meeting Tuesday night, often debating more about the soul of the city than the swing of a wrecking ball.

“I hope we don’t start to rely on reports from experts . . . to determine our values,” one speaker, Kent Roberts, told the council, referring to the city’s hiring of Urban Vision, an Irvine firm, to decide that the buildings had no historical value.

Roberts and other residents have worked during the past year to declare two of the buildings--the Nixon law office and the Western Hotel--historic landmarks.

“These are the only buildings that were here when I grew up,” said William B. Miller, a resident since 1921. “They’ve torn everything else down.”

Eric J. Ruby of Urban Vision told the council that the nine buildings are not eligible for listing on the local, state or national register of historic places.

Urban Vision’s finding was based partly on conversations with state agencies.

However, the demolition did have local support.

“Frankly, many people in our community see these buildings as a blight,” one resident, Paul Gusiff, told the council.

“I’ve seen a lot of buildings torn down--and they were good buildings,” said another demolition supporter, Jim Flores. “They were torn down in the name of progress.”

The council was also concerned by the $200,000 to $300,000 cost of renovating the Nixon law office and the hotel.

The nine buildings, located in the 100 block of West La Habra Boulevard, have been fenced off for months while the city debated their fate.

City Atty. Richard Jones said the council will probably review the bids in four weeks, with demolition to start soon after.