Dollars for Saving the Past

Historic preservation movements have taken root in Orange County cities from Orange to San Clemente. They come even as we hear laments about suburban sprawl and the passing of older structures.

The city of Orange is considering a new program that would allow homeowners in the historic district to reclaim $1,000 to $2,000 each year on property taxes to repair or improve older homes. Providing such incentives may be the very thing that will inspire homeowners, faced with the cost and necessity of making repairs, to keep alive the preservation movement in their communities.

Laguna Beach, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano already are among the California places that make use of the state Mills Act. It allows a reduction in property rates in cities that make pacts with homeowners whose properties are listed on registers of historic places.

In Anaheim, some residents already are taking advantage of an agreement with the Anaheim Redevelopment Agency that has similarities to the Mills Act.

Tustin made provisions last year for its 186 eligible homes, although no residents have sought tax breaks so far. However, as preservationists observe, interest in the movement has recently reignited after being somewhat dormant since its early period of enthusiasm in the 1970s and 1980s.

For Orange, the proposal is the latest in a long line of remarkable initiatives. Its Plaza Park has been on the National Register since 1978, and the Downtown Plaza Business District was so designated in 1992. Last year, some 1,300 residential properties were added. Together, the properties are designated as Old Towne Orange and constitute the largest historic district in California.

Making use of the Mills Act does reduce some property tax available to local officials, but the small number of participants hardly causes a significant loss to the county and school districts. For homeowners willing to put up with oversight designed to ensure that the money goes as intended, it is hardly a major inconvenience.

Such attention to preserving the past really is an investment in the future. Preserving the charm of what has gone before can be a boost for the local economy and an antidote to the sameness that characterizes suburban sprawl. It also keeps us mindful of our connection to Orange County’s colorful past.