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Home My WebLink AboutCC RESO 94-164RESOLUTION NO. 94-164 RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY ACCEPTING THE HISTORICAL PROPERTY SURVEY REPORT AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO FORWARD SAID DOCUMENT TO CALTRANS FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL WHEREAS, the City of National City has applied for a grant from the Federal Government under the U.S. Department of Transportation; and WHEREAS, the City wishes to purchase the California Southern Terminus Depot located at 900 West 23rd Street, National City, California, for historical purposes; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of National City held a noticed public hearing on the Historical Property Survey Report (prepared by Milford Wayne Donaldson, Architect) on November 15, 1994; and WHEREAS, the City has agreed to comply with the conditions of approval by CALTRANS and the State Historical Office and has agreed to enter into a Memoran- dum of Agreement with CALTRANS and the Federal Department of Transportation to assure these compliances. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of National City that the Executive Director of the Community Development Commission of the City of National City is hereby authorized, on behalf of the City Council, to submit the Historical Property Survey Report, marked Exhibit "A," to CALTRANS on behalf of the City of National City. ATTEST: PASSED and ADOPTED this l5th day of November, 1994. s Lori Anne Peoples, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Lat George H. Eiser, III City Attorney George . Waters, Mayor CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN TRANSCONTINENTAL TERMINUS DEPOT, NATIONAL CITY Historic Property Survey Report / Finding of Effect October 12, 1994 HISTORIC PROPERTY SURVEY REPORT FOR TIE PROJECT WHICH INCLUDES THE APPRAISAL, ACQUISITION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF PLANS AND BID DOCUMENTS OF THE CALIFORNIA SOUT ERN/SANTA FE RAILROAD TERMINUS DEPOT 900 WEST 23RD STREET NATIONAL CITY, CALIFORNIA Architect Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIA, Inc. Dolores Mellon, Historic Research Consultant 846 Fifth Avenue, Suite 300 San Diego, CA 92101 October 1994 EXHIBIT "A" Architect Milford Wayne Donaldson. FAIA. Inc. 846 Fifth Avenue, Suite 300 • San Diego, CA 92101 • (619) 239-7888 CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN TRANSCONTINENTAL TERMINUS DEPOT, NATIONAL CITY Historic Property Survey Report / Finding of Effect October 12, 1994 Page 1 The City of National City's project 11—SD 0 ANTC STPLE 5066 involves the appraisal. acquisition and the development of plans and bid documents for the architectural rehabilitation of the California Southem/Santa Fe Railroad Terminus Depot located at 900 W. 23rd Street. National City, California. The funds for this project have been allocated from the Intetmodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). To complete this acquisition, an Historic Property Survey Report (HPSR) was produced on the Depot. Cait<ans District 11 staff is providing oversight for the project (E.A. 962052). The area of study includes one structure —the Depot —a two—story Italianate structure located adjacent to the main railroad line in National City. Also included in the study are the Depot grounds, approximately 1.13 acres, most of which is covered by asphalt. (See Project vicinity and location maps, Appendix A). The National Register Application contained in this HPSR and Finding of Effect has identified the Depot as an historic resource of some merit. (See Attachment #1) Built in 1882, the Depot warrants consideration for National Register 'inclusion under Criterion A: Event. As stated in the national Register Application Section 8, "Statement of Significance," the Depot's significance in local and national history cannot be overstated. The Depot iepiesents the monumental achievement of San Diego and National City city —fathers to procure for the San Diego Bay area a transcontinental rail link with the east. It was this achievement, perhaps more than any other singular event in the history of the San Diego Bay area, that insured the success of these two cities. The resultant economic growth experienced following the chartering of the California Southern Railroad was unlike any of the area had previously experienced. On a national level, the Santa Fe Railroad's chartering of the Califomia Southern marked the completion of the Santa Fe's cross—country route, thus successfully breaking the strangle —hold monopoly that the Southern Pacific Railroad had held on the transportation of passengers and goods across the United States. Once this monopoly was broken, rail prices dropped dramatically, making transcontinental travel affordable to the general public, thus generating large numbers of travelers throughout the United States, and aiding in that century's great westward migration. Through this HPSR and Finding of Effect, FHWA is requesting a concurrence from the State Office of Historic Architect Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIA, Inc. 846 Fifth Avenue, Suite 300 - San Diego, CA 92101 • (619) 239-7888 CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN TRANSCONTINENTAL TERMINUS DEPOT, NATIONAL CITY Historic Property Survey Report / Finding of Effect October 12, 1994 Page 2 Preservation that the California Southern/Santa Fe Railroad Terminus Depot is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Also, as the project includes the transfer of ownership of the structure and exterior rehabilitation, FHWA is requesting State Office of Historic Preservation's concurrence for a fmding of "Adverse Effect" due to the proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that describes how and why the criteria of "Adverse Effect" is applicable. In 1988, the State Office of Historic Preservation, in an informal review, found that the Depot "appears eligible for separate listing." (Appendix B). In accordance with this finding, a positive HPSR has been completed on the Depot. As the focus of this report, the Depot and its surrounding grounds were thoroughly examined to determine their significance. The structure maintains much of its original fabric in spite of recent alterations. Although not listed on the State or National Registers, the building is listed on the National City local register. As for the grounds, where they had once encompassed nearly seventy rail spur lines, development of the area has now restored the immediate grounds to its original context of one line passing by the structures west facade. This development on the property, including the continual uprooting of rail lines and the asphalt covering, accounts for the archaeological finding that little subsurface remains still exist in the Area of Potential Effects (APE). The APE as determined by Caltrans consists of the property boundaries. (See APE Map, Appendix A) In the completion of this report, contact was made at the state level, with the State Office of Historic Preservation. A review was also made of national publications, including the National Register and annual updates. At the local level, the National City Historical Society, the National City Public Library Local History Room. the San Diego Historical Society, the Santa Fe Railway Historical Society, the San Diego Railroad Museum, the San Diego Public Library California Room and Archaeologist/Historian, Bruce Coons, who prepared the original ISTEA application on the Depot, were all consulted. Research was also undertaken at the San Diego County Assessor's Office, and archaeological site records depositories at the San Diego Museum of Man and the South Coastal Information Center at San Diego State University. (A complete bibliography is attached as Appendix C) As expected, all historical contact concurred on the Depot's significance and the importance of its preservation. Architect Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIR, Inc. 846 Fifth Avenue, Suite 300 • San Diego, CA 92101 • (619) 239-7888 CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN TRANSCONTINENTAL TERMINUS DEPOT, NATIONAL CITY Historic Property Survey Report / Finding of Effect October 12, 1994 Page 3 As stated previously, public participation in the project was encouraged, and to this end, local historical societies in both National City and San Diego were contacted, along with local railroad societies. (A copy of all letters are attached as Appendix D) A Negative Archaeological Survey Report was prepared for the APE by Jerry Schaefer, Ph.D., and is attached hereto. (Attachment #2) Schaefer's work consisted of an on —site survey of the APE and an archaeological site records' search at San Diego Museum of Man and the South Coastal Information Center at San Diego State University. Although two archaeological sites have been identified near the depot, it is Schaefer's belief that the prehistoric shell midden identified in CA—SDI-7454 is "unlikely to be preserved in the APE." Privies, trash pits, wells, cisterns and other non—residential structures could not be identified through original plans, historic documents or on —site investigation. It is Shaefer's determination, however, that "the potential for significant subsurface remains in the APE is very low due to known land use and previous impacts from rail spur lines." As most of the area surrounding the Depot is covered by asphalt, the archaeologist suggests that an archaeological monitor be present during the removal of the asphalt, or during removal of the building's addition. An Historic Architectural Survey Report (HASR) and evaluation was also prepared on the Depot. (See Attachment #3) The HASR identified the Depot as the only structure to be evaluated in the APE area. Evaluation included on —site investigations to determine how much of the building's original fabric remains, and identify its potential eligibility for inclusion on the National Register. Through this architectural survey, it was determined that most of the Depot's exterior is still intact, with the exception of some door and window modifications and the replacement of the wood shingle roof with asphalt. In fact, approximately 80% of the original material remains. The building still retains its architectural integrity, maintaining those features that distinguish the ItaIianate style of architecture — tall narrow windows with pedimented crowns, belt course, low—pitched roof with widely overhanging eaves and decorative brackets, all typical of the style. Due to its architectural integrity and the fact that the building remains in its original context, adjacent to National City's rail line, the HASR found the Depot to be "very significant architecturally." The interior of the building has undergone the most alteration, although the majority of the original Architect Milford Wayne Donaldson, FAIR, Inc. 846 Fifth Avenue, Suite 300 - San Diego, CA 92101 • (619) 239-7888 CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN TRANSCONTINENTAL TERMINUS DEPOT, NATIONAL CITY Historic Property Survey Report / Finding of Effect October 12, 1994 Page 4 interior walls are still intact. Much of the interior detail and finishes have been found under more modern panelling. Also, new partitions, doors and acoustic tile ceilings have been added to accommodate the various tenants over the years. It would appear that approximately 65% of the building's original fabric remains. As previously stated, the project involves the appraisal, acquisition and the development of plans and bid documents for the architectural rehabilitation of the Califomia Southern Terminus Depot. The Finding of Adverse Effect / Memorandum of Agreement is based on 36 CFR 800.9(c) (3), when the federal "undertaking is limited to the transfer, lease, or sale of a historic property, and adequate restrictions or conditions are included to ensure preservation of the property's significant historic features." (See Attachments #4 and #5). In this transfer of ownership, the Secretary of Interior's "Standards for Historic Preservation Projects" will be adhered to. Any rehabilitation plans will conform with the Secretary of the Interior's "Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, 1992." No further archaeological survey work should be necessary unless project plans change to include unsurveyed areas. If buried cultural materials are unearthed during construction, work must be halted in the vicinity of the find until a qualified archaeologist can assess its significance. If human remains are unearthed during construction, State Health and Safety Code Section 7050.5 states that no further disturbance shall occur until the County Coroner has made the necessary findings as to origin and disposition pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 5097.98. In either instance, the California Department of Transportation's (Caltrans') District 11 Environmental Analysis Branch "B" Chief, acting as the responsible oversight authority for this ISTEA proposal, shall be immediately notified. [Caltrans Environmental Handbook Section 1-2.2 and 7-81. Architect Milford Wayne Donaldson. FAIR, Inc. 846 Fifth Avenue. Suite 300 • San Diego, CA 92101 • (619) 239-7888