The Architects and County Parks vision
of Valencia Park

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The following is an excerpt from the Santa Cruz County Parks, May 13, 1996 presentation to the County Parks Commission and drawings from plans by Architectural Resources Group, San Francisco.

The two buildings faced each other across Valencia Road at the historic crossroads of this rural community. Valencia Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a listing of properties identified by the Department of Interior as significant to patterns of history in the United States. The presence of the Valencia Post Office and General Store supports the historical integrity of its architectural partner, Valencia Hall. Both structures are on the County Historical Resources Inventory, and occupy a unique place in the record of the County's industrial and cultural development.

The Department of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services (Parks Department) is requesting that your Commission determine the merits of the Valencia Hall and Post Office Restoration Project. Funding is available to move Valencia Hall across the street and set it on a concrete foundation along with the Post Office, thus maintaining the same special relationship of the two buildings. This first phase of the project would stabilize the two building from further deterioration. Additional funding would have to be identified to complete the remaining phases of the restoration project. The ultimate project would include the construction of new front porches, restoration of the two buildings, construction of two accessible rest rooms and a kitchen facility to replace the existing stage area of the Hall, and the associated fire sprinkler and septic systems. On site parking would be provided for 30 cars along with interpretive signage. The total project for all phases of work is estimated to cost between $500,000 and $600,000

The entire site will be developed as a historic park, and the original Hall location will be developed as an interpretive site. The relocation and the treatment of the original location will be done in compliance with the recommendations of the National Park Service for National Register Properties.

Scope of Phase One Work: This entails preparation of the site, stabilization of the Hall prior to its move, and physically moving the two structures onto continuous reinforced concrete strip footings along the perimeter of each building. Securing the buildings from illegal entry and rain. Preparation for the move of the Hall includes demolishing the rear addition, front porch and side staircase, all additions which postdate the period of significance. Plywood panels will be nailed over the large opening in the rear wall to reinforce it during the building move. During and after the move, the tree stumps which presently support the building will be carefully protected.

Future Site Work: Additional work will eventually include connections for utilities to the new site and the placement of a propane tank. A new septic system, including a septic tank and leach field, will also be installed along with a fire suppression system. There will be a parking lot for approximately 30 vehicles. Paths will lead from the parking area to the front entrances of both buildings, the side entrance of the Hall, and across Bear Valley Road to the old building site. There, a picnic area may be created and a protective fence will be constructed along the top of the embankment. The Hall's original footprint will be expressed by a wood edging, the redwood stump "footings" will be maintained, and interpretive sign age installed.

Scope of Work for Structural Stability: The existing buildings have little inherent resistance to seismic forces, except by the elastic nature of wood frame construction. Fortunately, the Hall's future additions will take the shear forces generated by the older portion of the building, due to its stiffness and the detailing of its steel strap ties and other connections. This will eliminate the need to remove historic interior finishes for the addition of plywood shear walls, and the resultant unavoidable loss of historic fabric. In conjunction with roofing rehabilitation, a concealed plywood diaphragm will be incorporated at roof level. The Post Office will need to be seismically strengthened.

Scope of Work for Building Rehabilitation:When future funds are available, the exterior of the buildings will be restored to their original appearance. The exterior finishes, windows, and doors will be restored. Historic photographs do exist, and therefore, will allow accurate reconstruction of the front porches and stairs. In order to make the Hall functional as a public meeting place, the addition of a small kitchen and handicapped accessible toilets is required at the rear of the structure. An existing, non-historic door in the side of the Hall will be closed and the siding replaced. Openings between the original building and the addition will remain somewhat as they are now, minus the stairs a large "proscenium" opening with a single door on either side. Interior finishes, which are for the most part intact in the Hall will be preserved, and repaired as required. A fire protection system and appropriate lighting will be added to both buildings. The project as described above fully complies with the Historic Preservation Criteria of County Code Section 16.42.070.

The Hall will continue to be used for its originally intended purpose, that of community meetings. The Post Office and General Store will be turned into a small museum depicting the history of the area.

PROJECT RATIONAL: There are really three reasons for doing the first phase of this project the most pressing is that of preventing the imminent destruction of the Hall by moving it from its present location at the edge of a rapidly eroding embankment. The second reason is to prevent further deterioration of the two buildings by placing them on solid foundations. Finally, the movement and stabilization of the structures will provide time to find the funds which will be necessary to restore the structures, construct the addition to the Hall, and install the associated site improvements.

It is therefore RECOMMENDED that your Commission support the use of both State and County funds now allocated to this project for the relocation of the Valencia Hall and Post Office buildings onto property owned by the County at the intersection of Valencia and Bear Valley Roads (APN 105-17-105).

Layout Plan of Valencia Park Complex
West Elevation of Hall (Side View of Hall)
North Elevation (Rear of Hall) and South Elevation (Front of Hall)
East Elevation (Side View of Post Office) and North Elevation (Front of Post Office)



 

Valencia Hall Historical and Preservation Coalition 

 Valencia_Hall@oocities.com


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