The Architects and County Parks vision of Valencia Park
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Park Layout or Post Office & Hall
layout drawings.
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).
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