Our Community   Return to Home Page   Explore Our Neighborhood   Historic Home Index   WJCNA Archives   Community Bulletin Board   Neighborhood Chatroom   Guestbook & Contacts
		Current Neighborhood Issues
		This section reports on issues that are important to our neighborhood.
		Many issues are collective goals of our community while some are
		sources of controversy. The West Junior College Neighborhood is
		home to a wonderfully diverse collection of residents, so if your point
		of view or important issue is not present please feel free to contact us
		so it can be added.
		Historic Preservation District	SRJC Mendocino Ave Parking Garage
		City Gateways Redevelopment	Traffic Calming Devices
			SRJC Parking Garage
			Mendocino Avenue
			This project is currently under construction and despite various opinions on this issue it will certainly impact our neighborhood in some way.
	Proposed Gateways
	Redevelopment Project
	The purpose of the Redevelopment Agency is to revitalize blighted and economically disadvantaged areas of the City, provide affordable housing assistance, and implement other programs and activities consistent with federal, state and local laws.Though our Neighborhood is not directly effected this may be of interest since it appears to encompass the entire city.
			Traffic Calming Devices
When will Santa install the long-awaited measures which have been on our WJCNA wish list to protect neighborhood children, pets and the rest of us? Just like good Santa’s helpers, WJCNA neighbors have met with Rob Sprinkle in the City’s Traffic Engineering Department who walked neighborhood streets with Traffic Committee members during peak traffic periods to discern problems and collectively identify acceptable solutions. City Council, along with the impacted departments, commissions and committees rubber-stamped those solutions and even during this period of severe belt-tightening, a source of funding has been identified! Rob tells us that the design phase began a week ago and the implementation of the final designs depends upon whether the projects are completed in-house or farmed out to bid. Rob has requested that neighbors whose residences are in immediate proximity to the traffic circles and who would like to provide input on the landscaping to be installed, please provide their names to him at our December 15th meeting. It won’t be in time for Christmas, but some time soon after the first of the year, it looks like Santa will be bringing a gift of improved traffic safety to our neighborhood.
			Becoming a Historic
			Preservation District
Naming Our Historic District
Update- The Historical Designation committe has selected two name options for our future district:
Davis Ranch Historic District		Click Here to see the Josias Davis' Addition Parcel Map - filed May 13th, 1880
or
Comstock Historic District
HISTORIC RESOURCES
The City recognizes most structures over 50 years old as historic. Inventories have been prepared which document historic buildings and neighborhoods in the City. The Cultural Heritage Survey, as it is called, is a book of the City's past, documenting the architectural style of each structure and noting historical facts regarding its neighborhood. Especially significant buildings have been designated Landmarks, and historic neighborhoods have been designated Preservation Districts.
Requests from property owners for designation of Landmarks and from neighborhood groups for designation of Preservation Districts are undertaken by the Cultural Heritage Board; the actual designation itself is by City Council action. It is the policy of the Cultural Heritage Board to encourage neighborhood participation in the establishment of Preservation Districts. Accordingly, recommendations for designations should involve strong neighborhood support.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES TO PROPERTY OWNERS?
Owners of Landmark properties and individual historic properties within a Preservation District enjoy a number of advantages.
Property Values
Historic status carries with it a certain amount of prestige which can lead to an increase in property value
Neighborhood Protection
Historic designation reduces the threat of demolition from highway construction, urban renewal, and other federally funded projects. In addition, designation generally controls the size, quality, and scale of new construction in the district and also prohibits or severely restricts demolition, thus protecting the character and quality of the area.
State Historic Building Code
Owners of identified historic buildings can utilize the State Historic Building Code in lieu of the Uniform Building Code. Use of the Historic Code allows some flexibility and usually results in a minimum of 10% cost savings.
Housing Rehabilitation Assistance
Home Rehabilitation Loans and Handicap Access Grants are available to eligible property owners through the City's Housing and Redevelopment Department. Certain conditions apply.
Federal Income Tax Credits
From time to time, historic buildings may be eligible for federal income tax credits based on their rehabilitation costs. At the present time, income producing buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places may be eligible. Single-family residences may become eligible in the future. A reduction in property taxes may also become available. Certain conditions apply. For more information, please consult your tax advisor.
Official Recognition
Finally, historic designation means that your property or neighborhood is recognized by the City as a key component of the community's architectural heritage. Property owners of City Landmarks receive an official certificate suitable for framing and are eligible to receive an optional bronze plaque which recognizes their historic significance and interprets their history to the public. There are currently five designated Preservation Districts in Santa Rosa: Railroad Square, St. Rose, Cherry Street, Olive Park, and West End. At the request of property owners, other potential districts may be considered.
FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN SANTA ROSA
http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/cd/Brochures/historic.asp
Contact the Department of Community Development, Room 3, City Hall, 100 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa, CA, 95404. The telephone number is (707) 543-3180 or Contact the WJCNA By Clicking Here.