6.5 Historic and Cultural Resources

6.5 HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES

6.5.1 Introduction This section describes the existing historical and cultural resources that are significant to the character of the Simi Valley Planning Area. Historic resources include structures that are listed, or may be eligible for listing, on the National Register of Historic Places (National Register), the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR), or any local designation. Cultural resources include public art, as well as venues that host all forms of established cultural activities. Simi Valley’s historic-cultural resources include physical elements, which define the City’s past and present and give Simi Valley a unique identity and charm. These resources, when preserved and well maintained, provide the community with a sense of permanence that fosters civic pride and stewardship among its residents and businesses. Information for this section is based on data Simi Adobe/Strathearn House at Strathearn Historical obtained from “Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time” Park and Museum (built in 1893). Historical Text Book, the Simi Valley 1988 General Plan, the Simi Valley Department of Cultural Arts Center, the Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum, and various websites, which are listed under Sources at the end of this section.

6.5.2 Simi Valley Historical Background There have been four major chronological phases of settlement and change that caused Simi Valley to develop into the community it is today: the Chumash or Pre-Colonial Period, the Spanish or Colonial Period, the Pioneer Period, and the Modern Period.

„ Chumash or Pre-Colonial Period Native American presence in the Simi Valley probably extends as far back as 10,000 years ago. Archeological investigations in the San Joaquin Valley and on the Northern Channel Islands provide evidence that people had arrived in California by the end of the Pleistocene Era. However, no one really knows when the first people arrived who spoke a language ancestral to that spoken by the Chumash Indians. The deep linguistic divisions among the various branches in the Chumash family tree suggest that they may have existed for 5,000 years in south central California.224 Records kept by early Franciscan missionaries make it possible to reconstruct the Chumash history of the Simi Valley during the early years of Spanish settlement in California. The names of 130 people from native towns in the valley have been identified in the San Fernando and San Buenaventura mission

224 Havens, Patricia. 1997. Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time. Historical text by Patricia Havens. Published by the Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum.

Simi Valley General Plan Update Technical Background Report 6.5-1 Chapter 6 Natural Resources registers between 1798 and 1829. This number implies an original population in the neighborhood of 250 to 400 people.225 There are many Chumash sites within the Simi Valley region including the famous cave paintings (pictographs) at Burro Flats, the Chumash Wilderness Park, and the Chumash Villages of Ta’apu, and Shimiji among others, as shown in Figure 6.5-1 (Historic Resources).226 Ta’apu (which is the origin of the word Tapo) was the largest of the Chumash towns in the Simi Valley and was the only one that had a chief in residence at the time the European colonizers arrived in the region. A total of 76 people have been identified from Ta’apu in the San Fernando and San Buenaventura Mission registers.227 Based on the numbers of baptisms listed for the Village of Shimiji, the population seems to have been about a third of the size of Ta’apu Village (24 baptisms registered). One of the most significant archeological resources which exist today (in close proximity to the Simi Valley area) is the Burro Flats Pictographic Cave Paintings (listed on the State and National Register of Historic Resources). The site, in an area known as Burro Flats, is near the historic location of Huwam, a smaller Chumash settlement adjacent to today’s Bell Creek in the Santa Susana Mountains. Huwam was on the border between Chumash lands and the Tongva who lived south of the Simi Valley. These days Burro Flats is off-limits to the public on the property of Boeing-Rocketdyne’s Santa Susana Mountains Pictograph Cave Paintings at Burro Flats. complex.

„ Spanish or Colonial Period (1795–1870) The early Spanish ranchos consisted of large plots of land which were used mostly for raising cattle and sheep. The first Spanish settlement in the area now known as Simi Valley was Rancho Simi settlement. Initially developed by Santiago Pico, Rancho Simi was about 113,000 acres and included a huge amount of property which stretched from the Santa Susana Mountains to well past the modern town of Moorpark. Early dwellings at the El Rancho Simi are currently located at the Strathearn Historical Park.228

225 Havens, Patricia. 1997. Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time. Historical text by Patricia Havens. Published by the Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum. 226 Ibid. 227 Ibid. 228 Ibid.

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Around 1820, the Tapo Rancho came to be thought of as a separate place within El Rancho Simi. It is an area at the central north portion of the Simi Rancho, with a distinct geographic character, comprising more than 14,000 acres. There are canyons and mountains in the north half and to the west, and a stream called Tapo Creek which almost always has some water. The lower southeastern portion is flat and fertile, and it eventually became a fine agricultural subdivision which prospered during the first six decades of the twentieth century.229 By the early 1830s, El Rancho Simi changed hands. Don Jose de la Guerra y Noriega, who was a Captain of the Santa Barbara Presidio, had begun to acquire large amounts of land in California, in order to raise cattle. He purchased the Simi grant in about 1832 from the Pico family. When Jose de la Guerra obtained El Rancho Simi around 1832, he raised cattle and sheep in large numbers for several decades.230 However, a few years after Jose de la Guerra’s death in 1858 the rancho was sold to the Philadelphia and California Petroleum Company headed by Pennsylvania Railroad president, Thomas A. Scott.231 The last of the De la Guerras to live in Simi Valley retreated to the 14,400-acre Tapo Rancho portion of the Rancho Simi, and to its adobe or house (De la Guerra adobe).232

„ Pioneer Period (1870–1960) Farming was the main occupation in Simi Valley for close to a century, from the 1870s to the 1950s. While the Simi Rancho was still held in one large property by the Americans who bought it, it was leased out for the raising of livestock: sheep, cattle, and horses. A firm named Lyons and Campbell from Los Angeles became the owners of the Tapo Rancho. The ancient activity of sheep-herding was continued by hired sheepherders.233 After his death in 1881, most of the property of Thomas A. Scott was sold, which under the leadership of Thomas R. Brad, lead to the incorporation of the Simi Land and Water Company.234 The huge Simi Rancho was divided into ranches and farms, and its lands were advertised in Midwestern and New England states. Many of those who responded came from places like Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Massachusetts, Iowa, and Pennsylvania.235 The word of the opportunity to buy land from Simi Land and Water Company reached a group of doctors in the Chicago area. This group of doctors was inspired by a dream of establishing a health colony on the banks of the “Simi River.”236 The California Mutual Benefit Colony of Chicago was then created in order to promote the new health colony investment plans. A town site was laid out, named “Simiopolis.” The town site plan stretched approximately from First Street (called Bary St. on earlier maps) to Erringer Road, on both sides of the

229 Ibid. 230 Ibid. 231 Havens, Patricia. 1997. Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time. Historical text by Patricia Havens. Published by the Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum. 232 Ibid. 233 Ibid. 234 Ibid. 235 www.simihistory.com (03/15/07) 236 www.simiopolis.com (03/15/07)

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Arroyo Simi between Royal Avenue and Los Angeles Avenue. Those who wanted to purchase farm lands a few miles from the town made arrangements through the company.237 The first group of investors purchased twelve pre-cut, partly assembled houses in Chicago and shipped them by rail to Saticoy in November 1888, where the lumber sections were loaded onto wagons and hauled to Simi. Ten of the twelve houses were placed in the town site (between First and Fifth Streets, and from Los Angeles Avenue south to Ventura Avenue). Because of the unusual way Simi was settled, they were called Colony Houses; for many years the little town was called “The Colony.”238 Only two of the Colony Houses were built on land purchased by “colonists” away from the town site. One was near the present northwest corner of Cochran and Erringer, and the other one was east of where Madera Road crosses over the railroad.239 Originally there was only one store along the colony: The Simi General Merchandise Store. The store still stands today but it has been relocated to the Strathearn Historic Park and Museum.240 Gradually most of the Colony Houses disappeared, almost all of them due to fire. Only two remain: the Haigh Talley Colony House which was relocated to the Strathearn Historic Park, and the Miss Bessie Printz Colony House which still stands at Second St. and Pacific Ave. This property was purchased by Larry Simi general merchandise store (re-located to the Powell in 1997 and is still used as a residence Strathearn Historical Park). (Figure 6.5-1).241 The colony’s investment plans did not really materialize and many of the doctors and investors returned to their former homes in the Chicago area, but the Colony name stuck. For many years, the little town was referred to as “The Colony,” and the houses have always been known as “Colony Houses.”242 With the coming of more Simi Colonists and other settlers who bought up the lands of the Simi Rancho, by 1900 there were approximately ten families. Included in these families were the Strathearns who later built their home—The First Presbyterian Church, built in 1902 (re-located to the Strathearn Historical Park). Strathearn Family House—adjoining El Rancho Simi adobe

237 Ibid. 238 Havens, Patricia. 1997. Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time. Historical text by Patricia Havens. Published by the Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum. 239 Havens, Patricia. 1997. Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time. Historical text by Patricia Havens. Published by the Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum. 240 Ibid. 241 Ibid. 242 www.simihistory.com (03/15/07)

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in 1892, both located at the Strathearn Historic Park and Museum today.243 Once Simi started functioning as a community, the colonist families started demanding certain services like religious and educational facilities. The Presbyterian Church, having organized in 1898, built a church in 1902, on the southwest corner of Third St. and Pacific Ave. This was the first purpose-built church Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, formerly St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church on in Simi Valley. The Methodists, owned by the Community Methodist Royal Avenue. after using one of the Colony Church Congregation. Houses as their church for more than 20 years, built themselves a new church in 1912. It was located on the northeast corner of Second St. and Pacific Ave. In the late 1920’s, a new Community Church, under Methodist ministers, was constructed located at Los Angeles Ave and Church Street. Decades later, the Methodist Community Church was purchased by the City and converted to a 260-seat performing arts center called the “Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center.” The center became operational in 1995.244 Simi Elementary School at School St and N. Deodora St. The former Presbyterian Church began to serve as a Catholic meeting house, under the Santa Clara parish of Oxnard, beginning about 1910. It later became a permanent parish of its own in 1921, known as Saint Rose of Lima; the tiny building served the Catholic congregation until the new Catholic Church was built on Royal Avenue in 1964.245 The first public school in Simi Valley was built in 1890 on the northeast corner of Third Street. and California St. in the Simi Colony. The building was torn down in 1926 and the lumber was used to construct bungalows at the Simi Elementary School in the Community Center Area at the corner of School Street and N. Deodora Street.246 The Community Center Area was created in the mid-1920s due to the need to improve local schools. A high school and elementary school were built along with the Community Methodist Church and the

243 Havens, Patricia. 1997. Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time. Historical text by Patricia Havens. Published by the Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum. 244 www.simi-arts.com (03/15/07) 245 Havens, Patricia. 1997. Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time. Historical text by Patricia Havens. Published by the Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum. 246 Ibid.

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Women’s Club. This localized most of the community activities to the center of Simi Valley; along Los Angeles Avenue between Deodora Street and Tapo Canyon Road. Until the later population boom began, this area truly was the center for most of the social and cultural activities in the community and was known as “Community Center.” These street names came into being: Church Street, School Street, Deodora Street, and others.247 With the success of the new Community Center; the 1932 “Pioneer Day” celebration began, it included a ball game, followed by a parade.248 The current Simi Valley Days Festival is an outgrowth of the first 1932 event.

1950s photograph of Community Center Area and Los Angeles Avenue. (Source: Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time; Chapter 13, Pg 370. Historical text by Patricia Havens. Published by the Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum. 1997. Photo by Above it All Aerial Photography).

247 Ibid. 248 Ibid.

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1996 photograph of Community Center Area and Los Angeles Avenue. (Source: Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time; Chapter 13, Pg 371. Historical text by Patricia Havens. Published by the Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum. 1997. Photo by Above it All Aerial Photography). Discussion of a railroad during the 1890s resulted in the decision by Southern Pacific Railroad to build a tunnel through the Santa Susana Mountains. This made a depot necessary in the area, and the town of Santa Susana came into being. The depot was completed first at the crossroads of Tapo Street and Los Angeles Avenue. Finally in 1904, the tunnel was ready for use and this became the main line of the railroad.249 Santa Susana rapidly became a center for agriculture Santa Susana Railroad Depot (relocated to Santa and railroad activity. Stores, warehouses, lumberyards, Susana Community Park). section houses for the railroad crews, and a little later, a walnut processing plant, and a citrus packing house went in nearby. None of these buildings are now in existence. By the early 1920s, Mortimer Park, later changed to Santa Susana Knolls, was started. These were designed as vacation size lots on which people from the City could build country homes. This area has always been one of the most picturesque in the valley.250

249 www.simihistory.com (03/15/07) 250 www.simihistory.com (03/15/07)

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As the 1950s approached, two major changes occurred which contributed profoundly to the end of farming as a way of life in Simi Valley. Labor costs became too high, and the natural supply of ground water was depleted.251 Agriculture in Simi Valley changed drastically during the 1950s. In 1940, citrus production in Simi Valley was at its peak. Sixteen years later, in 1956, Tapo Citrus Association combined with the former Camarillo Citrus Association. The life pattern of California was undergoing rapid change, under the increase of population and the influx of subdivision development.252 Soon Tapo Citrus Association joined with Ojai and they hauled their citrus to a mutual site at Somis. The old packing house at Tapo Canyon and Alamo, formerly the active hub of the citrus industry in Simi Valley, became vacant. The site eventually became the location of the Civic Center of the City of Simi Valley.253

„ Modern Simi Valley Period (1960 to present) Other challenges that Simi Valley has encountered in post–World War II decades are mainly related to transportation and accessibility. In 1960, State Route 118 (Los Angeles Avenue) continued to be the only east-west route through Simi Valley. As it wound through the Santa Susana Pass, State Route 118 was the link to San Fernando Valley, and the principal link to Los Angeles. Although improvements had been made, the extreme ruggedness of the terrain made it impossible to widen beyond two lanes.254 Prior to 1960, this issue did not represent a significant problem. Traffic flows were adequate as residents and commerce moved at an acceptable pace. However, the San Fernando Valley grew at a tremendous rate after World War II. With its close proximity, many home buyers looking for low-cost housing and an a more rural setting, ventured over the Santa Susana Pass Road to Simi Valley.255 Walnut and Citrus groves began to disappear, replaced by single family housing tracts. Between 1960 and 1965, the population in the Simi Valley grew over 500 percent from around 8,000 to 42,000 residents. Seventy percent of the population was under 35 years of age.256 By 1965, Metropolitan Water District had completed its project of a pipeline to provide an adequate supply of water to all residents and businesses. The City was incorporated in 1969, which provided for more localized decision making. The number of people commuting to their jobs over the hill in the San Fernando Valley continued to increase, impacting traffic on State Route 118.257 Dealing with this problem could not be postponed and the idea of a modern highway was brought up by government and business leaders. In the early 1960s, a serious effort was begun to line up the funding through the state to begin the project.258 When funds

251 Havens, Patricia. 1997. Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time. Historical text by Patricia Havens. Published by the Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum. 252 Ibid. 253 Ibid. 254 Havens, Patricia. 1997. Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time. Historical text by Patricia Havens. Published by the Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum. 255 Ibid. 256 Ibid. 257 Ibid. 258 Ibid.

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were available for the freeway to be built, Kirst Construction Company of Altadena won the contract. Construction started on April 23rd, 1966. The freeway was built in multiple phases and by 1993 the project was completed, decades after Simi Valley had incorporated as a city in October 10, 1969.259 During the 1970s, the City’s population had grown to 67,450 residents. By 1972, the City adopted its first General Plan, which indicated that 40 percent of the available land would be set aside for industrial sites in order to provide a more favorable local employment ratio.260 By 1980, the City’s efforts to bring employment began to pay off. Tandon Industries, a computer equipment manufacturer, chose to relocate its facilities to Madera Road, bringing with it 400 jobs. They were soon followed by Farmers Insurance Group and Fairchild-Xincom, a memory test system manufacturer.261 The regional recession of the early 1990s caused a slow down in business as well as residential development. Housing projects previously approved by the City, such as Big Sky Ranch, and Douglas Ranch were put on hold.262 In January 1994, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake, centered in nearby Northridge, caused widespread damage throughout the City to homes as well as to businesses. However, most businesses were able to recover thanks to a strong infusion of insurance dollars and federal and State relief.263 Today, Simi Valley has transformed itself to a city with a broad and diverse economic base, with a population of 125,096 and 40,746 homes as of 2006.264

6.5.3 Definitions

„ Historic Resources Historic Resources in the Simi Valley Planning Area include structures that are listed, or may be eligible for listing, under one of the following categories: the National Register of Historic Places (National Register - Federal), the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR - State), or any local designation (Local). Each of the regulatory entities (Federal, State, and Local) uses different standards to categorize Historic Resources. These resources when well preserved provide the community with a sense of permanence and identity which fosters civic pride among residents. The different categories under which Historic Resources can be listed are described as follows.

Federal The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 established the National Register to recognize resources associated with the country’s history and heritage. Structures and features must usually be at least

259 Ibid. 260 Ibid. 261 Ibid. 262 Ibid. 263 Havens, Patricia. 1997. Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time. Historical text by Patricia Havens. Published by the Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum. 264 California Department of Finance. 2006. Population and Housing Estimates (E-5a), 1 May.

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50 years old to be considered for listing on the National Register, barring exceptional circumstances. Criteria for listing on the National Register, which are set forth in Title 26, Part 63 of the Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR Part 63), are significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture as present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, and that are any of the following: A. Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history B. Associated with the lives of persons significant in our past C. Embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction; represent the work of a master; possess high artistic values, represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction D. Have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. Criterion D is usually reserved for archaeological and paleontological resources. State In 1992, the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR) was created to identify resources deemed worthy of preservation on a state level and was modeled closely after the National Register process. The criteria are nearly identical to those of the National Register but focus upon resources of statewide, rather than national, significance. The CRHR encourages public recognition and protection of resources of architectural, historical, archeological, and cultural significance, identifies historical resources for state and local planning purposes, determines eligibility for state historic preservation grant funding, and affords certain protections under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The CRHR automatically includes resources listed on the National Register. Specifically, the CRHR includes the following resources: ■ Resources formally determined eligible for, or listed in, the National Register of Historic Places ■ State Historical Landmarks numbered 770 or higher ■ Points of Historical Interest recommended for listing by the State Historical Resources Commission (SHRC) ■ Resources nominated for listing and determined eligible in accordance with criteria and procedures adopted by the SHRC including > Individual historic resources and historic districts > Resources identified as significant in historical resources surveys which meet certain criteria > Resources and districts designated as city or county landmarks pursuant to a city or county ordinance when the designation criteria are consistent with California Register criteria. Local Simi Valley has adopted the Ventura County Historic Preservation Ordinance as a means to categorize and define local historic or cultural landmarks, and historic points of interest. It is important to note that properties that are not listed or not eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places or the CRHR, may still be considered historical at a local level. Different historic resource surveys have been completed for Simi Valley in order to identify individual buildings and places of historic/architectural significance. These surveys were prepared by the Simi

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Valley Historical Society in cooperation with the City, the Ventura County, and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District.

„ Cultural Resources Cultural resources refer to events, places, buildings, structures, outdoor works of art, natural features, and other objects having a special social, cultural, community, or aesthetic value. Such resources may include different events of folk life, art, cultural or religious practices, and different traditions, as well as the venues that host such events.

6.5.4 Existing Setting

„ Historic Resources Important historic resources that exist in Simi Valley today, as shown in Figure 6.5-1 include the following:

Listed on the State (CRHR) and National Register ■ The Simi Adobe/Strathearn Home (re-located to the Strathearn Historical Park) ■ Haigh-Talley Colony House (re-located to the Strathearn Historical Park) ■ Burro Flats Pictographic Cave Paintings Other Local and State Resources Other resources which are not listed on the National Register but are listed on the CRHR or the Ventura County Historical Landmark Register are as follows:265 ■ Old Town Simi ■ Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church ■ Miss Bessie Printz Colony House ■ Simi General Merchandise Store (re-located to the Strathearn Historical Park) ■ Simi Cemetery ■ Elephant Rock ■ Runkle Ranch Headquarters and Corral ■ Simi Elementary School ■ Cultural Arts Center Building (originally built as a Methodist Church) ■ Scott Ranch ■ R.E. Harrington House ■ Row of Mexican Fan Palms ■ Row of California Fan Palms ■ Hummingbird Ranch and Home ■ Grandma Prisbrey’s Bottle Village ■ Meier Ranch Main House ■ House of Book ■ Mt. McCoy

265 City of Simi Valley 1988 General Plan and The Simi Valley Historical Society.

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■ Tapo Ranch Headquarters ■ Site De la Guerra Adobe ■ Ta’apu Village Site ■ Ta’apu Cemetery ■ Chumash Wilderness Park ■ Stagecoach Road ■ Freight Road ■ Knolls Rock ■ Santa Susana Depot ■ First Presbyterian Church (re-located to the Strathearn Historical Park).

„ Cultural Resources Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center In November of 1995, Simi Valley opened its Cultural Arts Center at the corner of Los Angeles Avenue and Church St. The building includes a 220 seat theater fully equipped with state of the art sound and lighting fixtures, three dressing rooms, two art galleries, a multi-use community room with seating capacity between 70-90, and a functional catering kitchen.266 The facility houses three floors: Lower Floor, Main Lobby, and Mezzanine. The Main Floor includes the main lobby and concession area, the Main Gallery, and theater. The Lower Floor provides a Multipurpose Room, the Lower Gallery and support areas for the Main Floor (including rest rooms, dressing rooms, and green room).267 Originally constructed as the Simi Community Methodist Church in the 1920s, this Gothic structure has served as a church, a funeral home, a Jewish Temple, a residence and a temporary high school. In 1991, the City of Simi Valley acquired the property for reuse as a Cultural Arts Center. The Cultural Arts Center project included both the conversion of the building for cultural and community uses and restoration of the historical features of the existing building which was approved as a Ventura County Historical Landmark No. 67 in July 1981.268 The facility was designed as a multipurpose center. In addition to it being a theatre for artistic performance, the facility also is available for rental for meetings, seminars, concerts, conventions, trade shows, receptions, and other private events.269 A greater discussion of the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center and additional cultural arts programs is discussed under Section 4.6: City Services.

6.5.5 Regulatory Setting—Historical Resources The treatment of historical resources is governed by federal, state, and local laws and guidelines. There are specific criteria for determining whether historic sites or objects are significant and/or protected by law. Federal and State significance criteria generally focus on the resource’s integrity and uniqueness, its

266 www.simivalley.org (03/15/07) 267 www.simi-arts.com (03/15/07) 268 Ibid. 269 www.simi-arts.org (03/15/07)

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relationship to similar resources, and its potential to contribute important information to scholarly research. Some resources that do not meet federal significance criteria may be considered significant by state criteria. The laws and regulations seek to mitigate impacts on significant historic resources. The federal, State, and local laws and guidelines for protecting historic resources are summarized below.

„ Federal The National Historic Preservation Act The National Historic Preservation Act established the National Register to recognize resources associated with the country’s history and heritage. Structures and features usually must be at least 50 years old to be considered for listing on the National Register, barring exceptional circumstances. Criteria for listing on the National Register, which are set forth in Title 26, Part 63 of the Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR Part 63), are significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture as present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, and that are (A) associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; (B) associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; (C) embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction; represent the work of a master; possess high artistic values, represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or (D) have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. Criterion D is usually reserved for archaeological and paleontological resources.

The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties The Secretary of the Interior is responsible for establishing standards for the preservation and protection of buildings and other cultural resources eligible for listing in the National Register. The 1990 Secretary of the Interior’s Standard for the Treatment of Historic Properties document outlines specific standards and guidelines for the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and reconstruction of historically designated structures. Preservation standards and guidelines apply to those buildings that require ongoing maintenance to sustain its existence for historicity. Rehabilitation standards and guidelines involve the reuse of a historic structure or property while maintaining portions that maintain historic value. Restoration standards and guidelines are applicable to projects that remove portions of a building from another historic period in order to reconstruct missing features from the restoration period. Reconstruction standards and guidelines apply to new developments that replicate a historic period or setting. Each set of standards provides specific recommendations for the proper treatment of specific building materials, as well as parts of building development.

„ State State historic preservation regulations include the statutes and guidelines contained in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Public Resources Code Sections 21083.2 and 21084.1, and Section 15064.5 of the CEQA Guidelines. CEQA requires lead agencies to carefully consider the potential effects of a project on historical resources. A “historical resource” includes, but is not limited to, any object, building, structure, site, area, place, record, or manuscript that is historically or

Simi Valley General Plan Update Technical Background Report 6.5-15 Chapter 6 Natural Resources archaeologically significant (Public Resources Code Section 5020.1). Advice on procedures to identify such resources, evaluate their importance, and estimate potential effects is given in several agency publications such as the series produced by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR).

The California Register of Historic Resources As discussed previously, the California Register of Historic Resources (CRHR) was created to identify resources deemed worthy of preservation on a state level and was modeled closely after the National Register. The criteria are nearly identical to those of the National Register but focus upon resources of Statewide, rather than national significance. The CRHR automatically includes resources listed on the National Register.

Local Simi Valley has adopted the Ventura County preservation ordinance as the local regulatory ordinance with the intent to promote and to preserve historic or cultural landmarks, and historic points of interest. It is important to note that properties that are not listed or not eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places or the CRHR, may still be considered historical at a local level and for the purposes of applying the CEQA to a proposed project that could have an adverse impact on these properties, depending on the results of analysis performed at the time the project is evaluated.

6.5.6 Issues ■ Many of the commercial properties along Los Angeles Avenue with historic value are vacant or contain businesses which are marginal or underutilized. ■ Ongoing pressure for redevelopment and development can threaten historic residential and commercial structures within the City. ■ Some of the existing historic resources have been negatively affected by incompatible architectural designs that do not acknowledge the historical context of surrounding development. ■ Other than the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, the City has limited venues suitable for the presentation of professional quality visual and performing artists.

6.5.7 Sources California Department of Finance. 2006. Population and Housing Estimates (E-5a), 1 May. Havens, Patricia. 1997. Simi Valley: A Journey Through Time. Historical text by Patricia Havens. Published by the Simi Valley Historical Society and Museum. LexisNexis. n.d. Simi Valley Municipal Code. Website: http://municipalcodes.lexisnexis.com/codes/simivalley. Accessed 15 March 2007. Simi Valley, City of. 1988. Simi Valley General Plan. ———. n.d. About the City: Economic Development Perspective. Website: http://www.simivalley.org/html/about_the_city.html. Accessed 15 March 2007. ———. n.d. Cultural Arts Center: A Brief History. Website: http://www.simivalley.org/html/simi_valley_cultural_arts_cent.html. Accessed 15 March 2007.

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Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. n.d. Building History. Website: http://www.simi- arts.org/buildinghistory.aspx. Accessed 15 March 2007. Simiopolis. n.d. Simi Valley History. Website: http://www.simiopolis.com/node/121. Accessed 15 March 2007. Strathearn Historical Park and Museum. n.d. History of Simi Valley: Chumash Period. Website: http://www.simihistory.com/Chumash.htm. Accessed 15 March 2007. ———. n.d. History of Simi Valley: Pinoeer Period. Website: http://www.simihistory.com/Pioneer.htm. Accessed 15 March 2007. ———. n.d. History of Simi Valley: Spanish Period. Website: http://www.simihistory.com/Spanish.htm. Accessed 15 March 2007.

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