From Preservation Online, the online magazine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

www.preservationonline.org

Quartered California House Awaits Move


Story by Jeesoo Park / Oct. 2, 2007

Today, a castle-like house in Santa Ana, Calif., looks very different from the grand Tudor structure it was when it was built in 1914. For one thing, it has been in four rickety pieces for eight months.

The mansion and city landmark, named the Twist-Basler House after two families that lived there, was disassembled by its current owner, developer Michael Harrah, in Nov. 2006, April 2007, and May 2007.

Planning to build a 37-story office tower that will be the tallest building in Orange County, Harrah purchased the Twist-Basler House and many adjacent buildings over the past several years. He plans to transfer ownership of the house to the city when he moves it to Cabrillo Park, where the city plans to turn it into a fitness center with tennis courts. According to Alison Young, president of the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society, "It is assumed that Harrah decided to dismantle the house in order to make this move easier."

But Harrah, who did not return phone calls to Preservation Online, has not yet taken any initiative to relocate the house thus far, despite a recent letter from the city requiring him to come up with a final plan within the next few weeks. Residents suspect that Harrah is delaying the move because the city is requiring him to purchase an expensive bond first.

"Our biggest fear right now is that additional delays will force the house to move during our rainy season, which is usually from November to February. It is forecasted to be a wet year," says Guy Ball, treasurer of the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society.

Although the city recently forced Harrah to provide new coverings for the house, Santa Ana residents worry that these won’t protect it. Still, Ball says, "We are cautiously optimistic."

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