An organization calling itself “Save the Sexlinger Orchard” has announced a demonstration on Saturday, May 7, from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon, to bring attention to our cause. 1584 East Santa Clara Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705.
According to their Facebook page, the proposed housing project is about to formally enter a period of public debate.
They are requesting that you bring your own hand held signs with appropriate sentiments about the cause. Check for parking at Portola Park immediately east of the orchard or in the neighborhoods in the area.
To help anticipate participant numbers please RSVP if possible to defendourorchard@gmail.com.
They also ask that you please contact the property owner, Concordia University, Irvine, office of the President: Kurt Krueger, President. Phone: 949-214-3194. E-mail: kurt.krueger@cui.edu.
Saving the orchard would be an admirable thing to do, but it is just not practical.
And save it for what? The City has NO money – & there is no private money to turn the orchard into something. We don’t need the orchard to be a nuisance with vagrants etc. for another 20 to 30 years. The vagrants will burn the historic house to the ground eventually.
I think that the best possible outcome would be to have the City designate that the park development funds which the developer will be paying be designated to pay to move the Sexlinger orchard home and plant some orange trees at the SA Heritage site.
The developer is ready to to improve the city – and Admin. don’t forget the construction jobs that will come with this.
Why didn’t the protestors buy the property when it was for sale?
Cook,
Probably cost too much…
The property is currently entitled to Concordia University. Tava Development Corp. is interested in purchasing it to develop 25 homes on the site. The Grain Project, the concerned citizens of the area (Save Our Orchard), and other community groups are interested in purchasing the property. We simply are trying to raise awareness on the possibilities of maintaining the site as an operating historic orchard and agricultural history museum open to the public. If it were used in this fashion, the grounds and house would be kept up, clean, safe, and beautiful.
Junior, by saving this property as a working orchard, many jobs would be produced and would be a better and more holistic way to improve the city.
Cook, before Tava Development Corp. was interested in the site, Empire Homes was pursuing it. This dates back to 2007/8. Empire Homes claimed to have the title on the property, but now we have learned that Concordia University does.