A little over one year ago, the historic but seriously dilapidated Redman-Hirahara House was removed from a list of local historic resources, a decision that cleared the way for the property owner to demolish the 128-year-old building.
That decision came after decades of neglect that building officials say made the house impossible to repair.
But the house, standing forlornly on the outskirts of Watsonville, may still be serving a purpose as a historic resource.
The so-called demolition by neglect—when property owners allow historic structures to deteriorate to the point where restoration becomes impractical or impossible—is the subject of an ordinance that, if given final approval in December, will make it easier for county officials to prevent other historic buildings from suffering a similar fate.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the ordinance in concept, giving the county new authority to intervene when owners allow historic structures to deteriorate.
The supervisors approved the proposal without amendments. A second reading and final adoption are expected in December, with the ordinance taking effect in January 2027.
The house, designed by architect William Weeks in 1897, was once home to the Hirahara family, who returned to the property after being incarcerated during World War II.
The building has stood vacant since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and has deteriorated despite years of preservation efforts.
County historic resources planner Skyler Kriese cited the house as an example of what the proposed ordinance could prevent.
“This ordinance acts as a protection measure to prevent structures from having to be delisted from the historic inventory as a result of owner neglect and dilapidation,” she said.
The ordinance would apply to certain properties on the county’s historic resources inventory.
Under the proposal, county officials would first contact owners of deteriorating buildings and work with them to develop restoration plans.
If those efforts fail, the county could issue an abatement order requiring repairs. Continued noncompliance could result in fines or county-funded stabilization work, with costs recovered through a lien on the property.
Principal Planner Mark Connelly emphasized that enforcement would be a last resort.
“The intent of this ordinance, it was carefully crafted with language to be able to work with applicants to be able to never get to the point where a structure is dilapidated to the point of no return,” he said.
Supervisor Manu Koenig questioned how the ordinance might have affected the Redman-Hirahara House.
Connelly said the house was a prominent example, but not the sole reason for the ordinance.
“We’re seeing structures throughout the county,” he said. “That’s just the one that’s most prominent in the news.”
Koenig also raised concerns about restoration costs, noting that the county owns historic buildings with deferred maintenance needs.
County Parks Director Jeff Gaffney said his department oversees 10 historic sites, some requiring significant maintenance.
Supervisor Kim De Serpa supported the proposal, pointing to historic properties at Pinto Lake and the Burt Scott Estate as potential restoration opportunities.
“We do have a ticking clock on many of these properties that we would like to see preserved,” she said.
The ordinance received unanimous recommendations from the Historic Resources Commission and Planning Commission.
