Heritage Board Recommends Removing Two Orange Street Properties from Historic District

The Cultural Heritage Board on Wednesday voted to recommend the City Council remove two Orange Street properties from the Prospect Place Historic District, determining that neither site has retained its historic integrity.

The Riverside County Office of Education, which owns the properties, requested the de-designation.

City staff said the properties no longer qualify as historic structures because the residence at 4480 Orange Street was previously demolished in the late 1980s, while a demolition permit for the building at 4472 Orange Street was issued in March 2026.

In place of the properties, the city is designing a parking lot and shade trees, said Historic Preservation Officer Scott Watson.

Removing the designations means future changes won't require a certificate of appropriateness, though zoning rules still apply.

Because the properties sit on the district's edge, the change would shrink its boundaries.

Board member Derrick Nelson said he's concerned whether shrinking districts could set a precedent; however, Watson said this was a case-specific situation and not a precedent.

Ward 1 resident Nancy Cox opposed the change.

"Consider the mission statement of the board … it's to preserve history in the houses, whether it's the district, the structures of merit or the landmarks," Cox said during public comment. "Also, I would like to add to the [Board] that I hope a sign will be erected where the house was demolished."

Neighbors within a 300-foot radius of each property were mailed notifications, city staff said.

Board members said they'd consider adding a plaque to explain the sites' history.

No other public comments were made, and there were no online callers. The de-designation request and district boundary change now go to the City Council for final action; the appeal period is 10 days.