600 block of S. Birch Street
This old POSTCARD of Heninger Park shows the 600 block of S. Birch Street. The view is looking toward the Heninger House. The Heninger House is located on the SW corner of S. Birch St. & Bishop St.
History of Heninger Park Neigborhood Movement
Early in the 1980's a movement to preserve and restore the neighborhood was organized. Known as the "Birch Street Citizens for a Better Neighborhood" this group worked with City Staff to find solutions for neighborhood preservation. Long time residents and new comers alike had rediscovered the unique character and quality craftsmanship of Heninger Park's Craftsman Bungalows. Residents were alarmed by the increasing trend in the City to allow the demolition of bungalows to make way for the construction of large apartment buildings. Fearing the demise
of the character of the neighborhood as the knew it and grieving the loss
of irreplaceable architecturally significant Craftsman Bungalows residents met to discuss the future of their neighborhood and make plans
for it's preservation.
Residents felt that the architectural and historical character of the houses, churches, schools, commercial buildings and neighborhood markets were one of the neighborhoods most important features. They decided to ask the City Council to designate Heninger Park area as a local historic district.
Preliminary work was done before bringing their request to the City Council. A systematic block-by-block, house-by-house historic resources survey was conducted. The study area was bounded on the north by West Camile,
on the south by West McFadden, on the east by the alley behind Sycamore Street and on the west by South Flower Street. This was the area
designated for study by City Staff.
The survey methodology included photography, mapping. architectural descriptions and historical research. A black-and-white photograph was taken of each building . Slides of many of the houses and buildings were taken to illustrate a permanent slide show about the future Heninger Park Historic District. Maps were prepared to illustrate four different types
of information including, contributing buildings and non-contributing buildings. A brief paragraph was written describing the architectural style and details of each building and its contributive status. Each house was researched for historical significance in old city directories. This information included the year of construction, first owner's name and the name of subsequent owners, occupation and place of employment of the people and any children listed who had lived in the house. This amounted to a file on approximately 4000 persons who lived in Heninger Park neighborhood during its developing years.
In May of 1986, the residents of homes in Heninger Park went to the City Council to request that their neighborhood be designated as Santa Ana's second local historic district. Based on information presented by the neighborhood organization and City staff, the City Council officially created the Heninger Park Historic District as a special historic overlay zone. The language of the ordinance set standards for the restoration and revitalization of the exterior features of all properties. It was given the official designation Specific Development No. 40 or SD-40. The boundaries are First Street on the north, West McFadden Avenue on the south, South Flower Street on the on the west and South Sycamore Street on the east. The district is known as Santa Ana's Bungalow Neighborhood because its many Craftsman Bungalows.
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