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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 4a. REVIEW OF A REQUEST TO ENTRE INTO A HISTORICAL PROPERTY PRESERVATION CONTRACT (MILLS ACT) FOR THE LANDMARK MEREDITH HOUSE PROPERTY (1421 GARDEN STREET) CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMITTEE AGENDA REPORT SUBJECT: REVIEW OF A REQUEST TO ENTER INTO A HISTORICAL PROPERTY PRESERVATION CONTRACT (MILLS ACT) FOR THE LANDMARK “MEREDITH HOUSE” PROPERTY (1421 GARDEN STREET) BY: Eva Wynn, Assistant Planner FROM: Brian Leveille, Principal Planner Phone Number: (805) 781-7172 Phone Number: (805) 781-7166 Email: ewynn@slocity.org Email: bleveille@slocity.org APPLICATION NUMBER: HIST-0681-2025 PROJECT ADDRESS: 1421 Garden Street APPLICANT: Beau and Jennifer Narragon REPRESENTATIVE: James Papp RECOMMENDATION Provide a recommendation to the City Council regarding a Mills Act historic property contract between the City and the owners of property at 1421 Garden Street, to encourage maintenance and restoration of the Landmark historic “Meredith House” property. 1.0 BACKGROUND The owners of the Meredith House at 1421 Garden Street submitted an application to enter into a Mills Act historic property preservation contract with the City (see Draft Agreement, Attachment A). The Committee will make a recommendation to the City Council about the request, as provided in § 14.01.030 (B)(8) of the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. Meeting Date: 2/23/2026 Item Number: 4a Time Estimate: 20 minutes Figure 1 - Meredith House (courtesy of James Papp) Page 9 of 107 Item 4a HIST-0681-2025 Cultural Heritage Committee Report – February 23, 2026 2.0 DISCUSSION 2.1 Site and Setting The property is on the east side of Garden Street, about 100 feet south of Pismo Street, in the Old Town Historic District, one of the City’s oldest residential neighborhoods, built up historically around the turn of the twentieth century, with older structures dating back to the 1880s. Included in the City’s Inventory of Historic Resources as a Master List property (Landmark) by Resolution No. 11365 (2022), the subject property was found to satisfy historic significance evaluation criteria for Architecture and Persons, and was found to retain a high degree of integrity. The residence was designated a Landmark for its association with David Milton Meredith, an early San Luis Obispo leader who influenced the city's development in education, finance, and religion ; and for its embodiment of the Swiss Revival/Heimatstil style, as concluded by the application and historic evaluation prepared by James Papp, PhD. Built in 1883, the Meredith House is the earliest documented of the city’s Swiss Revival resources. 2.2 Mills Act Contracts The Mills Act Program is a property tax reduction program for protection of cultural resources that encourages their maintenance and restoration (§ 3.6.2 of the General Pl an Conservation and Open Space Element). Participation in the program is limited to designated Landmarks; historic resources that are of the greatest importance at the local, regional, state, or national level in terms of age, architectural or historical significance, rarity, or association with important persons or events in the City’s past, that meet one or more of the criteria outlined in Section 14.01.060 and that retain a high degree of integrity (HPO § 14.01.050 (A)(1)). The City and owners of a Landmark Resource may enter into a historical property preservation contract under which the owners agree to restore, maintain, and protect the property in accordance with historical preservation standards. Owners may qualify for property tax relief, potentially realizing tax savings of between 40% and 60% per year. Contracts have a minimum term of ten years, and contain standard elements set out in the Mills Act (Govt. Code §§ 50280-50290), including: a provision for preservation (or, where necessary, restoration and rehabilitation) of the property in conformance with state historic preservation guidelines; periodic examination of the property for compliance with the contract; and a provision binding the contract upon successive owners. Automatic one-year extensions are provided, unless either party gives notice of non-renewal of the contract. Page 10 of 107 Item 4a HIST-0681-2025 Cultural Heritage Committee Report – February 23, 2026 2.3 Proposed Improvements Several improvements and maintenance items are identified by the applicant (Attachment C) for completion during the term of the proposed contract. All of the items discussed appear to be relevant to the preservation and maintenance of this property and are included in Exhibit A of the proposed draft contract (Attachment A). Additionally, any work undertaken on the property must, under the terms of the contract, be carried out in a manner consistent with the City’s historical preservation standards and guidelines and with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties, so as to retain and preserve original, character-defining architectural features and the historical character of the property. 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION Entering into a Mills Act Contract with the owners of a historical property is not subject to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project as defined in CEQA Guidelines § 15378 (Definitions-Project). Implementation of the Mills Act is a government fiscal activity which does not involve commitment to any specific project resulting in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment CEQA Guidelines § 15378 (b) (4). 4.0 ACTION ALTERNATIVES 1. Staff Recommendation: Recommend to the City Council that the City enter into a Mills Act historic property preservation contract with the property owners, to encourage maintenance and restoration of the historic property at 1421 Garden Street. 2. Continue consideration of the request with direction to the applicant and staff. 3. Recommend to the City Council that the City not enter into the proposed historical property contract. This action is not recommended because the City participates in incentive programs that encourage maintenance and restoration of historic properties, (General Plan Conservation and Open Space Element, Program 3.6.2), and as a Landmark Resource, this property is eligible for this program 5.0 ATTACHMENTS A. Draft Historic Property Preservation Contract (1421 Garden St) B. Resolution No. 11365 (1421 Garden St) C. Application Request Letter and List of Improvements for 1421 Garden St Page 11 of 107 Page 12 of 107 Attachment A – Draft Historic Preservation Agreement (HIST-0681-2025) HISTORIC PROPERTY PRESERVATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO AND THE OWNER OF THE HISTORIC PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1421 GARDEN STREET, IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into this ________ day of ________ , 2026, by and between the City of San Luis Obispo, a municipal corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “City”), and Beau J. Narragon and Jennifer Narragon, Trustees of The JBCH Family Trust (hereinafter referred to as “Owner”), and collectively referred to as the “parties.” WHEREAS, Owners are the owners of that certain real property commonly known as 1421 Garden Street (APN 003-533-011), and legally described as shown in the attached “Exhibit B” (“Owners’ Property”); and WHEREAS, Owners have agreed to enter into a Historical Property Contract with the City for the preservation, maintenance, restoration, or rehabilitation of Owners’ Property, a historic resource within the City; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals and in further consideration of the mutual benefits, promises, and agreements set out herein, the parties agree as follows: Section 1. Description of Preservation Measures. The Owner, their heirs, or assigns hereby agree to undertake and complete, at their expense, the preservation, maintenance, and improvements measures described in “Exhibit A” attached hereto. Section 2. Effective Date and Term of Agreement. This agreement shall be effective and commence upon recordation and shall remain in effect for an initial term of ten (10) years thereafter. Each year upon the anniversary of the agreement’s effective date, such initial term will automatically be extended as provided in California Government Code Section 50280 through 50290 and in Section 3, below. Section 3. Agreement Renewal and Non-renewal. a. Each year on the anniversary of the effective date of this agreement (hereinafter referred to as “annual renewal date”), a year shall automatically be added to the initial term of this agreement unless written notice of nonrenewal is served as provided herein. b. If the Owner or the City desires in any year not to renew the agreement, the Owner or the City shall serve written notice of nonrenewal of the agreement on the other party. Unless such notice is served by the Owner to the City at least ninety (90) days prior to the annual renewal date, or served by the City to the Owner at least sixty (60) days prior to the annual renewal date, one (1) year shall automatically be added to the term of the agreement as provided herein. Page 13 of 107 Historic Preservation Agreement 1421 Garden Street Page 2 c. The Owner may make a written protest of the notice. The City may, at any time prior to the annual renewal date, withdraw its notice to the Owner of nonrenewal. d. If either the City or the Owner serves notice to the other party of nonrenewal in any year, the agreement shall remain in effect for the balance of the term then remaining. Section 4. Standards and Conditions. During the term of this agreement, the historic property shall be subject to the following conditions: a. Owner agrees to preserve, maintain, and, where necessary, restore or rehabilitate the building and its character-defining features, including: the building’s general architectural form, style, materials, design, scale, proportions, organization of windows, doors, and other openings; interior architectural elements that are integral to the building’s historic character or significance; exterior materials, coatings, textures, details, mass, roof line, porch, and other aspects of the appearance of the building’s exterior, as described in Exhibit A, to the satisfaction of the Community Development Director or his designee. b. All building changes shall comply with applicable City specific plans, City regulations and guidelines, and conform to the rules and regulations of the Office of Historic Preservation of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, namely the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Standards and Guidelines for Historic Preservation Projects. Interior remodeling shall retain original, character-defining architectural features such as oak and mahogany details, pillars and arches, special tile work, or architectural ornamentation to the greatest extent possible. c. The Community Development Director shall be notified by the Owner of changes to character-defining exterior features prior to their execution, such as major landscaping projects and tree removals, exterior door or window replacement, repainting, remodeling, or other exterior alterations requiring a building permit. The Owner agrees to secure all necessary City approvals and/or permits prior to changing the building’s use or commencing construction work. d. Owner agrees that property tax savings resulting from this agreement shall be used for property maintenance and improvements as described in Exhibit A. e. The following are prohibited: demolition or partial demolition of the historic building; exterior alterations or additions not in keeping with the standards listed above; dilapidated, deteriorating, or unrepaired structures such as fences, roofs, doors, walls, windows; outdoor storage of junk, trash, debris, appliances, or furniture visible from a public way; or any device, decoration, structure, or vegetation which is unsightly due to lack of maintenance or because such feature adversely affects, or is visually incompatible with, the property’s recognized Page 14 of 107 Historic Preservation Agreement 1421 Garden Street Page 3 historic character, significance, and design as determined by the Community Development Director. f. Owner shall allow reasonable periodic examination, by prior appointment, of the interior and exterior of the historic property by representatives of the County Assessor, the State Department of Parks and Recreation, the State Board of Equalization, and the City as may be necessary to determine the owners’ compliance with the terms and provisions of this agreement. Section 5. Furnishing of Information. The Owner hereby agrees to furnish any and all information requested by the City which may be necessary or advisable to determine compliance with the terms and provisions of this agreement. Section 6. Cancellation. a. The City, following a duly-noticed public hearing by the City Council as set forth in Government Code Section 50285, may cancel this agreement if it determines that the Owner has breached any of the conditions of this agreement or has allowed the property to deteriorate to the point that it no longer meets the standards for a qualified historic property; or if the City determines that the Owner has failed to preserve, maintain, or rehabilitate the property in the manner specified in Section 4 of this agreement. If a contract is cancelled because of failure of the Owner to preserve, maintain, and rehabilitate the historic property as specified above, the Owner shall pay a cancellation fee to the State Controller as set forth in Government Code Section 50286, which states that the fee shall be 12 ½% of the full value of the property at the time of cancellation without regard to any restriction imposed with this agreement. b. If the historic building is acquired by eminent domain and the City Council determines that the acquisition frustrates the purpose of the agreement, the agreement shall be cancelled and no fee imposed, as specified in Government Code Section 50288. Section 7. Enforcement of Agreement. a. In lieu of and/or in addition to any provisions to cancel the agreement as referenced herein, the City may specifically enforce, or enjoin the breach of, the terms of the agreement. In the event of a default, under the provisions to cancel the agreement by the Owner, the City shall give written notice of violation to the Owner by registered or certified mail addressed to the address stated in this agreement. If such a violation is not corrected to the reasonable satisfaction of the Community Development Director or designee within thirty (30) days thereafter; or if not corrected within such a reasonable time as may be required to cure the breach or default of said breach; or if the default cannot be cured within thirty (30) days (provided that acts to cure the breach or default may be commenced within thirty (30) days and shall thereafter be diligently pursued to completion by the Owner); Page 15 of 107 Historic Preservation Agreement 1421 Garden Street Page 4 then the City may, without further notice, declare a default under the terms of this agreement and may bring any action necessary to specifically enforce the obligations of the Owner growing out of the terms of this agreement, apply to any court, state or federal, for injunctive relief against any violation by the owners or apply for such relief as may be appropriate. b. The City does not waive any claim of default by the Owner if the City does not enforce or cancel this agreement. All other remedies at law or in equity which are not otherwise provided for in this agreement or in the City’s regulations governing historic properties are available to the City to pursue in the event that there is a breach or default under this agreement. No waiver by the City of any breach or default under this agreement shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other subsequent breach thereof or default herein under. c. By mutual agreement, City and Owner may enter into mediation or binding arbitration to resolve disputes or grievances growing out of this contract. Section 8. Binding Effect of Agreement. The Owner hereby subjects the historic building located at 1421 Garden St, San Luis Obispo, California, Assessors Parcel Number 003-533-011, to the covenants, reservations, and restrictions as set forth in this agreement. The City and Owner hereby declare their specific intent that the covenants, reservations, and restrictions as set forth herein shall be deemed covenants running with the land and shall pass to and be binding upon the Owner’s successors and assigns in title or interest to the historic property. Every contract, deed, or other instrument hereinafter executed, covering or conveying the historic property or any portion thereof, shall conclusively be held to have been executed, delivered, and accepted subject to the covenants, reservations, and restrictions expressed in this agreement regardless of whether such covenants, restrictions, and reservations are set forth in such contract, deed, or other instrument. Section 9. Notice. Any notice required by the terms of this agreement shall be sent to the address of the respective parties as specified below or at other addresses that may be later specified by the parties hereto. To City: Community Development Director City of San Luis Obispo 919 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 To Owner: Beau and Jennifer Narragon 1421 Garden St San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401 Section 10. General Provisions. a. None of the terms, provisions, or conditions of this agreement shall be deemed to create a partnership between the parties hereto and any of their heirs, successors, or Page 16 of 107 Historic Preservation Agreement 1421 Garden Street Page 5 assigns, nor shall such terms, provisions, or conditions cause them to be considered joint ventures or members of any joint enterprise. b. The Owner agrees to hold the City and its elected and appointed officials, officers, agents, and employees harmless from liability for damage or from claims for damage for personal injuries, including death, and claims for property damage which may arise from the direct or indirect use or activities of the Owner, or from those of their contractor, subcontractor, agent, employee, or other person acting on the Owner’s behalf which relates to the use, operation, maintenance, or improvement of the historic property. The Owner hereby agrees to and shall defend the City and its elected and appointed officials, officers, agents, and employees with respect to any and all claims or actions for damages caused by, or alleged to have been caused by, reason of the Owner’s activities in connection with the historic property, excepting however any such claims or actions which are the result of the sole negligence or willful misconduct of City, its officers, agents, or employees. c. This hold harmless provision applies to all damages and claims for damages suffered, or alleged to have been suffered, and costs of defense incurred, by reason of the operations referred to in this agreement regardless of whether or not the City prepared, supplied, or approved the plans, specifications, or other documents for the historic property. d. All of the agreements, rights, covenants, reservations, and restrictions contained in this agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties herein, their heirs, successors, legal representatives, assigns, and all persons acquiring any part or portion of the historic property, whether by operation of law or in any manner whatsoever. e. In the event legal proceedings are brought by any party or parties to enforce or restrain a violation of any of the covenants, reservations, or restrictions contained herein, or to determine the rights and duties of any party hereunder, the prevailing party in such proceeding may recover all reasonable attorney’s fees to be fixed by the court, in addition to court costs and other relief ordered by the court. f. In the event that any of the provisions of this agreement are held to be unenforceable or invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, or by subsequent preemptive legislation, the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions, or portions thereof, shall not be affected thereby. g. This agreement shall be construed and governed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. Section 11. Amendments. This agreement may be amended, in whole or in part, only by a written recorded instrument executed by the parties hereto. Page 17 of 107 Historic Preservation Agreement 1421 Garden Street Page 6 Section 12. Recordation and Fees. No later than twenty (20) days after the parties enter into this agreement, the City shall cause this agreement to be recorded in the office of the County Recorder of the County of San Luis Obispo. Participation in the program shall be at no cost to the Owner; however the City may charge reasonable and necessary fees to recover direct costs of executing, recording, and administering the historical property contracts. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the City and Owner have executed this agreement on the day and year written above. OWNER ____________________________________ ______________________________ Trustees of the JBCH Family Trust Date CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO ____________________________________ ______________________________ Mayor Erica A. Stewert Date ATTEST: ______________________________ Teresa Purrington, City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: ______________________________ Christine Dietrick, City Attorney ALL SIGNATURES MUST BE NOTARIZED Page 18 of 107 Historic Preservation Agreement 1421 Garden Street Page 7 EXHIBIT A MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENT MEASURES FOR THE MEREDITH HOUSE LOCATED AT 1421 GARDEN STREET, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA Owner shall preserve, maintain, and repair the historic building, including its character-defining architectural features in good condition, to the satisfaction of the Community Development Director or designee, pursuant to a Mills Act Preservation Contract with the City of San Luis Obispo for property located at 1421 Garden Street. Character-defining features shall include, but are not limited to: roof, eaves, dormers, trim, porches, walls and siding, architectural detailing, doors and windows, window screens and shutters, balustrades and railings, foundations, and surface treatments. Owner agrees to make the following improvements and/or repairs during the term of this contract but in no case later than ten (10) years from the contract date. All changes or repairs shall be consistent with the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties:  spot maintenance of the recent exterior painting  repair of porch and other areas of rotting wood  window upgrades to historic standards  repair of incorrectly installed drains  new roof shingles toward the end of their lifespan in the next ten years Page 19 of 107 Historic Preservation Agreement 1421 Garden Street Page 8 EXHIBIT B Legal Description For APN/Parcel ID(s): 003-533-011 TO BE INCLUDED IN FINAL CONTRACT AGREEMENT. APN: 003-533-011 Page 20 of 107 Historic Preservation Agreement 1421 Garden Street Page 9 State of California } County of San Luis Obispo } On ________________, before me ________________________________________ , Date Name and Title of the Officer personally appeared, ___________________________________________________ , Name of Signer(s) who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies), and that by his/her/their signature(s) on the instrument the person(s), or the entity upon behalf of which the person(s) acted, executed the instrument. I certify under PENALTY OF PERJURY under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing paragraph is true and correct. WITNESS my hand and official seal. Signature _____________________________ Signature of Notary Public Place Notary Seal Above State of California } County of San Luis Obispo } On ________________, before me ________________________________________ , Date Name and Title of the Officer personally appeared, ___________________________________________________ , Name of Signer(s) who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies), and that by his/her/their signature(s) on the instrument the person(s), or the entity upon behalf of which the person(s) acted, executed the instrument. I certify under PENALTY OF PERJURY under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing paragraph is true and correct. WITNESS my hand and official seal. Signature _____________________________ Signature of Notary Public Place Notary Seal Above Page 21 of 107 Page 22 of 107 Attachment B - Resolution No. 11365 Page 23 of 107 Page 24 of 107 Page 25 of 107 Page 26 of 107 Page 27 of 107 Page 28 of 107 D. M. and Carrie Proper Meredith House 1421 Garden Street Mills Act Application The D. M. and Carrie Proper Meredith House was added to San Luis Obispo’s Master List of Historic Properties in 2023 for association with early San Luis Obispo City and County leader in education and finance D. M. Meredith and for embodiment of the Swiss Revival/Heimatstil style, at 1883 the earliest documented of the city’s Swiss Revival resources, which include the Master List Snyder House (by 1886) and Angel and Greenfield Houses (circa 1890) and, of course, Madonna Inn, designed in 1957 and built over t he ensuing decade. The owners of the Meredith House, Beau and Jennifer Narragon, are applying for Mills Act tax abatement, innovated by State Senator Jim Mills and voted in referendum by the citizens of California in 1976 to assist owners of historic buildings with the additional expenses of preservation. The program reduces property taxes on a formula set by the county, while the city mandates a contract to ensure that the historic resource is properly maintained. T he undertaking for the Meredith House focuses on maintenance of the historic structure and fabric of the house against water damage, including • spot maintenance of the recent exterior painting • repair of porch and other areas of rotting wood • window upgrades to historic standards • repair of incorrectly installed drains • new roof shingles toward the end of their lifespan in the next ten years Following precedent of the Cultural Heritage Committee, these expenses relate to maintenance of the historic structure itself and not to ancillary aspects of the property. James Papp, PhD, Historian and Architectural Historian, City and County of San Luis Obispo 964 Chorro Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 | papp.architectural.history@gmail.com 805-470-0983 Submitted 26 August 2025 on behalf of Beau and Jennifer Narragon, 1421 Garden Street Attachment C - Applicaiton Request Letter Page 29 of 107 HIST-0681-2025 (1421 Garden St) Request to enter a historic property preservation contract (Mills Act). Mills Act Contracts The Mills Act Program is a program established under State law in which owners of historic buildings may, under a contract with the City, agree to preserve, maintain, and improve their property in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and local regulations in exchange for property tax savings. (Historic Preservation Ordinance § 14.01.030(B)(7)) Historic properties designated as Landmarks are eligible for participation in the Mills Act program. (Historic Preservation Ordinance § 14.01.020(31) Cultural Heritage Committee Purview The Cultural Heritage Committee shall make a recommendation to the City Council on applications for incentive programs, including Mills Act Contracts, that are directed at preserving and maintaining historic resources. (Historic Preservation Ordinance § 14.01.030(B)(7)) Meredith House Landmark •Designated for its association with David Milton Meredith and for its embodiment of the Swiss Revival/Heimatstil style, as evaluated by James Papp, PhD •Built in 1883, the Meredith House is the earliest documented of the city’s Swiss Revival resources 1421 Garden St – Old Town List of Improvements • spot maintenance of the recent exterior painting •repair of porch and other areas of rotting wood •window upgrades to historic standards •repair of incorrectly installed drains •new roof shingles toward the end of their lifespan in the next ten years Action Alternatives •Action 1: Recommend to the City Council that the City enter into a Mills Act historic property preservation contract with the property owners, to encourage maintenance and restoration of the historic property at 1421 Garden Street. (Recommended) •Action 2: Continue consideration of the request with direction to the applicant and staff. •Action 3: Recommend to the City Council that the City not enter into the proposed historical property contract. This action is not recommended because the City participates in incentive programs that encourage maintenance and restoration of historic properties, (General Plan Conservation and Open Space Element, Program 3.6.2), and as a Landmark Resource, this property is eligible for this program HIST-0681-2025 (1421 Garden St) Request to enter a historic property preservation contract (Mills Act). Recommended Action: Forward a recommendation to the City Council that the City enter into a Mills Act historic property preservation contract with the property owners at 1421 Garden Street. The 1883 D. M. & Carrie Proper Meredith House Mills Act Application, from Beau & Jen Narragon The Meredith House was added to the Master List in 2022, the first resource listed for association with a historically significant educator (though here he is, at right, in his later career as a historically significant banker). In an unsettled time for local education, Meredith stuck to leadership roles from 1878 to 1913: thirty-five years. All the buildings he taught or was principal in, built or expanded as member of the county or city school boards have been demolished. While other educators were running on anti-Chinese platforms, Meredith was renting to the Chinese. Meredith’s financial roles in co-founding the San Luis Obispo Building and Loan Association and keeping the Andrews Bank afloat during the 1899 county bank panic were also historically significant, in spite (or because of) his staying out of the headlines. D. M. and Carrie Meredith’s house is also the earliest example in San Luis of Swiss Revival architecture, an influential and persistent style from late eighteenth century France that spread to America, thence back to Europe, and culminated here in Madonna Inn. Above: from Andrew Jackson Downing’s 1850 The Architecture of Coutnry Houses Le Corbusier’s earliest buildings, in his native La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, were all Swiss Revival or Heimatstil (Homeland Style). The Meredith House is, from 1883, one of the oldest houses in San Luis and, at 2½ stories, one of our largest historic houses. D. M. Meredith divided the house into multiple units, and the Narragons have retained these divisions, addressing the city’s housing needs while using it simultaneously as their family home. Rehabilitation to SOI Standards and anticipated and unanticipated maintenance is not to be underestimated in this building 5 years older than the one that inspired the Mills Act 53 years ago— the Hotel del Coronado.