Save the Sexlinger Orange Grove!
May 4th, 2011 by Heather Westenhofer
From our partners at the Grain Project:
Join The Grain Project and concerned community members in opposing the Tava Development Inc.’s plans to place 24 single-family residential homes on this historic five-acre orange orchard in northeast Santa Ana.
Located at 1585 E. Santa Clara, this property was owned since 1913 by the Sexlinger family, is the last and oldest orange orchard remaining in Santa Ana and its five acres is less than 100 acres of orange orchards remaining in the entire county of Orange. We at The Grain Project envision this historic sight to be preserved as an agricultural history museum and a site accessible to the community at large to learn about local agriculture and to produce healthy fruits and vegetables.
The Sexlinger Center for Urban Agriculture would:
- feature a visitor and education center
- feature demonstration gardens and community gardens open to the public
- preserve major portions of this near 100-year-old orange orchard which are testament to our county’s agricultural legacy.
- promote the history and importance of urban agriculture to the development of the City of Santa Ana
Given The Grain Project’s view of the value of this property as a historical and community resource, any project envisioned for this property should be based in conservation, preservation, and community education, whereas the Tava Development Corp. would simply add 24 new homes, streets, and landscaping where this beautiful farm currently exists.
We encourage all interested people to attend this neighborhood association meeting and to express their views on this issue. This is one of several opportunities for the general public to provide input in the decision process regarding what will take place on this valued piece of the city’s history.
Tava Devleopment has acquired title to the property and their proposed housing development is in the middle stages of consideration by the City of Santa Ana. An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is in the last stages of being finalized and should become available for public comment within the next few weeks. Our efforts at this point are to stop the development process from proceeding and to generate a community-wide discussion for this property’s use for the benefit of the entire city of Santa Ana (and county at large).
Please join us and share your voice.
Tax-deductible monetary and in-kind donations for this cause can be directed to The Grain Project with ‘Save our Orchard’ or ‘Sexlinger’ in the Comments of our online donation (see link below) or Memo line of a check (mailed to the address below). Your tax-deductible receipt will then be mailed. Thanks for your support!
http://www.facebook.com/SaveOurOrchard?sk=wall
This Saturday, May 7, 2011 from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon we will be demonstrating at the orchard site to bring attention to our cause. 1584 East Santa Clara Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92705.
Join in as we attempt to elevate the visibility of this issue within the community by participating in an on-site demonstration. PLEASE bring your own hand held signs with appropriate sentiments about our 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.