City to Sell Historic Homes on Ortega

Wanna buy a historic house in san Juan Capistrano? Wanna buy two?

The city Is beginning the process of selling the Harrison Farm House and Parra Adobe, the two historic homes seen by thousands of drivers each day along Ortega Highway east of La Novia Avenue.

The City Council decided 1 ½ years ago to unload the one-third acre property.

Thursday afternoon, the city announced it is looking for a Realtor to represent the city as a seller’s agent.

The property comes with some restrictions.

“The property and both structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the city’s Inventory of Historic & Cultural Landmarks and any site or building improvements, with the exception of maintenance, are required to comply with the ‘Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation’ and the ‘Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings,” the city’s call for Realtors states.

While the Harrison House is in pretty good shape, the Parra Adobe will need some work.

“The Parra Adobe is structurally deficient with the south building wall supported by temporary bracing and requiring significant repair and possibly, seismic retro-fitting,’ according to the city.

For more than 30 years, the city leased the property to the Capistrano Indian Council for $1 a year, but decided to raise the rent to $300 a month when it discovered the group lost its nonprofit status. The group decided it couldn’t afford it, and then the council decided it no longer wanted to own the property.

"I don’t believe the city should be the landlord on all of these properties that we have," ten-Mayor Sam Allevato said in March 2011. "I’d like to see more of them sold off."

For more information about bidding on representing the city, see the city website.