On August 05, 2005, the Stephens & Bobbitt is listed on the

California Register as a significant cultural and historical

Resource. A flawed DEIR and EIR this City

would have lost a significant part of a cultural and historical heritage. Historian Janet Hansen and the author saved a precious gem from destruction to serve a pipe dream.

"Mitigation is not textual documentation and photo reformation a significant cultural and historical resource. Mitigation is acknowledging the significance of the Stephens & Bobbitt contribution to the culture and development of the City. Therefore, the City and Water district must yield and find the Stephens & Bobbitt significant to benefit the common good." Deanna

The Final Environmental Impact Report is set up to benefit the project. Experts failed to examine the cultural significance of the Stephens & Bobbitt, a serious error, since the project involves radical mitigation. The FEIR point out the local level of significance is due to the building architectural merits and there was no mention of the historical heritage of San Bernardino. The Stephens & Bobbitt is listed by the State register as a Cultural and Historical resource, and mitigating of this cultural resource to textual documentation and photo-reformation is contrary to the California Environmental Quality Act. The Stephens & Bobbitt significantly contributed to the culture and development of the City of San Bernardino. The Stephens & Bobbitt funeral home contributed a character, interest, and is a part of the heritage of the City of San Bernardino. The Stephens & Bobbitt has a local level significance authored by the FEIR reflecting outstanding architectural design; however, the report ends there. Further, the FEIR point out the significance is derived primarily from the architectural merits for the local community; such changes in their setting are not considered to be a substantial adverse effect. The State of California found the building significant based on the contribution of Stephens & Bobbitt in culture and heritage of San Bernardino. The state register, as defined, of historical resources pertaining to Stephens & Bobbitt funeral home is criterion one & three. (DEIR 4.5.11&12) Criteria one: It is associated with events that have a significant contribution to the broad patterns of California's history and cultural heritage. In San Bernardino, the Stephens & Bobbitt's funeral home contributed to the history development of a mortuary. Criteria two: Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction that represents the work of an important creative individual or possess high artistic values. In San Bernardino, the Stephens & Bobbitt funeral home is a good example of a mortuary building as a property type. The authors of the DEIR assumed and authored their opinion on the local register level, a serious error that would have radical mitigation. Therefore, the criteria of the City and State are both historical and cultural in resource and significance. In short, the FEIR missed the mark and point out the "historical resource" based on the City's criteria of local register. The FEIR assumed the property significant based on the City's criteria of 4, 7, and nine checklist noted below. (DEIR 4.5-12)(Final summary of historic resource’s survey by Bai Tang, page 21, final, August 28, 2000 The FEIR failed the task of research, and research is the job of the FEIR authors. The author daunted the task of researching the property, a task that should have been done by the FEIR authors, and concluded the property type is a contribution to the history development of a "funeral home." The citizens of San Bernardino would have lost history and significance if the property was not researched and listed on the California Register. The loss of Stephens & Bobbitt is a repeat of California Hotel and other precious gems. The authors of the DEIR used the California room (a resource library for historical data - San Bernardino Library) for researching the parcels owned by the City. Why did the authors of the DEIR fail to research the Stephens & Bobbitt's building, the only commercial building in the handful selected to save?

Official Register and Plan to Preserve Historical Properties:

The local register of historical resources, means a list of properties officially designated or recognized as historically significant by a local government pursuant to a local ordinance or resolution. The threshold is based on the California Environmental Quality Act and the City of San Bernardino checklist identified in the General Plan. The threshold; however, stops with no further resolution of an established official register and plan to preserve historical properties. The criteria of the "historical resource" for 1156 North F st (Victory Chapel) noted by the City are as follows:

4. The building or structure exemplifies a particular architectural style or way of life important to the City.

7. The building or structure reflects outstanding attention to architectural design, detail, materials of craftsmanship.

9. The unique location or singular physical characteristics

of the building or structure represented an established and familiar feature of a neighborhood.

Under provisions of the City of San Bernardino's Historic Building Demolition Ordinance, any building that meets one or more of the criteria listed above is to be considered historically significant by the City in the demolition permit application process and, in turn, will be considered a "historical resource" pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. The local register term for"historical resource," pertaining to Stephens and Bobbitt, is INCOMPLETE, and examining a complete and true analysis of the significance, the author found the report of the FEIR flawed. In short, the Final Environmental Impact Report failed to examine the cultural association of 1156 North F street. (Victory Chapel) What happened, most likely, is their point of view regarding the architectural style and the building reflects a unique physical characteristic. The authors of the FEIR failed to examine the cultural history and the property type involving the Stephens & Bobbitt funeral home. Since this is the case, any mitigation is considered an adverse impact according to the California Environmental Impact Report. Another serious problem is that the City does not have an official register of historical resources and a plan to preserve the resource. Imagine a project of this nature and not be prepared with a designation for historical properties. The Urgency Historic Structure Demolition Ordinance was added to the Municipal Code in 1989, shortly after Holcomb was voted back into city hall. Several buildings of historical value have already been demolished including the Municipal Auditorium, Antlers Hotel, Carnegie Library, Atwood Adobe, and the California Hotel. The ordinance put into place a Historic Preservation Task Force, charged primarily with reviewing applications for demolition permits while a more comprehensive program could be developed. Years passed and yet the City failed to establish an official register of historical resources and a plan to preserve those resources. Because of a lack of concern and flaw with the Stephens & Bobbitt cultural and historical significance, the author found the 174 potential historical resources questionable. The authors of the FEIR are wishy washy and quickly formulated a report that meet the need for the project:

Environmental Injustice:

The only property saved is owned by the City (boys & girls club) and wishy washy documentation was done to qualify the property as eligible. The property is not listed on the National or State Register, and WPA status does’ not render a pass for National Registration. The authors of the FEIR failed to research the Boys & Girls club properly and must do so. The author finds this an Environmental Injustice to single out one property and destroy all others to serve an illusion, a pipe dream and profit to the Municipal Valley Water District.