Demolishing Packinghouse Could Be Grave Mistake Locals, Commission Say

In a quickly arranged meeting of the Redlands Historic and Scenic Preservation Commission, commissioners approved a letter that aimed to convince the Redlands City Council to save one of the valley’s few remaining citrus packinghouses.

The MOD Packinghouse, at 330 N. Third St. in Redlands, is one of a very few surviving citrus buildings in the Loma Linda/Redlands area that was once dotted with packinghouses. The passage of time destroyed some, fire destroyed others.

Locals are concerned over the city’s “good faith” negotiations with Showprop Redlands LLC, a group headed by movie theater mogul George Krikorian, for the purchase of the property which now sits empty.

Opponents of the sale say Krikorian intends to raze the historic building and turn it into a grocery store and parking lot.

“I hope that what everybody gets from this tonight is that the commission is in full support of wanting to save this historic resource,” said historic commission chairman David Van Diest during Wednesday night’s meeting.

The letter, which was signed by all seven commissioners, is meant to stress how important the packinghouse is to the city.

A handful of residents attended the quickly arranged meeting.

 “I continue to be appalled by those residents of this community who take for granted the beauty, the richness and the uniqueness of Redlands and the superior quality of life that it has to offer,” said Dr. Mary Inez, MD. “This (packinghouse) is directly related to the rich heritage of this town and the vision of the pioneers who superbly planned it.”

City Manager N. Enrique Martinez has said currently no development project has officially been proposed for the property.

“Until the developer files a project proposal, there is no project,” Martinez said through a written statement.

City officials say Showprop has expressed interest in proposing a retail project, but no plans have been filed.

Any proposal would also have to go before the historic commission, the Planning Commission and, possibly, the City Council, before opening escrow on the sale of the packinghouse property, officials said.

The entire process would allow for public participation and input, officials said.

“The agreement also provides that if demolition is permitted, it applies only to a grocery store and that it must be conducted in such a way as to preserve and incorporate, to the extent possible, as much of the original building as possible and construct the project in such a way as to retain the characteristics or replicate elements of an early-20th century packinghouse,” according to a City of Redlands news release. “Under the agreement, if any other project is proposed, it may not include any proposal to demolish the existing building.”

The Redlands City Council will discuss the issue at 6 p.m. July 5 at 35 Cajon Street in Redlands.