Bilingual report — Chevron and City of Santa Paula Complete Donation of Historic Union Oil Company of California Headquarters and $2 Million Grant

Courtesy City of Santa Paula.

SANTA PAULA — Chevron, through its affiliate Union Oil Company of California, has transferred ownership and control of the former headquarters of Union Oil Company of California to the City of Santa Paula. The donation became official Dec. 27, 2023.

Included in the donation are the historic headquarters building, a “Rig Building,” an adjacent parking lot, select oil industry memorabilia, and a substantial $2 million grant. The grant is intended to assist the City in addressing maintenance for the 133 year-old iconic building.

“For over 130 years, the former Union Oil Company of California headquarters has been a major historic building that not only defines the town’s aesthetics but also serves as a cultural and economic anchor to businesses of all types in downtown Santa Paula,” said Mayor Leslie Cornejo. “Acquiring this piece of local history is a major win for our community, and we are looking forward to restoring operations for our residents and visitors to enjoy.”

On October 17, 1890, Union Oil Company of California was founded in a second-floor office of the building. The building continued to serve as Union Oil Company of California headquarters until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1900. In 2005, the company was acquired and became a Chevron affiliate.

“The birthplace of Union Oil Company of California is part of the proud history of Chevron, and we recognize we share some of that heritage with the City of Santa Paula,” said Gaynor Shirreffs, President of Chevron Environmental Management Company. “We are pleased to donate this historic building and entrust it to the City’s stewardship so it may be used for the benefit and enjoyment of the community.”

The Union Oil Company of California headquarters building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also a California State Historical Landmark and Ventura County Historical Landmark.

Since 1993, Union Oil Company of California has leased its former headquarters and adjacent properties near the corner of Main Street and 10th Street to the City of Santa Paula to serve as the home of the California Oil Museum. The City, responsible for facility repairs and maintenance, saw the museum managed by the California Oil Museum Foundation, a small nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the historical significance of the petroleum industry’s early impact on the region. Unfortunately, due to pandemic-induced financial hardships, the California Oil Museum Foundation had to close the museum in September 2021.

As the lease neared expiration, the City actively engaged with Chevron to strategize the best approach to protect, preserve, and financially support the property. In October 2022, the City

Council explored the opportunity to transfer ownership of the property, aiming to broaden funding avenues for reopening the facility through federal, state, and local grants, as well as capital fundraising efforts.

In November 2022, Chevron proposed a donation by Union Oil Company of California, encompassing the historic headquarters building, the “Rig Building,” an adjacent parking lot, a $2 million grant to address building maintenance along with select oil industry memorabilia displayed in the museum.

The City, committed to responsible stewardship, plans to utilize the generous grant for critical repairs and improvements, including roof and HVAC system replacements, water damage repairs, and flood prevention measures as well as establishing a trust to develop reserves to maintain the building for generations to come.

Additionally, while the details of the transfer agreement were in the works, the City Council commissioned an ad hoc committee to explore options for the future use of the building. To ensure inclusive community involvement in shaping the property’s future, the City hosted a series of community workshops, including one focused on youth feedback, led by David Yoshitomi, Arts & Culture Manager of the County of Ventura. City staff, working closely with the ad-hoc committee of the Council, current tenants, and stakeholders, identified potential uses for the buildings.

“I am profoundly grateful to Chevron for their exceptional generosity in donating the historic headquarters to the City,” said Dan Singer, City Manager of Santa Paula. “Their support ensures that the legacy of the Union Oil Company of California will continue to thrive, serving as a catalyst for economic development and community engagement in downtown Santa Paula. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Chevron for their pivotal role in shaping the future of our beloved city.”

On December 19, 2023, the City published a Request for Proposals (RFP) to invite proposals for the potential use of this historic property. The City envisions future tenants transforming the space into a vibrant, educational, and community-oriented hub, stimulating local businesses and attracting residents and visitors alike. This multifaceted approach aligns with the vision of the Union Oil Building as a catalyst for economic development in downtown Santa Paula.

The City plans to commemorate this significant occasion with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony in April 2024, coinciding with the celebration of Santa Paula’s 122 years of incorporation. For additional information on the RFP, go to www.spcity.org

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Chevron y la Ciudad de Santa Paula completan la donacio?n de
Sede histo?rica de Union Oil Company de California y subvencio?n de $2 millones

SANTA PAULA – – Chevron, a trave?s de su filial Union Oil Company of California, ha transferido la propiedad y el control de la antigua sede de Union Oil Company of California a la ciudad de Santa Paula. La donacio?n se hizo oficial el 27 de diciembre de 2023.

En la donacio?n se incluyen el edificio histo?rico de la sede, un “Edificio de Plataforma”, un estacionamiento adyacente, recuerdos selectos de la industria petrolera y una subvencio?n sustancial de $2 millones. La subvencio?n tiene como objetivo ayudar a la ciudad a abordar el mantenimiento del emblema?tico edificio de 133 an?os.

“Durante ma?s de 130 an?os, la antigua sede de Union Oil Company de California ha sido un edificio histo?rico importante que no solo define la este?tica de la ciudad sino que tambie?n sirve como un ancla cultural y econo?mica para empresas de todo tipo en el centro de Santa Paula”, dijo la alcaldesa Leslie Cornejo. “Adquirir esta pieza de historia local es una gran victoria para nuestra comunidad, y esperamos restaurar las operaciones para que nuestros residentes y visitantes disfruten”.

El 17 de octubre de 1890, se fundo? Union Oil Company of California en una oficina del segundo piso del edificio. El edificio continuo? sirviendo como sede de Union Oil Company de California hasta que la compan?i?a se mudo? a Los A?ngeles en 1900. En 2005, la compan?i?a fue adquirida y se convirtio? en una filial de Chevron.

“El lugar de nacimiento de Union Oil Company of California es parte de la orgullosa historia de Chevron, y reconocemos que compartimos parte de esa herencia con la ciudad de Santa Paula”, dijo Gaynor Shirreffs, presidente de Chevron Environmental Management Company. “Nos complace donar este edificio histo?rico y confiarlo a la administracio?n de la Ciudad para que pueda usarse para el beneficio y disfrute de la comunidad”.

El edificio de la sede de Union Oil Company of California figura en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Histo?ricos. Tambie?n es un monumento histo?rico del estado de California y un monumento histo?rico del condado de Ventura.

Desde 1993, Union Oil Company of California ha arrendado su antigua sede y propiedades adyacentes cerca de la esquina de Main Street y 10th Street a la ciudad de Santa Paula para que sirva como sede del Museo del Petro?leo de California. La Ciudad, responsable de las reparaciones y el mantenimiento de las instalaciones, vio el museo administrado por la Fundacio?n del Museo del Petro?leo de California, una pequen?a organizacio?n sin fines de lucro dedicada a preservar la importancia histo?rica del impacto inicial de la industria petrolera en la regio?n. Desafortunadamente, debido a las dificultades financieras inducidas por la pandemia, la Fundacio?n del Museo del Petro?leo de California tuvo que cerrar el museo en septiembre de 2021.

A medida que el contrato de arrendamiento se acercaba a su vencimiento, la Ciudad colaboro? activamente con Chevron para disen?ar la mejor estrategia para proteger, preservar y respaldar financieramente la propiedad. En octubre de 2022, el Concejo Municipal exploro? la oportunidad de transferir la propiedad de la propiedad, con el objetivo de ampliar las vi?as de financiacio?n para reabrir las instalaciones a trave?s de subvenciones federales, estatales y locales, asi? como esfuerzos de recaudacio?n de fondos de capital.

En noviembre de 2022, Chevron propuso una donacio?n por parte de Union Oil Company de California, que abarca el edificio histo?rico de la sede, el “Rig Building”, un estacionamiento adyacente, una subvencio?n de $ 2 millones para abordar el mantenimiento del edificio junto con recuerdos selectos de la industria petrolera exhibidos en el museo.

La Ciudad, comprometida con la administracio?n responsable, planea utilizar la generosa subvencio?n para reparaciones y mejoras cri?ticas, incluidos reemplazos de techos y sistemas HVAC, reparaciones de dan?os causados por agua y medidas de prevencio?n de inundaciones, adema?s de establecer un fideicomiso para desarrollar reservas para mantener el edificio durante generaciones. venir.

Adema?s, mientras se preparaban los detalles del acuerdo de transferencia, el Ayuntamiento encargo? a un comite? ad hoc explorar opciones para el uso futuro del edificio. Para garantizar la participacio?n comunitaria inclusiva en la configuracio?n del futuro de la propiedad, la Ciudad organizo? una serie de talleres comunitarios, incluido uno centrado en la retroalimentacio?n de los jo?venes, dirigido por David Yoshitomi, Gerente de Arte y Cultura del Condado de Ventura. El personal de la ciudad, en estrecha colaboracio?n con el comite? ad hoc del Concejo, los inquilinos actuales y las partes interesadas, identifico? usos potenciales para los edificios.

“Estoy profundamente agradecido a Chevron por su generosidad excepcional al donar la sede histo?rica a la ciudad”, dijo Dan Singer, administrador de la ciudad de Santa Paula. “Su apoyo garantiza que el legado de Union Oil Company of California seguira? prosperando. “Sirviendo como catalizador para el desarrollo econo?mico y la participacio?n comunitaria en el centro de Santa Paula. Extendemos nuestro ma?s sincero agradecimiento a Chevron por su papel fundamental en la configuracio?n del futuro de nuestra querida ciudad”.

El 19 de diciembre de 2023, la Ciudad publico? una Solicitud de Propuestas (RFP) para invitar propuestas para el uso potencial de esta propiedad histo?rica. La ciudad preve? que los futuros inquilinos transformen el espacio en un centro vibrante, educativo y orientado a la comunidad, que estimule las empresas locales y atraiga a residentes y visitantes por igual. Este enfoque multiface?tico se alinea con la visio?n de la Unio?n Oi l Edificio como catalizador del desarrollo econo?mico del centro de Santa Paula.

La Ciudad planea conmemorar esta importante ocasio?n con una ceremonia formal de inauguracio?n en abril de 2024, coincidiendo con la celebracio?n de los 122 an?os de incorporacio?n de Santa Paula. Para obtener informacio?n adicional sobre la RFP, visite www.spcity.org