RECOMMENDATION

The Historic Landmarks Commission recommends the City Council adopt a resolution designating the Sainte Claire Building as Historic Landmark No. HL01-126.

BACKGROUND

On August 14, 2001, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 70574 initiating proceedings to designate the Sainte Claire Building a landmark of special historical, architectural, cultural, aesthetic or engineering interest or value of a historic nature and referred the proposal to the Historic Landmarks Commission for its consideration at a public hearing and for its report and recommendation.

The Sainte Claire Building is located at 301 S. First Street. The site is zoned CG, Commercial General with a designation of Core Area Commercial on the adopted San Jose 2020 General Plan Land Use Transportation Diagram.

The Commission held a public hearing on the proposal at its September 12, 2001 meeting.

Shirley Lewis, representative of the owner, spoke in support of the designation.

Commissioner Polcyn asked how proposed alterations would be addressed. Planning staff responded that an HP permit would be necessary for any exterior alterations. Ms. Lewis commented that the owner’s intent is to rehabilitate the structure to its original façade but maintain the existing “Original Joe’s” signage.

The Commission unanimously voted to recommend this structure be designated as a City Landmark (6-0-1; Paim absent).

ANALYSIS

Pursuant to the San Jose Historic Preservation Ordinance, Chapter 13.48 of the Municipal Code, the Commission found that the proposed landmark has special historical, architectural, cultural, aesthetic, or engineering interest or value of a historical nature and that its designation as a landmark conforms with the goals and policies of the General Plan. The recommendation of the Commission is based on the following findings from the Ordinance:

Its exemplification of the cultural, economic, social or historic heritage of the City of San Jose due to it’s construction during the southerly expansion of the San Jose downtown core area after World War I.

Its embodiment of distinguishing characteristics of the Renaissance Revival architectural type or specimen.

Its identification as the work of an architect or master builder whose individual work has influenced the development of the City of San Jose. This building was designed by the firm of C. P. Weeks and William P. Day.

PUBLIC OUTREACH

The Sainte Claire Building is one of eighteen proposed City Landmarks nominated by the Historic Landmarks Commission at its June 6, 2001 meeting. The eighteen candidate City Landmarks were identified in the Downtown Core Historic Resources Survey completed in the fall of 2000. Public workshops on the Downtown Core Historic Resources Survey were held during the fall and winter. Copies of the survey have been sent to the Redevelopment Agency, the California Room of the Martin Luther King Junior Library, History San Jose and to the Preservation Action Council of San Jose. The Planning Department has added all San Jose Inventory eligible sites to its Inventory of historic properties, which is used by the Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement for reviewing development permits. In addition, Planning staff is working to provide copies of all prior surveys to the Redevelopment Agency, the California Room of the Martin Luther King Junior Library, and History San Jose for greater public access.

COORDINATION

The designation process for the eighteen City Landmarks has been coordinated with the Redevelopment Agency.

Joseph Horwedel, Secretary

Historic Landmarks Commission