SUBJECT: HISTORIC
LANDMARK
DESIGNATION OF THE
RUCKER
HOUSE
HL01-133
The Historic Landmarks Commission recommends the City Council adopt a resolution designating the Rucker House as Historic Landmark No. HL01-133.
On August 14, 2001, the City Council adopted
Resolution No. 70574 initiating proceedings to designate the Rucker House
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 Rucker House is located at 418 S. Third Street. The site is zoned CG, Commercial General
with a designation of Residential Support for the Core 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.
Maria Brandt spoke in support of the designation because the Rucker family is of German descent and she promotes German heritage in the City. Ardith Meyer, property owner, asked if the City provides any assistance to historic landmarks for earthquake repair and whether designation effects the use of the building. Planning staff explained the economic incentives for City Landmarks, and stated that at this time there is no City funding specifically for City Landmarks. Staff also stated that during past earthquakes in California public and nonprofit organizations have provided special assistance programs for designated historic properties.
The Commission unanimously voted to recommend this structure be designated as a City Landmark (6-0-1; Paim absent).
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 identification with a person or persons who
significantly contributed to the local, regional, state or national culture and
history in that this house is associated with the Rucker family who are
prominent in the history of San Jose.
Its embodiment of distinguishing characteristics of
the Queen Anne Victorian 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 residence was
designed by the well-known local architect J. O. McKee.
The Rucker House 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.
The designation process for the eighteen City Landmarks has been coordinated with the Redevelopment Agency.
Joseph
Horwedel, Secretary
Historic Landmarks
Commission