SUBJECT: HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNATION OF
THE FARMER’S UNION BUILDING HL01-139
COUNCIL DISTRICT: 3
The
Historic Landmarks Commission recommends the City Council adopt a resolution
designating the Farmer’s Union Building as Historic Landmark No. HL01-139.
On August 14, 2001, the City Council adopted
Resolution No. 70574 initiating proceedings to designate the Farmer’s Union
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 Farmer’s Union Building is located at 151 W.
Santa Clara 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.
This proposed designation was deferred from the
September 12, 2001 Historic Landmarks Commission meeting to the November 7,
2001 meeting, at the request of the owner.
On October 2, 2001, the City Council deferred this proposed designation
to their December 4, 2001 meeting.
On November 7, 2001, the Historic Landmarks
Commission held a public hearing. At
that meeting, Sarah
McEnery, representing the property owner for both the Farmer’s Union Building
(151 W. Santa Clara Street) and the Masson Building (161 W. Santa Clara
Street), spoke in favor of the designation.
While supportive of the designation, she asked that the Commission to
defer designation until March 2002 because the owners are in the process of
entering into a façade easement agreement with History San Jose and their legal
counsel and historic consultant advised them to request deferral on the
designation. The owner’s letter of
request for deferral is attached. No
one spoke in opposition of the designation. The Commission unanimously voted to recommend designation of the
Masson Building and also recommended that the City Council consider deferring
the designation to March 2002 at the request of the property owner (7-0-0
unanimous).
The Commission determined 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:
·
Its
character, interest or value as part of the local, regional or national
history, heritage or culture due to its association with the Farmers Union.
·
Its
identification with a person or persons who significantly contributed to the
local, regional, state or national culture and history due to its associations
with John and Thomas McEnery and Robert F. Benson.
·
Its
exemplification of the cultural, economic, social or historic heritage of the City
of San Jose in that when the mercantile operations of the Farmers Union ceased,
the building was reused to house restaurants, offices and other associated uses
that became known as San Pedro Square to serve an expanding population and
suburban pattern of development.
·
Its
identification as the work of an architect or master builder whose individual
work has influenced the development of the City of San Jose in that this
building was designed by William Weeks.
The Historic Landmarks Commission held public hearings on the proposed designation of the building at their September 12, 2001 and the November 7, 2001 meetings.
The designation process for the eighteen City Landmarks was coordinated with the Redevelopment Agency and the Office of the City Attorney.
JOSEPH HORWEDEL, SECRETARY
Historic Landmarks Commission