1680 Bryant Street | December 15, 2025
1680 Bryant Street
Reclassification
1680 Bryant Street | December 15, 2025
1680 Bryant Street - Reclassification
• Strong central entry,
awning and walkway.
• “H” shaped dual residence
• Twin composition
• Large hemi- hexagonal
porte cochere
• Entry facing Lowell Ave
Built in 1914, this image from 1930 shows the original design with the front of the dual home facing Lowell Ave.
Image contrast edited by Stanton Architecture for legibility 1680 Bryant Street | December 15, 2025
• Entire southern wing
demolished
• Main entry demolished
• Connection between wings
demolished
• Large porte-cochere on
Bryant Street demolished
• Original intent of the pair of
buildings is lost
• Shape changed from “H” to
a rectangle
• New property line prevents
an entry facing Lowell Ave
The former architectural
intent and composition
of plan and elevation
have been eliminated.
Demolition Extents - Former Dual Residence
Demolished DemolishedRemaining
Lowell Avenue
Bryant Street
Demolished Porte-Cochere
Original Garage
Demolished
Main Entry,
Path, Entry,
and Awning
Demolished
Remaining
Demolished
Structure
Remaining
Structure
Permanent changes made to the former design
1680 Bryant Street | December 15, 2025
Property Lines - Former vs Existing
• Former property had a large
side and rear yard
• Existing lot is approximately
1/4 of the original size
• Former entry faced Lowell
Avenue
• Existing entry faces Bryant
Street
• Former single lot is now
four lots with an easement
Historic Property and Former Property Lines per
1924 Sanborn Fire Map
Existing (2025) Remaining Property and
Property Lines on Google Earth Aerial
1680
Bryant Street
Bryant Street Bryant Street
Lowell Avenue
Lowell Avenue
Permanent changes made to the former property’s size and orientation 1680 Bryant Street | December 15, 2025
• Paired building
composition
• Pronounced entry on
Lowell Avenue
• Large porte-cochere along
Bryant Street
• Single building
• No entry along Lowell
Avenue
• No porte-cochere along
Bryant Street
Street Corner Comparison
Bryant Street and Lowell Avenue, 1926. Source: Palo Alto Historical Association; Image contrast edited by Stanton Architecture for legibility Google street view March 2023, showing permanent changes from the former design 1680 Bryant Street | December 15, 2025
Porte-Cochere Removed from Secondary Facade
• Former porte-cochere was
demolished
• On the right is the garage
with the Category 2
designation
Extensive and permanent
changes made to facade
along Bryant Street.
Existing (2024) Street View Along Bryant Street
Former porte-
cochere was
demolished
Most of existing
garage violates set-
back requirements
1680 Bryant Street | December 15, 2025
• Former west wing, Lowell
Ave entry, and awning were
demolished
• Former “H”-shaped
composition is gone
• Prominent porte-cochere
was demolished
• Existing building has no
entry along Lowell Ave
• Existing Lowell Ave frontage
is approx 1/3 of the former
intended length
The former architectural
intent and composition
along Lowell Ave has
been eliminated and
permanently changed.
Lowell Avenue Facade Modifications
Image taken in 1930 for comparison; red boxes highlight demolished portions Image taken in 2025
1680 Bryant Street | December 15, 2025
• No buildable areas without
eliminating backyard
• New property lines cause
existing structure to violate
setback requirements
• New 2nd floor addition
violates setback
requirements
The remaining building is
severely constrained on
the site due to permanent
changes made to the
former building &
property boundaries,
Category 2 buildable area
limitations, and zoning
setbacks.
Property Setbacks and Constraints
2 1680 Bryant Street | December 15, 2025
The former
interior footprint
was more than
twice the size
of the current
footprint;
the intent of
the original
programming has
been permanently
reduced to less
than 1/2.
Permanent Change to Former Building Program
Corridor
from
current
main en-
trance
to kitchen
Room
currently
used as a
bedroom,
without a
closet
Basement,
showing the
remains of a
demolished
former inte-
rior staircase
leading to the
basement
Here are examples
of constrained
interior conditions
resulting from
reducing the
former building
footprint by more
than half
Existing
Kitchen
1680 Bryant Street | December 15, 2025
Hazardous Existing Condition - Example
• Category 2 restrictions
prohibit roof or exterior
modifications
• Building’s hazardous
conditions are left
unaddressed
Occupiable roof has
only 5’-6” of clearance,
creating a safety risk.
5’-6”
Floor to
Ceiling
Height
1680 Bryant Street | December 15, 2025
• Front facade, per Palo Alto
Planning, has no entrance
• Former “H”-shape front
massing is gone
Front Facade - No Entry Possible
Front facade of the building per Planning
No entry or ability
to add an entry to
what is considered
the “front” of the
house
Location of
inappropriate
addition
1680 Bryant Street | December 15, 2025
• Inappropriate glass block
wall constructed over
setback line
• 2nd floor bathroom
addition violates setback
requirements
• Glass block undermines
the integrity of the historic
building
Inappropriate Additions to the Existing Building
Non-original glass block wall and Level 2 bathroom addition above New inappropriate
bathroom addition on
Level 2
New inappropriate
glass block wall
Setback line, approx
location
1680 Bryant Street | December 15, 2025
Historic Preservation Definitions, “Historic Categories” Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 16.49: Historic Preservation Definitions, “Historic Categories” Category 2 - Major Building Category 3 or 4 - Contributing Building Definition:
• “Major building” means any building or group of buildings of major regional importance, meritorious works of the best architects, or an outstanding example of an architectural style or the stylistic development of architecture in the state or region. A major building may have some exterior modifications, but the original character is retained.
Current Building Condition:
• 60% of the former structure was demolished
• The former site was split into four lots
• The “H” plan shape has been eliminated along with the main entry and porte-cochere
• Inappropriate glass block infills the demolished portion of the rear connection
• A second floor addition was constructed above the glass block • The original character of the architect’s dual-residence” design has not been retained
• The existing structure in its altered form does not qualify as a Category 2 building
Definition:
• “Contributing building” means any building or group of buildings which are good local examples of Architectural styles, and which relate to the character of a neighborhood grouping in scale, materials, proportion or other factors. A contributing building may have had extensive or perma- nent changes made to the original design, such as inappropriate ad- ditions, extensive removal of architectural details, or wooden facades resurfaced in asbestos or stucco.
Current Building Condition:
• Since the remaining structure has had extensive and permanent changes made to the original design, the highest designation it can achieve is Category 3.
1680 Bryant Street | December 15, 2025
Since the
remaining
structure has
had extensive
and permanent
changes made to
the original design,
which include
inappropriate
additions,
the highest
designation it
can achieve is
Category 3.
Existing Building Condition
Demolished DemolishedRemaining
Lowell Avenue
Bryant Street
Demolished Porte-Cochere
Original Garage
Demolished
Main Entry,
Path, Entry,
and Awning
Demolished
Remaining
Demolished
Structure
Remaining
Structure
Permanent changes made to the former design
1680 Bryant Street | December 15, 2025
Property Setbacks and Constraints
2 Extensive and
permanent
changes have
been made to the
former building,
its property
boundaries, and its
entry orientation.
The highest
designation it
can achieve is
Category 3.
1680 Bryant Street | December 15, 2025
Thank you.