1 APPROVAL NO. 2025-
RECORD OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO LAND USE APPROVAL FOR 405 KIPLING STREET: HISTORIC RESOURCES INVENTORY CATEGORY 4 TO CATEGORY 2 UPGRADE (25PLN-00322)
On June 8, 2026, the Council held a duly noticed public hearing and, after considering all of the evidence presented, approved the property owner’s request to reclassify the residential building at 405 Kipling Street currently a Local Category 4 Historic Resource. The Council approved the Historic Resources Board (HRB) recommendation to an upgraded level, Category 2 Historic Resource on the City of Palo Alto Historic Resources Inventory. In approving the application, the Council made the following findings, determination, and declarations:
SECTION 1. Background.
A. On December 2, 2025, the property owner contacted staff to request a reclassification of a two-story residential building at 405 Kipling Street, built by H.L. Upham in 1897 and exemplifies the early Palo Alto Two-Story Square Box building type with stylistic elements of Queen Anne, from a ‘Contributing Building’ Category 4 resource to a ‘Major Building’ Category 2 resource on the Palo Alto Historic Inventory. With the owner’s request and funding, staff obtained a historic resource evaluation from the City’s consultant, Page & Turnbull, including an integrity evaluation to understand building’s eligibility for a classification upgrade.
The historic resource evaluation supports a classification upgrade to a Category 2 historic resource. The consultant describes the building’s eligibility in a report dated June 10, 2025, noting its eligibility under local criteria 2, 5, and 6:
Criterion 2 (The structure or is particularly representative of an architectural style or way of life important to the city, state or nation)
405 Kipling Street is an early example of the Two-Story Square Box house type in Palo Alto’s Downtown North neighborhood. The Two-Story Square Box is a Palo Alto residential house type that mixed familiar forms and finishes of the Colonial Revival, Queen Anne Free Classic, and sometimes Craftsman styles in later examples. 405 Kipling Street does meet the requirements of Criterion 2. Criterion 5 (The architect or building was important)
H.L. Upham was a builder of merit who made important contributions to the early built environment of Palo Alto. Upham designed and built numerous larger high- style residences in Palo Alto, including many TwoStory Box house types. The subject building is a minimally altered example of H.L. Upham’s contributions to the high-quality housing stock during Palo Alto’s early period of development. 405 Kipling Street does meet the requirements of Criterion 5. Criterion 6 (The structure or site contains elements demonstrating outstanding attention to architectural design, detail, materials or craftsmanship) 2 The building’s wood windows and shiplap siding are common in buildings constructed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, elements such as the molded cornice and eave returns, decorative carved corbels, fish scale cladding, Tuscan columns, and multi-lite porch window are examples of attention to architectural design, detail, materials, and craftsmanship implemented by builder-of-merit H.L. Upham. 405 Kipling Street does meet the requirements of Criterion 6.
B. On April 9, 2026, the HRB received a staff report (ID #2603-6180), conducted a public hearing, and concurred with the consultant’s evaluation regarding the building’s eligibility for category upgrade from the current local historic inventory Category 4 to Category
2. SECTION 2. Environmental Review.
Pursuant to Section 21065 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, the maintenance or reclassification of a property’s historic designation does not constitute a project under CEQA.
SECTION 3. Designation Findings.
A. The following criteria, as specified in Municipal Code Section 16.49.040 (b), shall be used as criteria for designating historic structures/sites to the historic inventory:
1. The structure or site is identified with the lives of historic people or with important events in the city, state or nation;
2. The structure or site is particularly representative of an architectural style or way of life important to the city, state or nation;
3. The structure or site is an example of a type of building which was once common, but is now rare;
4. The structure or site is connected with a business or use which was once common, but is now rare;
5. The architect or building was important;
6. The structure or site contains elements demonstrating outstanding attention to architectural design, detail, materials or craftsmanship.
The building at 405 Kipling Street met many of the above criteria when it was first listed on Palo Alto’s Historic Resource Inventory in 1985. With the historic assessment in 2025, the building’s status as a historic resource has remained per Page & Turnbull’s conclusion.
B. The definition of Category 2 in Municipal Code Section 16.49.020 (b) must be met to allow the upgrade to the structure’s category designation:
Category 2 Definition: "Major building" means any building or group of buildings of major regional importance, meritorious works of the best architects or an outstanding 3 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. The applicant requested and the consultant found Category 2 appropriate for this building.
Page & Turnbull historic consultant supported applicant’s request. The City’s consultant found the building at 405 Kipling Street meets the Palo Alto Inventory Category 2 Definition. The integrity evaluation found that the building at 405 Kipling Street retains all seven aspects of integrity (location, setting, design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association). The minor exterior modifications cited in the consultant’s report have not caused the building to lose its original character.
National Register of Historic Places and California Register of Historical Resources listing: 405 Kipling Street is currently listed in the City of Palo Alto Historic Inventory as a Category 4: “Contributing Building.” It was surveyed for the Historic Resources Inventory and added to the local register in 1985.
SECTION 4. Category Upgrade Approved.
The City Council approves the property owner’s request for re-classification of 405 Kipling Street to a Category 2 historic resource on the City’s Historic Resources Inventory. //
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4 INTRODUCED AND PASSED: June 8, 2026
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
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City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
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Assistant City Attorney City Manager
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Director of Planning and
Development Services