COUNCIL AGENDA: 03/01/22
ITEM: 2.13
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR FROM: Councilmember Raul Peralez
AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: MOU with California DATE: February 28, 2022 High Speed Rail
____________________________________________________________ Approved by: Date: 02/28/22
____________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
1. Approve Staff’s Recommendation,
2. Explore adding the following language in the MOU or the next iteration of the DISC Cooperative Agreement, where appropriate: “Diridon Station is recognized as a historic and cultural resource listed in the National Register of Historic Places, a designated San José City Landmark, and subject to a preservation covenant held by the South Bay Historical Railroad Society.”
3. Direct city staff to continue to proactively plan, to the furthest extent possible, the future of the historic Diridon Station building as part of the next phase of Diridon Integrated Station Concept (DISC) work.
BACKGROUND
San José Diridon Station was designed by noted architect John H. Christie and built in 1935.
The depot and its surrounding support structures were listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1993, designated a San José City Landmark in 1994, and are protected by a legally-binding preservation covenant with the South Bay Historical Railroad Society.
While the various agencies including the City of San José continue to plan for Diridon Station’s transformative future, it is important that its history is preserved to the furthest extent possible, beginning with affirming its historic status in public documents such as this MOU. Furthermore, we call on our city staff and agency partners to continue placing the future of this iconic San José building as a critical element in the DISC planning and implementation process.