FW: ITEM 2.15 FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST PROJECT
City Clerk <[email protected]>
Tue 6/20/2023 7:58 AM
To:Agendadesk <[email protected]>
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2023-6-20 FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST PROJECT.docx.pdf; From: Victor Gomez <
Sent: Monday, June 19, 2023 8:02 AM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: ITEM 2.15 FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST PROJECT You don't often get email from Learn why this is important [External Email]
On behalf of the San Jose Downtown Association, please see the attached letter on Item 2.15 for the June 20, 2023 agenda.
VÍCTOR CUAUHTÉMOC GÓMEZ
Pinnacle Strategy, LLC
Government Affairs + Land-Use Consulting
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San Jose Downtown Association
28 N. First Street, Suite 1000
San Jose, CA 95113
sjdowntown.com
June 20, 2023
The Honorable Mayor Mahan and City Council Members
City of San José
200 East Santa Clara Street
San José, CA 95113
RE: ITEM 2.15 FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST SCIENTIST PROJECT
Dear Mayor Mahan and City Councilmembers,
The San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA) has represented downtown for 36 years and together with more than 2000 current businesses and property owner members we strive to increase the vitality and livability of downtown San Jose.
I respectfully request that you approve the expenditure of City funds of $200,000 to remove the containment wrap and tarp and weatherproof, board up, and implement a fire monitoring system to protect the First Church of Christ Scientist located at 39 East St. James Street.
The landmark First Church of Christ Scientist is important to Downtown San Jose, and providing much needed protection of this landmark is critical. We are grateful and appreciate city staff involvement in this matter and their work up to this point with Z&L Properties in pursuing protection of the church. Unfortunately, Z&L is not fulfilling its obligation to maintain and protect the structure.
Z&L representatives have stated that the company's resources are in limbo, and it is apparent to any passerby that the company is not maintaining the containment wrap on the church. The current containment wrap is in tatters and an unsightly blight in the neighborhood. It is clear that due to the confounding present circumstances, the city itself should move forward with identifying and installing an alternate method of protection, or risk significant damage to the building. That is why we support expenditure of funds for this purpose.
With that said, I encourage you to approve this expenditure so hopefully soon we can have this church in the hands of a buyer who will invest in this important landmark and its accompanying development site.
Cordially,
Alex Stettinski
Chief Executive Officer