1 August 28, 2023
Sent to the Rules Committee via email to [email protected] Copies to Robert Manford, Deputy Director of P, B, CE, and Dana Peak Edwards, Historic Preservation Officer, and Ben Leech, Exec. Director of PAC San Jose Rules and Open Government Committee
Chair David Cohen
Vice Chair Pam Foley
Member Sergio Jimenez
Member Dev Davis
Member Rosemary Kamei
San Jose City Hall
200 E. Santa Clara St.
San Jose, CA 95113
Dear Chair Cohen and Members of the Rules and Open Government Committee, At your August 30 meeting, you will consider a measure submitted by council-members Pam Foley, Omar Torres, Vice Mayor Kamei and Mayor Mahan. The proposal would change the fee structure for those negligent property owners that willfully refuse to take care of their city, state, or federal landmark.
I enthusiastically support this proposal. To be clear, although I am a commissioner on the Historic Landmarks Commission, I am writing on my own behalf, not on behalf of the Historic Landmarks Commission. The First Church of Christ, Scientist was of great interest to me when it came before the Commission four years ago. It's a Willis Polk-designed Neoclassical masterpiece built in 1905 that I believe merits preservation.
There are Candidate City Landmarks which are eligible for landmarks but have not yet gone through the process of designation. I would recommend that Candidate City landmarks also be included in this rule change. Candidate City Landmarks that have been lost due to negligence include IBM Building 025 at 5600 Cottle Road, the KNTV Building at 645 Park Ave., the McNally House at 83 North Almaden Blvd., and the Graves House at 4146 Mitzi Dr.
In December of 2022, the Historical Landmarks Commission voted to propose additional rules and consequences to the negligent owners of City Landmarks and Candidate City Landmarks.
These provisions, titled "Demolition by Neglect," would provide further protection of historic resources. I urge you to consider these provisions at a future Rules Committee meeting.
Historic buildings give us a sense of the past, our heritage, and enrich our lives with their beauty and stories of earlier generations. We must protect these treasures, and this proposal would help to do that.
2 I urge your approval of the rule under consideration at your meeting of August 30.
Paul Boehm