RECOMMENDATION

The Historic Landmarks Commission recommends the City Council adopt a resolution designating the Stern/Fischer House as Historic Landmark No. HL01-123.

BACKGROUND

On August 14, 2001, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 70574 initiating proceedings to designate the Stern/Fischer House a landmark of special historical, architectural, cultural, aesthetic or engineering interest or value of a historic nature and referred the proposal to the Historic Landmarks Commission for its consideration at a public hearing and for its report and recommendation.

The Stern/Fischer House is located at 132 Pierce Avenue. The site is zoned R-1-8, Single Family Residential with a designation of Medium Low Density Residential on the adopted San Jose 2020 General Plan Land Use Transportation Diagram.

The Commission held a public hearing on the proposal at its September 12, 2001 meeting.

No public testimony was received and the public hearing was closed. The Commission voted (6-0-1 Paim absent) to recommend approval of the designation of the Landmark.

ANALYSIS

Pursuant to the San Jose Historic Preservation Ordinance, Chapter 13.48 of the Municipal Code, the Commission found that the proposed landmark has special historical, architectural, cultural, aesthetic, or engineering interest or value of a historical nature and that its designation as a landmark conforms with the goals and policies of the General Plan. The recommendation of the Commission is based on the following findings from the Ordinance:

Its embodiment of distinguishing characteristics of the Queen Anne Victorian architectural style.

Its embodiment of elements of architectural or engineering design, detail, materials or craftsmanship which represents a significant architectural innovation or which is unique. This structure features elaborate decorative carpentry and retains substantial integrity with its original design.

PUBLIC OUTREACH

The Stern Fischer House is one of eighteen proposed City Landmarks nominated by the Historic Landmarks Commission at its June 6, 2001 meeting. The eighteen candidate City Landmarks were identified in the Downtown Core Historic Resources Survey completed in the fall of 2000. Public workshops on the Downtown Core Historic Resources Survey were held during the fall and winter. Copies of the survey have been sent to the Redevelopment Agency, the California Room of the Martin Luther King Junior Library, History San Jose and to the Preservation Action Council of San Jose. The Planning Department has added all San Jose Inventory eligible sites to its Inventory of historic properties, which is used by the Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement for reviewing development permits.

COORDINATION

The designation process for the eighteen City Landmarks has been coordinated with the Redevelopment Agency.

Joseph Horwedel, Secretary

Historic Landmarks Commission