| |
Historic Preservation
The Guadalupe/Washington Conservation Area is generally bounded on the north by Interstate 280, on the east by the rear property lines of the commercial properties on the west side of South First Street, on the west by the Guadalupe River, and on the south by portions of Willow Street and the rear property lines of properties on the north side of Willow Street. See attached map.
The City of San José, the Washington Area Community Coalition (WACC), and the community developed the Washington Neighborhood Revitalization Plan which was approved in 1998, the Strong Neighborhoods Initiative (SNI) Update of the original Plan which was approved in 2002 and the Washington Neighborhood Improvement Plan Amendment which was approved in 2008.
In the 2002 Action Plan Summary contained within the SNI Update are the following Action Items:
- 1.a. Preserve and enhance the existing strengths of Washington
- 1.b. Conduct a study to identify historic buildings and sites for inclusion in the City’s Historic Inventory
- 1.c. Encourage developers to complement historic character and architecture of existing buildings
In the Historic Preservation Ordinance, Chapter 13.48 of the San José Municipal Code, the definition of a conservation area is as follows: “a ‘Conservation Area’ means a geographically definable area of urban or rural character with identifiable attributes embodied by: (1) architecture, urban design, development patterns, setting, or geography; and (2) history”. The criteria for designation as a Conservation Area includes meeting the intent as defined above, and shall meet one or both of the following additional criteria:
- The neighborhood or area has a distinctive character conveying: (1) a sense of cohesiveness through its design, architecture, setting, materials, or natural features; and (2) its history, or
- The neighborhood or area reflects significant geographical or developmental patterns associated with different eras of growth in the City.
The Historic Study of the entire survey area, the Washington Neighborhood Historic Context Survey (Study), was completed by Archives & Architecture in May of 2007 and concludes that although the area does not appear to merit consideration as a historic landmark district, the City could consider the nomination of all or a portion of the survey area as a Conservation Area. Subsequently, Archives & Architecture completed the District Record and concluded that the proposed Conservation Area meets the City’s criteria for designation as a Conservation Area and proposed its establishment.
Guadalupe/Washington Conservation Area map
Washington Neighborhood Historic Context Survey
District Record
Washington Survey Area
The Department of Parks & Recreation forms:
|
|
|
|
