Item 3 - Staff Report and Attachments
PREPARED BY: SEAN MULLIN, AICP
Associate Planner
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6874
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMITTEE REPORT
MEETING DATE: 08/26/2020
ITEM NO: 3
DATE: August 19, 2020
TO: Historic Preservation Committee
FROM: Joel Paulson, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Consider a Request to Remove a Pre-1941 Property from the Historic
Resources Inventory for Property Zoned R-1D Located at 411 San Benito
Avenue. APN 410-17-071. Property Owner/Applicant: Steven Horeff. Project
Planner: Sean Mullin.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider a request to remove a pre-1941 property from the Historic Resources Inventory for
property zoned R-1D located at 411 San Benito Avenue.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1924 per County Assessor’s Database
2. Town of Los Gatos Historic Status Code: N.A
3. Does property have an LHP Overlay? No
4. Is structure in a historic district? No
5. If yes, is it a contributor? N/A
6. Findings required? Yes
7. Considerations required? No
DISCUSSION:
The applicant is requesting approval to remove the pre-1941 residence from the Historic
Resources Inventory and has provided a Letter of Justification and property research
(Attachments 1 through 2). The applicant requests that the residence be removed from the
Historic Resources Inventory due to its lack of historic significance .
PAGE 2 OF 2
SUBJECT: 411 San Benito Avenue
August 19, 2020
N:\DEV\HISTORIC PRESERVATION\HPC Sheets\2020\08-26-20\Item 3 - 411 San Benito Avenue\Staff Report.docx
FINDINGS:
The applicant’s Letter of Justification (Attachment 1) outlines reasons for the request to remove
the structure from the Historic Resources Inventory, including research and a lack of historic
significance or architectural merit.
A. Findings - related to a request for a determination that a pre-1941 primary structure has no
historic significance or architectural merit.
In evaluating a request for a determination of historic significance or architectural merit,
the Historic Preservation Committee shall consider the following:
1. The structure is not associated with events that have made a significant contribution
to the Town;
2. No Significant persons are associated with the site;
3. There are no distinctive characteristics of type, period or method of construction or
representation of work of a master;
4. The structure does not yield information to Town history; or
5. The integrity has been compromised such that the structure no longer has the
potential to convey significance.
CONCLUSION:
Should the Committee find that the structure has no historic significance or architectural merit,
the structure would be removed from the Historic Resources Inventory and any proposed work
would not return to the Committee.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Letter of Justification
2. Sanborn Exhibit
1
411 San Benito Ave – Historic Research
Steve Horeff
February 20, 2020
Summary
I would like to add more living space to the back portion of my house at 411 San Benito Ave in Los Gatos.
I do not wish to modify the front of the home (street view). The home is a simple 2-bedroom, 1-bath
bungalow. It was built in 1924 and has been remodeled at least twice already. I purchased the home
from Robert Kirkendall, who inherited the house from his father Clyde Kirkendall. The house was owned
by the Kirkendall family for the last 70 years and was used primarily as a rental property. The property
lot size was reduced to 6531 sf in late 2018 in preparation for sale.
I have conducted extensive research at the Los Gatos Library, online and via correspondence with
previous owners through their agent. I have found no evidence of historic value for this property. In my
opinion, the architectural value of the home is minimal, although I do not plan to modify the existing
structure.
The home has been minimally maintained over the years and needs repairs due to termite damage and
overall neglect. It has largely been a rental property since the Kirkendalls purchased the home
approximately 70 years ago. My intention is to repair the existing home and add more living space to
the back of the house.
The rest of this document outlines the results of my historic research for 411 San Benito Ave in Los
Gatos.
Sanborn Survey Maps
1908 survey – No records founds. Home was not built yet.
1928 and 1944 surveys – see below
ATTACHMENT 1
2
Ownership History
According to the phone directories, Frank Carr owned the house from 1925 to 1938. The 1941 tax
assessment indicates that Philip Teste was the next owner after Frank Carr.
According to the listing agent, Rick Allen, Clyde Kirkendall purchased the home in the 1940’s or 1950’s.
His son Robert has been the owner until I purchased the home in August 2019. Robert’s son and wife
lived in the house for a few years in the 1980’s but for the most part, the house has been a rental since
the Kirkendalls bought house over 60 years ago.
1941 Tax Assessment
Listing for 411 San Benito was found. It looks like the owner at that time was Philip Testa, although it is
difficult to read the handwriting (see attached).
Los Gatos Phone Directories
1924 – No listing. Home was not built yet.
1925 – Frank D Carr (Alice) (foreman)
1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936 – Frank D Carr
1938 – Polk directory lists Alice Carr as (widow FD) at 411 San Benito
Ownership of 411 San Benito appears to have changed between 1938 and 1940. From the 1941 Tax
Assessment, it appears that the owner is Philip Testa
1940 through 1951 – No listings for 411 San Benito were found. Owner is unknown.
Anne Bloomfield Historic Survey
No mention of 411 San Benito Ave was found in the Bloomfield historic studies.
Project Bellringer
September 1985 survey. No mention of 411 San Benito Ave was found.
As It Was – Dora Rankin, 1965
No mention of 411 San Benito Ave was found.
Thank you for your consideration
Regards
Steve Horeff
1928
411 San Benito Ave
ATTACHMENT 2
1956
411 San Benito Ave