Item 2 - Staff Report and Attachments 1 to 4
PREPARED BY: RYAN SAFTY
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: 09/28/2022 ITEM NO: 2
DATE: September 23, 2022
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-1:8. Located at 16665 Magneson
Loop. APN 523-06-023. Request for Review PHST-22-018.
PROPERTY OWNER/APPLICANT: Alireza Dibazar.
PROJECT PLANNER: Ryan Safty.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider a request to remove a pre-1941 property from the Historic Resources Inventory for
property zoned R-1:8 located at 16665 Magneson Loop.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1938 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 presumptive pre-1941 residence from the
Historic Resources Inventory. The Santa Clara County Assessor’s Database lists a construction
date of 1938. The property is not within a historic district or LHP overlay, is not included in the
Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, and is not listed in the 1990 Anne Bloomfield Survey.
PAGE 2 OF 3 SUBJECT: 16665 Magneson Loop/PHST-22-018 DATE: September 23, 2022
N:\DEV\HISTORIC PRESERVATION\HPC Reports and Attachments\2022\09-28-22\Item 02 - 16665 Magneson Loop\Staff Report.docx
DISCUSSION (continued):
The applicant has provided an informational packet with their application, which includes an
analysis of the five required findings listed below and a detailed description of the age of the
residence (Attachment 1). The existing property has a single-story primary residence, detached
garage, and accessory dwelling unit (ADU).
Based on the description provided in Attachment 1, the existing residence has characteristics of
both ranches and bungalows. The residence has a perimeter foundation and a partial
basement. The existing low-sloping gabled roof materials have been replaced with composite
shingles (Attachment 2). The applicant contests that the architecture conveyed is an
assemblage of styles done by a practical contractor or carpenter to provide a roof over a
family’s head without sentiment or significance. The applicant also contests that the structure
is not associated with events that have a made a significant contribution to the Town, no
significant persons are associated with the property, there are no distinctive characteristics of
type, period, or method of construction, the residence does not yield information to Town
history, and the integrity has been compromised such that the structure no longer has the
potential to convey significance.
The applicant’s research shows that the property was annexed around 1987. For this reason,
Town records are minimal: ADU permit from 1988, sewer permit from 1989, fireplace work in
1995, and reroof permits from 1995 and 2014 (Attachment 3).
Public comment regarding this application has been received and is provided as Attachment 4.
CONCLUSION:
Should the Committee find that the structure no longer has historic significance or architectural
merit due to the loss of integrity, the structure would be removed from the Historic Resources
Inventory and any proposed alterations would not return to the Committee.
FINDINGS:
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:
PAGE 3 OF 3 SUBJECT: 16665 Magneson Loop/PHST-22-018 DATE: September 23, 2022
N:\DEV\HISTORIC PRESERVATION\HPC Reports and Attachments\2022\09-28-22\Item 02 - 16665 Magneson Loop\Staff Report.docx
FINDINGS (continued):
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.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Applicant’s Submittal Packet
2. Property Pictures
3. Town Records
4. Public Comment received by 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 23, 2022
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank
Findings Re: historical significance or
architectural merit
1)The structure is not associated with events that have made a significant
merit to the Town.
This residence was not in the Town of Los Gatos limits until after 1987, when an
annexation took place from Santa Clara County. So prior to and subsequent to its inclusion
this structure is not associated with any events or historical contribution to the Town per
completion of background research primarily at the Los Gatos Library.
2)No significant persons are associated with the site.
In doing research for this question I recorded a chain of owners using deed of trust
records available from Santa Clara County, as far back as 1979. After this date, Polk
Directories provided the majority of the information with other information added from
personal recollection from a title search report and a property description from deed of trust.
Owner prior to 1938: Walter & Hazel Magneson
1938 or 1939: Stephen & Helen Drake
1960: Joseph & Myrtle (LaRue) Taillon
06/79: Cameron & Cheryl Kittle (Lois Kittle, Esq)
05/83: Kurt Larrerou
10/87: Nancy Hoffman
since 03/1995: Michael Clem & Deborah Ledesma
Mr. Magneson, I surmise, was an orchardist and property developer. I believe he & his wife
Hazel lived nearer to the street that bears his name during the 1930s. I think they lived in a
house that sat generally at the south-east corner of the intersection of San Jose-Los Gatos &
Blossom Hill Roads, currently the King's Court shopping center. In the mid 1950s the
Magnesons appear to have moved to 16754 Shannon Road per the 1954 Polk Directory.
Records of the development of the Magneson Loop sub-division are sparse, primarily
because the County did not require permits until circa 1947. I received a total of two early
permits, dated 1947, for the whole of The Loop when I went to the Santa Clara County
1 / 5
ATTACHMENT 1
Findings Re: historical significance or
architectural merit
Planning office. Neither of these permits pertained to my property. Additionally, I personally
recall reviewing a title search report when purchasing this property from Ms Hoffman that Mr
Magneson's name was included as a title holder and remembering the street is named by or
for him.
Prior to Mr Magneson moving to California and leaving his mark on Santa Clara County
and the Town of Los Gatos the King of Spain owned the land upon which Magneson Loop
sets. It is described on a legal description in my original deed of trust as being a portion of Lot
2 of the Subdivision of Lot 6 of Coob's Subdivision of M.S. Gardner Estate, in the Rancho
Rinconada de Los Gatos, as shown on a Map filed November 23, 1887 in Map Book C,
page(s) 41, Santa Clara County Records.
None of the owners in the title chain prove to be significant from a historical
perspective other than, Mr Magneson developing a sub-division, naming a street after himself,
and having a spec house constructed (no evidence was found that he or his family ever lived
here). I conclude the answer to Findings question 2 is no, not significant enough.
3)There are no distinctive characteristics of type, period, or method of
construction or representation of work of a master;
How do I begin to describe this pre-WW2 house? It came down to a compare and
contrast between ranch style (ranch) and California bungalow (bungalow).
The main house and the additional dwelling unit are both single story structures, with
no open ceilings or dormers. The main house has a perimeter foundation and a partial
basement. The cottage foundation consists of pier and beam. I will now limit the discussion to
the main house. A basement foundation wall is the footing for a lean-to porch part of the
house abutting the driveway. This exterior wall of the lean-to porch lies furthest in the easterly
2 / 5
Findings Re: historical significance or
architectural merit
direction. Lean-to sheds are not distinguishing features of either ranches or bungalows. Sun
rooms can be added to either style with lean to structural additions. In this case because of
locale to the rest of the house I believe this was initially a sleep porch for occupants in the
summer time heat. Sleeping porches where very necessary before the advancement of air
conditioning (HVAC) systems. This explains the coldness of this room in the winter time with
no air gap or insulation with the roof/ceiling interface. Moving on, this house has a low sloping
roof which is a characteristic of both ranches & bungalows. The house's main roof ridge is
close to parallel to the front property line (the street) typical of ranches. Bungalows can be
oriented either way. (front facing or side facing gables) Beside the main roof there is one
parallel gable above the living room and a main perpendicular gable covering the kitchen.
Additionally, the kitchen area has a parallel gable to the kitchen which make a nook area that
has been altered with outward opening french doors to egress to a deck area. In this house
the parallel gable covers the living room and an open front porch entry area. Ranches
typically do not have front porches. Bungalows do typically have front porches but they are
roofed by an additional dormer or their own gable. The entry way enters directly into the living
room space where there is a prominent stone fire place, characteristic of ranches but
particularly typical to bungalows. The ceilings throughout are not high - more traditional to
ranches not bungalows. Oak hardwood floors on top of redwood sub-floors are found in the
house. This is definitely in the manner keeping with a bungalow and depending on age with
ranches. The structure is covered with horizontal clapboard siding with wider vertical boards
under the gable ends, typical of both ranches and bungalows. The house is now roofed with
composite shingles. Prior to a new roof installation in 2014 the roof materials consisted of
3 / 5
Findings Re: historical significance or
architectural merit
cedar shingles over a shake roof. This roof was a permitted installation with no consideration
with the age of the property. Shake roofs may be typical of California bungalows, ranches not
necessarily. The house's eaves are of an open type. The eaves on this house however do not
overhang sufficiently to be considered a craftsman type or style. Open eaves are in character
with both ranches and bungalows. The house's master bedroom has a bay window which
faces the front of the property. Bay windows are found in both the ranch and the bungalow
types. The house sets over a partial concrete basement. Basements for ranches & bungalows
are rare in California with the exception being older or near farms; root cellars were desirable
for home canning. Besides the cottage a third structure is original to the property - the
detached garage. Detached garages are rare in current ranch designs but may have been
more common pre-WW2. They are much more common with bungalows of that period.
Summing this section up I call this house's style a “ranchalow”, a combination of both
styles. It represents its period of construction without distinction and without master
craftsmanship, just plain common. Mr Magneson had a house constructed economically for
resale, built without fanfare for the time, with good quality materials that have last the test of
time; in this case 84 years. To answer the question of this finding I would like to compare my
house to the house at the end my block, the “Hazel and Gretel” cottage or described as a
“gingerbread house” with the sculptured roof. That house is very distinctive, has been on the
Historic Homes Tour and is worthy of being in the Historical Resources Inventory and the
house at 16665 Magneson Loop is very common, in comparison.
4)The structure does not yield information to Town history; or
This house lay outside the Town's limits for most of its existence. In the last 35 or so
4 / 5
Findings Re: historical significance or
architectural merit
years within the Town the structures on the property have not added to the historical value of
Los Gatos. Before annexation they did not add to the historical value to Santa Clara County.
5)The integrity has been compromised such that the structure no longer has the
potential to convey significance.
In the house's minimally altered state I would contend that the architecture conveyed is
an assemblage of styles done by a practical contractor or carpenter to provide a roof over a
family's head without sentiment or significance, but to earn living and to fulfill an obligation to
the developer owner.
5 / 5
Age of Residence
When Deborah and I purchased our home in Los Gatos at 16665 Magneson Loop in
March 1995 we did not move in right away. We waited until July and decided to wait a year
then to see how the house's livability was before diving into any improvements to it. Very soon
after our purchase we initiated phone service from GTE. A portion at the end of the assigned
account number read 1938. The significance of its meaning only became relevant later when
the “pre-1941” historical designation was made known to us. At the time of our purchase we
were not informed of the age of the property in the listing contract of which I still have a
record. After a year, or maybe longer, we engaged with a home designer, Scott Design of
Saratoga, an acquaintance of Deborah. The idea was to expand the house possibly, adding a
second or 1-1/2 story. Scott Cunningham, our designer, must at some point have consulted
with the Town's Planning Department and we were told that property's age (being pre-1941)
limited our ability to modify the structure, to the point of not affecting the street appearance of
the residence. Remember the phone account number included 1938, my confirmation of the
age. So as far as remodeling: no going up, no extension of the main roof hip line to the
basement foundation and thus getting rid of the porch lean-to structure, no expanding master
bedrooms half bath to full, no re-configuring a very non Feng Shui front door entry.
Fast forward to 2022 and really finding out the age of the structures on the property
and not taking the Town's or the County's age assignment without further proof. I researched
the Town's and County's records, title searches, Assessor's Office, Town and County Planning
Department's records, Sanborn Maps, telephone number books, Polk Directories and aerial
photos. None of these sources rarely go back far enough, or the region is not covered, or do
not provide anything more than circumstantial proof at best or no proof at all in the worst
case. The only real proof my research uncovered was a remote sensing project that took
aerial photographs all over California. This information is found in an online archive from the
Age of Residence
Univ. of Santa Barbara. In it I found a photograph from January 1 st, 1939, perfect to prove or
disprove the construction date of my property's house. Conclusion, although the image is
blurry when blown up, this photo shows the houses of my neighbors at what will be 169 & 170
Magneson Loop and a house, a cottage (ADU) & a garage at what will be 175 Magneson
Loop, my property's location, thus proving the date of construction is 1938.
Overview all of Magneson Loop connecting San Jose- Los Gatos Rd to Shannon Ave
Corner location shows the my house and those of my neighbors.
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank
ATTACHMENT 2
ATTACHMENT 3
to oF TOWN of LOS GATOS
Community Development
ft.
Building Permit
Permit ID/Type: B14 -0816 BUILDING /BUILDING /RESIDENTIAL /REROOF Applied: 10/14/2014
Work
Description : T/O (E) SHAKE R/R 700 SF W /COMP Approved: pP
Status: ISSUED Issued: ISSUED DATE$>
Address: 16665 MAGNESON LOOP, LOS GATOS, CA 95032 Expires: EXPIRATION DATE$>
Owner: CLEM MICHAEL W;LEDESMA DEBORAH A TRUST
16665 MAGNESON LOOPLOS GATOS, CA 95032 Phone: 4083165158
Contractor: CALIFORNIA ROOFING CO., INC.
1595 S. 10TH ST.SAN JOSE, CA 95112 Phone: 4082937977
License No.: 174900
Job Value: 6,000.00 Buildings: 1
Total Sq. FL: SQUARE_FEET$> Houses: 0
Building Use: Dwellings Census #: 434
Occupancy Type: R -3 Construction
V -BType:
Total Fees 310.16
Total Payments $0.00
Balance Due 310.16
LICENSED CONTRACTOR'S DECLARATION
I hereby affirm under penalty of perjury that I am licensed under provisions of Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 7000)
of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, and my license is in full force and effect.
License Class C-'! q California Contractor License No. V-14 <: 00
Expiration Date XMW21t4 ContractorSignatuee_.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION DECLARATION WARNING: FAILURE TO SECUR ORKERS' COMPENSATION
COVERAGE IS UNLAWFUL, AND SHALL SUBJECT AN EMPLOYER TO CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND CIVIL FINES
UP TO ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($100,000), IN ADDITION TO THE COST OF COMPENSATION,
DAMAGES AS PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 3706 OF THE LABOR CODE, INTEREST, AND ATTORNEY'S FEES.
I hereby affirm under penalty of perjury one of the following declarations:
I have and will maintain a certificate of consent to self- insure for workers' compensation, issued by the Director of
Industrial Relations as provided for by Section 3700 of the Labor Code, for the performance of the work for which this
permit is issued. Policy No.
I have and will maintain workers' compensation insurance, as required by Section 3700 of the Labor Code, for the
performance of the work for which this permit is issued. My workers' compensation insurance carrier and polipy number
are: Carder J r Trti5- Policy Number _$$(„ Expiration Date o t
Name of Agent Phone #
I certify that, in the performance of the work for which this permit is issued, I shall not employ any person in any
manner so as to become subject to the workers' compensation laws of California, and agree that, if I should become
subject to thew rkers' compensation provisions of Section 3700 of the Labor Code, I shall forthwith comply with those
provi 'ons rr j{
LO l iul(
Signature o A pl' n Date
1 of 2
o+N aF TOWN of LOS GATOS
Community Development
OS-sAtos
Building Permit
Permit ID/Type: B14 -0815 BUILDING /BUILDING /RESIDENTIAL /RE ROOF Applied: 10/1412014
Work
Description: T/O (E) SHAKE R/R 2200 SF W /COMP Approved: PP
Status: ISSUED Issued: ISSUED_DATE$>
Address: 16665 MAGNESON LOOP, LOS GATOS, CA 95032 Expires: 4/12/2015
Owner: CLEM MICHAEL W;LEDESMA DEBORAH A TRUST
16665 MAGNESON LOOPLOS GATOS, CA 95032 phone: 4083165158
Contractor: CALIFORNIA ROOFING CO., INC.
1595 S. 10TH ST.SAN JOSE, CA 95112 Phone: 4082937977
License No.: 174900
Job Value: 14,000.00 Buildings: 1
Total Sq. Ft.: SQUARE_FEET$> Houses: 0
Building Use: Dwellings Census #: 434
Occupancy Type: R -3 Construction
V BType:
Total Fees 464.65
Total Payments $0.00
Balance Due 464.65
LICENSED CONTRACTOR'S DECLARATION
I hereby affirm under penalty of perjury that I am licensed under provisions of Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 7000)
of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, and my license is in full force and effect.
License Class G° cs California Contractor License No. L'1 4 6MC
Expiration Date 2101 Contractor Signatur
WORKERS' COMPENSATION DECLARATION WARNING: FAILURE TO SECU ORKERS' COMPENSATION
COVERAGE IS UNLAWFUL, AND SHALL SUBJECT AN EMPLOYER TO CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND CIVIL FINES
UP TO ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($100,000), IN ADDITION TO THE COST OF COMPENSATION,
DAMAGES AS PROVIDED FOR IN SECTION 3706 OF THE LABOR CODE, INTEREST, AND ATTORNEY'S FEES.
I hereby affirm under penalty of perjury one of the following declarations:
I have and will maintain a certificate of consent to self- insure for workers' compensation, issued by the Director of
Industrial Relations as provided for by Section 3700 of the Labor Code, for the performance of the work for which this
permit is issued. Policy No.
I have and will maintain workers' compensation insurance, as required by Section 3700 of the Labor Code, for the
performance of the work for which this permit is issued. My workers' compensation insurance carrier and p licy number
are: Carrier G..(,(,}y -eS j TOS Policy Number 3 OO O 5 ( Expiration Date O t
Name of Agent _ Phone #
I certify that, in the performance of the work for which this permit is issued, I shall not employ any person in any
manner so as to become subject to the workers' compensation laws of California, and agree that, if I should become
subject to the e <ers' compensation provisions of Section 3700 of the Labor Code, I shall forthwith comply with those
Signature of Appli a Date
I of 2
pow N vF _
TOWN OF LOS GATOS 1 aY/K
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT CIVIC CENTERBUILDINGDIVISION110E. MAIN STREETPHONE: (408) 354 -6876 FAX: (408) 354 -7593 Los GATos, CA 95030
NIVU -I0SLgatosca.gov/buHdin,-
BUILDING DIVISION PERMIT APPLICATION
PROJECT ADDRESS
EXISTING
C'fJC73y' t G S Wi J v SO v\ L -.ta n C .
APN#
OWNERNAME PHONE :. E -MAIL
STREET ADDRESS CITY, STATE, ZIP !. FAX
U
S.F.
APPLICANT NAM PHON E-MAIL
O'K-t(-
STREET ADDRE S : ': CITY, STATE, ZIP ' . FAX
TENANT CONTACT NAME PHONE E -MAIL
BUSINESS NAME CONTACT FAX
BUSINESS ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP.
CONTACT: OWNER H.O.A. TENANT: CONTRACTOR -PERMIT SERVICE ARCHITECT DESIGNER ENGINEER
ED : PHONE 'LICENSE TYPECON *CONT ACTOR NA
k-"C '
ST TE LICENSG # ATE LICENSE EXPIRES TOWN BUSINESS LICENSE# N 3D3D 20 i P
ESCRIPTION OF WORK
a D a F^S. +n.s Esa thy- G Esc ,WCO
S.F.
Pool House /Cabana "`Pool /S a
CONSTRUCTION VALUATION..(PerStructure): ZC>,C,C >. .
AREA OF REMODEL SPACE: S.F. NEW OR RELOCATED PLUMBING FIXTURES. Y N
EXISTING USE(S) PROPOSED USE(S)
OCCUPANCY(S): CONSTRUCTION TYPE: HISTORIC DISTRICT OR PRE -1941? Y N
C FIRE SPRINKLERS. Y NL -- FIRE HAZARD AREA: Y : N HAZARDOUS MATERIALS? Y N SEPTIC or SEWER
REROO DENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
gg% COMP WOOD SHINGLES TILE B.U.R. # of SQUARES ': COOL ROOF Y N
WOOD SHINGLES TILE ' B.U.R. PER STRUCTURE ICE ES /ESR #
TION (PER STRUCTURG):
REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR ALL APPLICATIONS
REQUIRED FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
Please complete Eleetrical Mechanical, and Plumbing details se side,
N: \DEV\ FORMS\ BUILDING \BLDGAPPLICA bWffATED AUGUST 10, 1887
Revised 06/25/14
EXISTING PROPOSED `'
First Floor ' S.F. ' S.F. ` Second Floor S.F. S.F. `
Third Floor /Attic - Habitable? Y ' IN ST
Basement/Cellar - Habitable? 'Y N S.F.
ST
Garage - Attached Detached S.F.
S.F.
S.F.
Pool House /Cabana "`Pool /S a S.F.
Porch Deck Retaining Wall S.F. /L.F.
S.F.
S.F.
REROO DENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
gg% COMP WOOD SHINGLES TILE B.U.R. # of SQUARES ': COOL ROOF Y N
WOOD SHINGLES TILE ' B.U.R. PER STRUCTURE ICE ES /ESR #
TION (PER STRUCTURG):
REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR ALL APPLICATIONS
REQUIRED FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
Please complete Eleetrical Mechanical, and Plumbing details se side,
N: \DEV\ FORMS\ BUILDING \BLDGAPPLICA bWffATED AUGUST 10, 1887
Revised 06/25/14
EXTERNAL SENDER
Hi Ryan…this is a note for the Historic Preservation Committee regarding the house at 16665 Magneson
Loop, Los Gatos, CA., that we spoke of. Thank you for forwarding it for me.
Mike and Debbie Clem have sold their home at 16665 Magneson Loop. The new owners have applied to
have the historical designation removed from the property. I am assuming they are planning a major
remodel that will change the feel of the street. I am writing to say that I would like the historical
designation to not be removed so that there will be more oversight on what can be changed.
Some background…I moved onto Magneson Loop in April, 1970. Each house was uniquely different,
each had two camphor trees in front of it, and each had two to three walnut trees on the property. It is
a lovely, old street in Los Gatos that has a lot of charm and feelings of what it was like in the past.
Some history…Walter Magneson had a walnut orchard that extended from Shannon Road to Blossom
Hill Road, and from Los Gatos Boulevard to Cherry Blossom Road. His house was on Shannon. In the
1920’s, he decided to subdivide part of his property and created Magneson Loop. It was once described
as one of the first “subdivisions” in Santa Clara County. He began building at the Los Gatos Boulevard
end. Each house was different…each set back a bit from the house before it so there was a view toward
the boulevard without looking at a house…each with two or three walnut trees left in memory of the
walnut orchard that had been there…each with two camphor trees planted in front of it to grow and
create a canopy over the street. Doctor Plant bought the first house on the left coming in from Los
Gatos Boulevard. He lived there while having his office there as well. Prentiss and Ida Mae Brown
bought at 16730. He was principal at Los Gatos High School for many years. Mrs.Brown watched the
camphor trees being planted and thought they would never amount to much. In her eighties, she
laughed at how they had grown and how beautiful they made the street. Minnie Spotswood and her
husband lived at 16721 Magneson Loop. They donated part of the land for Calvary Baptist Church to be
built, now Calvary Church, which is on Los Gatos Boulevard. Joe and LaRue Toullion lived at 16665
Magneson Loop, the house now in question. He built much of it himself, and used knotty pine, which is
still on the interior walls. Rolly and Dottie Baumgartner lived at 16751 Magneson Loop, an English
cottage designed by a Carmel artist. It covers two lots and is still eye stoppingly lovely. The
Baumgartners were the first people to live in the house. She had been a model in San Francisco, they
had no children, and they drove around in a classy blue 1930’s car whose front doors opened
“backwards”. All of these people still lived here when I moved into in 1970.
They were living history, and my friends and neighbors. The majority of the houses were built in the
1920’s and 1930’s. Mine was built in 1932. When I turned down the street, and walked through the
house, I told the realtor that “I would take it.” She asked me if I wanted to look at anything else. I said
“no”, “I could live here a lifetime and be happy.” I was 21 years old. I have now lived here 52 years and
still love it.
This street is worth preserving. Its history predates many other parts of Los Gatos. It is truly a gem.
To the Historical Preservation Committee…thank you for reading the above about why I would like the
historical designation to remain in place for this property.
I will try to be in on the zoom call on October 28. Or call in. We will be traveling, and I am not very
techy, so it will be challenging.
Thank you for all you do for the town of Los Gatos to keep it the unique, historical, beautiful place that
it is.
Sincerely,
ATTACHMENT 4
Hi
We’ve heard about 16665 and the application to take it out of it’s historic category.
This is deeply distressing to my husband and I who have enjoyed the Loop for 35 years.
This street is FAMOUS for its like architecture and charm.
I’ve seen neighborhoods destroyed with both monster homes and opposite architectural styles.
The newly remodeled homes stand out and take away from the uniqueness and charm of the
neighborhood.
Please consider the age and architecture of our street and keep 16665 in historic mode.
To: Ryan Safty
Ryan: I have resided on Magneson Loop for 54 years & have been neighbors with Mike
& Debbie Clem for 27 years! (We have replaced our joint wooden fence twice!)
This historic area needs to remain historic & I DON'T WANT NEW NEIGHBORS who
might want to add a second story, or whatever, blocking my side of daily sun into my
kitchen, computer room and back yard patio! I also left you a phone message. I have
no idea what new owners want to change or alter. This Historic area needs to remain
historic.
Please call when you read my email, and I will STRESS my concern.
To: Ryan Safty
Subject: Historic Designation
Please note that I very much prefer that the home at the above address remain with its current historic
designation.
Thank you.
Sent from my iPhone
Hi,
We recently learned that an application has been filed to remove the historic designation of the house
located at 16665 Magneson Loop and we would like to express our strong preference for it to stay in the
historic category thus keeping Magneson Loop a historic landmark and maintaining its character.
Best regards,
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank