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: 011/16/2022 ITEM NO: 2
DATE: November 11, 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 C-2. Located at 301-307 N. Santa
Cruz Avenue. APN 510-14-048. Request for Review PHST-22-020. PROPERTY
OWNER: Millen Family Partnership, LP. APPLICANT: Mike Millen. PROJECT
PLANNER: Ryan Safty.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider a request to remove a pre-1941 property from the Historic Resources Inventory for
property zoned C-2 located at 301-307 N. Santa Cruz Avenue.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1900 per County Assessor’s Database, with an effective
year built date of 1910
2. Town of Los Gatos Historic Status Code: Historic and intact or worthy of special note, and
historic and some altered but still contributor to district if there is one
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 subject property contains five existing primary buildings: 208 Bachman Avenue (CB
Hannegans), and 301, 303, 305, and 307 N. Santa Cruz Avenue. The applicant is requesting
approval to remove the property from the Historic Resources Inventory. The Santa Clara
County Assessor’s Database lists a construction date of 1900, with an effective year built date
of 1910. The property is not within a historic district or LHP overlay.
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DISCUSSION (continued):
The subject property is included in the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, beginning in 1891
(Attachment 1). 208 Bachman Avenue, location of the former CB Hannigans restaurant, was
previously a two-story residence, and is the only primary building on the site until 1928. The
1928 Sanborn Fire Insurance map shows a “tea room” at 301 N. Santa Cruz Avenue, and two
small detached dwelling units at 305 and 307 N. Santa Cruz Avenue. The 1928-1956 map shows
major additions and modifications to both 208 Bachman Avenue and 301 N. Santa Cruz Avenue.
The property is included in the 1990 Anne Bloomfield Survey (Attachment 2); specifically, 208
Bachman Avenue, and 301, 303, 305, and 307 N. Santa Cruz Avenue are listed. 208 Bachman
Avenue had a historic status code of “historic and some altered but still contributor to district if
there is one” and “historic but grossly altered.” The estimated age was 1890’s, with a note that
the building was raised in the 1940’s. The building at 208 Bachman Avenue was removed from
the historic resource inventory by Town Council in 1996.
The group of buildings fronting on N. Santa Cruz (301, 303, 305, and 307) are all also listed in
the 1990 Anne Bloomfield Survey. These buildings are listed as Mediterranean style with a
historic status code of “historic and some altered but still contributor to district if there is one”
and “historic and intact or worthy of special note.” Both 301 and 305 are noted to have been
altered, while 303 and 307 are noted as “intact.” The estimated age of the buildings is 1930’s,
and remodeled in the 1960’s. The “Evaluation Sheet” within the survey shows the building ages
as 1952 with a cumulative rating of 7: “appears ineligible for designation because newer than
1941.”
Town records are extensive and included in Attachment 3. As 208 Bachman has already been
removed from the inventory, only the N. Santa Cruz addresses are included. Town records
show that the commercial building at 301 N. Santa Cruz Avenue was constructed in 1952, with
an added storefront in 1982, and a new garage door and re-roof in 2006. Records for 303 N.
Santa Cruz show an interior remodel in 2006, and an expansion of the restaurant into the
adjacent building at 305 N. Santa Cruz Avenue in 2010. Records for 305 N. Santa Cruz Avenue
also show that the building was constructed in 1956. Lastly, records for 307 N. Santa Cruz
Avenue show a building permit for alteration of the structure in 1950, as well as a re-roof
permit from 1993.
The applicant’s Historic Research Submittal (Attachment 4) reflects much of the information
presented above. Per the applicant’s research: the existing residence at 301 N. Santa Cruz
Avenue was removed and replaced by a commercial building in 1952; 303 N. Santa Cruz Avenue
appears to have been built sometime in the 1960’s; 305 N. Santa Cruz Avenue was substantially
altered in the 1960’s; and substantial alterations and additions occurred to 307 N. Santa Cruz
Avenue in the 1960’s. As summarized in Attachment 4, the buildings on this parcel that existed
80 years ago (per the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps) bear very little resemblance to the complex
standing today.
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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:
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. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
2. 1990 Anne Bloomfield Survey
3. Town Records
4. Applicant’s Historic Research Submittal
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ATTACHMENT 1
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REQUEST FOR REVIEW
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
TOWN OF LOS GATOS - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
110 E MAIN STREET, LOS GATOS, CA 95030
PLANNING@LOSGAT CA.GOV
408-354-6872
https://permits.losgatosca.gov/Login-and-Manage-My-Records
PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT CLEARLY
1. PROPERTY LOCATION:
Address of subject property ___________________________________________________________________
Zoning: ____________________________ Property Size: _________________ APN: _______________
Year built: ____________
Existing use: _______________________________________________________________________________
2. APPLICANT REQUEST:
Determination of Significance Removal from Historic Resources Inventory
Preliminary Review Demolition
Exterior Modifications Outside of a Historic District Other: __________________________________
3.APPLICANT:
Name__________________________________________________________ Phone:_____________________
Address ____________________________________________________________________________________
City _____________________________________ State ___________________ Zip _____________________
Email ______________________________
4. NAME OF PROPERTY OWNER: (If same as above, check here )
Name___________________________________________________________ Phone:_____________________
Address _____________________________________________________________________________________
City _____________________________________ State ___________________ Zip _____________________
Email ______________________________
I hereby certify that I am the owner of record of the property described in Box #2 above, and that I approve of the action
requested herein.
SIGNATURE OF OWNER ___________________________________________DATE __________________
The information contained in this application is considered part of the public record. Therefore, it will appear in both the public record file for the site address,
which is available upon request, and on the permitting system on the official Town of Los Gatos website at www.losgatosca.gov.
ATTACHMENT 4
MILLEN FAMILY PARTNERSHIP, LP
MICHAEL MILLEN, MANAGING MEMBER
204 Bachman Ave. • Los Gatos, CA 95030
(408) 871-2777 [CELL] • E-mail: MikeMillen@aol.com
October 18, 2022
Historic Preservation Committee
Town of Los Gatos
[electronically submitted]
In Re: 301, 303, 305 & 307 N. Santa Cruz Ave.
Request to Remove from Inventory
Dear Historic Preservation Committee:
The owner of the above parcel, Millen Family Partnership, LP, hereby requests that 301, 303,
305 & 307 N. Santa Cruz Ave be officially removed from the Town’s historic inventory. All
four buildings are on the same parcel of land and form a united complex which, while quite
functional, is bereft of historical significance.
What used to be three residences with side yards (as shown by this 1928 Sanborn Map) has become
a modern commercial complex which does not belong in the Town’s historical inventory.
THE TOWN HAS PREVIOUSLY FOUND THE CURRENT BUILDING COMPLEX
AS LACKING HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The Town previously conducted an evaluation and inventory of this complex. (Exhibit 1.) The
Town noted that 301 and 305 had been altered and that the entire complex appeared ineligible for
designation due to significant post-1941 alterations. (See Exhibit 1, “Evaluation Sheet”.)
October 18, 2022
Page 2
In her historical survey, Architectural Historian
Anne Bloomfield confirmed remodeling of the
buildings in the 1960s.
This is confirmed in the Historical Evaluation
sheet in which Ms. Bloomfield and a Town
representative state that 301 and 305 have been
altered.
Further, presumably on account of the fact the remodeling was so substantial and so modern, the
two agreed that the complex “Appears ineligible for designation”.
A brief review of each of the four buildings demonstrates the basis for this finding.
301 N. SANTA CRUZ
The current structure at 301 N. Santa Cruz is a cement/plaster building which was built in 1952
as per the building permit. Any residence which was previously at this location was torn down to
make way for this cinderblock commercial building.
October 18, 2022
Page 3
303 N. SANTA CRUZ
The structure built at 303 N. Santa Cruz (which is now
called 305 because it actually adjoins 307 N. Santa
Cruz) is a wood framed building. The 1928 Sanborn
Map (page 1) shows this space as an empty side yard.
As detailed below, the historical evidence indicates that
this building was constructed in the 1960s.
There is no 1941 Assessment for 303 N. Santa Cruz and
Anne Bloomfield’s research for the year 1952 confirms
that 303 did not exist at the time.
This is consistent with the 1952 Polk directory which indicates 303 did not exist.
October 18, 2022
Page 4
By contrast, the 1969 Polk directory shows “303 Berg’s Antiques”.
This historical evidence suggests that 303 was built sometime in the 1960s.
305 N. SANTA CRUZ
The structure originally built at 305 N. Santa Cruz (which actually adjoins 301 and is now called
303) was substantially changed in the 1960s.
305 (now called 303) N. Santa Cruz
October 18, 2022
Page 5
First, the existing floor-to-ceiling commercial plate glass windows are not residential windows.
There is little doubt that they were added mid-century when this part of downtown became
substantially commercial.
Second, looking at the exterior, both the left and right walls of the building no longer exist in
their original form as those walls have been made party walls with the adjoining buildings. Also,
the left 1/3 in front of the structure has changed. Formerly, there was a clear area adjoining 301.
Now, as shown in the color photo on the previous page, this area has become a raised patio only
a few inches below the main entrance with divisional fencing changing the presentation of the
building.
Finally, Anne Bloomfield confirmed in the 1991 Evaluation that the Interior was of no historical
value and gave it an FP rating.
This is due to the inside having been completely remodeled many times when it was converted
from residential to retail and then, years later, to a bakery and now full service restaurant.
307 N. SANTA CRUZ
It does appear that a residential dwelling of some sort existed at 307 N. Santa Cruz prior to 1941.
However, the footprint of the building has changed substantially.
As can be seen from this close-up of the 1941 Assessor’s
diagram, the building in 1941 was measured as being only
30’ long. After 1941, and mostly likely in the 1960s or
1970s, an additional 14’ was added to the building’s length.
October 18, 2022
Page 6
This enlargement can be seen in the architect’s diagram of the yogurt shop which currently
occupies the space. What used to be a 30’ long building has become a 44.25’ long building. The
landlord’s believes that this was done in the 1960s or early 1970s.
-
The original brick chimney for 307 was removed, floor to-ceiling-commercial windows installed,
and, as shown in this Anne Bloomfield photo, the awning covering the front of the building was
removed as part of a remodel for a later business.
Moreover, the owners, to continue their compliance with the Americans with Disabilites Act
(ADA), constructed a code-compliant wheelchair ramp in front of the building. While the
owners were pleased to do this to further faciliate access to all the community, it worked a
distinct alteration on the façade’s presentation.
October 18, 2022
Page 7
Finally, the side windows which existed in 1966 (see bottom of left photo) no longer exist today.
CONCLUSION
The buildings on this parcel that existed 80 years ago (two of which were built since) bear very
little resemblance to the complex standing today. While there are landmark buildings in Los
Gatos which well deserve to be carefully curated to bridge the gap between the old and new, this
completely renovated 301-307 complex (along with the newly constructed buildings) is
unrecognizable as being part of the Town’s fabric in the 1930s. Based on all of the above, the
Committee is requested to find that all four buildings, 301, 303, 305, and 307, none of which are
in a historical overlay, should be officially removed from the Los Gatos Downtown Historic
Inventory.
Sincerely,
Michael Millen