Exhibit 8 - Supplemental Information Provided by Applicant’s Architect55 Ellenwood Ave.
January 8th, 2025
Appeal of HPC Ruling to Planning Commission
EXHIBIT 8
FINDINGS:
Related to a request for a determination that a pre-1941 structure (55 Ellenwood) has no historic significance or architectural merit:
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.
5. The integrity has been compromised such that the structure no longer has the potential to convey significance.
The Property + HPC Comments
55 Ellenwood
“Appearance +
style hasn’t
changed.” - HPC
“Original structure as I
remember it, and I’ve lived
here for 50 years!” - HPC
“Still has the feeling even
though it’s been added to
from when I moved here 45
years ago.” - HPC
Source: Google Maps Satellite
“Still looks historic.”
- HPC
Evidence of an underlying desire of HPC to not listen to fact.
FALSE
FALSE
FALSE
1928 (Before Lot Split)1944 (After Lot Split)
51 Ellenwood Is
Born (Neighbor)
55 Ellenwood
Sanborn Maps
Sanborn maps from
1928 and 1944 show
significant changes to
the property by 1998,
including major
remodels that altered
its original character.
Permit 1994
Permit 1998
Other Notable Dates:
Extensive research at the Los Gatos Public Library revealed
no mention of this property in historical newspapers,
articles, notable real estate listings, or public records. The
absence of such documentation strongly suggests the
property lacks significant historical importance.
FINDING #1, #4
1. The structure is not associated with events that have
made a significant contribution to the Town.✓
✓4. The structure does not yield information to Town history.
House Index
Research found no evidence linking this
property to any historical significance.
FINDING #1, #4
1. The structure is not associated with events that have
made a significant contribution to the Town.✓
✓4. The structure does not yield information to Town history.
Museums of Los Gatos Historic Homes Tour
List Of People Recorded As Associated With 55 Ellenwood:
1.1934 – 1945 Stanley A R and Flowers C H
2.1968 – 1986 Sydney and Roberts Dunton
3.1968 – 1986 First National Bank and Palo Alto Financial Corporation
4.1968 – 1986 Leigh & Merry Belden
5.1986 Andris Holms
6.1992 Andris and Leslie
7.2002 Andris and Leslie Trust
8.2012 Leslie Holms Trust
9.2019 The Jain Family Revocable Trust with Vishal Jain and Pooja Goel as Trustees
FINDING #2
✓2. No Significant persons are associated with the site.
District
Non-contributing
1950
55 Ellenwood
FINDING #3
✓3. There are no distinctive characteristics of type, period or
method of construction or representation of work of a master;
The Anne Bloomfield Survey documents the home,
built in the 1950s, received preliminary rating of
“N”, due to major renovations by 1989. No
distinctive architectural features were identified,
and no construction changes are recorded in city
archives through 1994. This undermines its historic
integrity and diminishes its eligibility for historic
designation.
“N”
1989
New Windows at new Master
Bedroom – nonhistorical typology.
New Windows at new Master
Bedroom – nonhistorical typology
New exposed 2x6 rafters
visible from public sidewalk +
trellis and lattice
1994 Approved Permitted Work / Addition
FINDING #3, #5
✓3. There are no distinctive characteristics of type, period or method of construction or representation of work of a master.
100% NEW ADDITION 100% NEW ADDITION
100% NEW ADDITION 100% NEW ADDITION
Non original window typology
5. The integrity has been compromised such that the structure no longer has the potential to convey significance.✓
Before 1994 Construction
300% Window Size Increase at New Addition
✓5. The integrity has been compromised such that the structure no longer has the potential to convey significance.
“Still looks historic.”
- HPC
“Appearance + style
hasn’t changed.” - HPCFINDING #3, #5
After 1994 Construction
FALSE FALSE
3. There are no distinctive characteristics of type, period or method of construction or representation of work of a master.✓
New Windows at Master
Bedroom
FINDING #3, #5
✓5. The integrity has been compromised such that the structure no longer has the potential to convey significance.
2019 Image
ORIGINAL
Different exposed rafter tail
detail not matching original
No evidence of
original vs current
fenestration pattern
NEW ADDITION (1994)1998 ADDITION
3. There are no distinctive characteristics of type, period or method of construction or representation of work of a master.✓
Contemporary grand arched
window at new living room addition
Contemporary veneer stone
chimney
Contemporary windows at
new game room addition
✓3. There are no distinctive characteristics of type, period or method of construction or representation of work of a master.
1998 New Addition
FINDING #3
100% NEW ADDITION100% NEW ADDITION
1998 Approved Permit
“Original structure as I
remember it, and I’ve
lived here for 50
years!” - HPC
2019 Image
FALSE
1998 New Addition
1998 Proposed North Elevation (Approved)2024 Image
Contemporary fenestration
configuration + type
Contemporary swinging
windows above modern
door panels
FINDING #3, #5
✓3. There are no distinctive characteristics of type, period or method of construction or representation of work of a master.
“Appearance +
style hasn’t
changed.” - HPC
FALSE
100% NEW ADDITION 100% NEW ADDITION
5. The integrity has been compromised such that the structure no longer has the potential to convey significance.✓
Current Photo of Existing House (2024)
FINDING #3, #5
✓3. There are no distinctive characteristics of type, period or method of construction or representation of work of a
master;
✓5. The integrity has been compromised such that the structure no longer has the potential to convey significance.
ORIGINAL STRUCTURE NEW ADDITION (1994)NEW ADDITION (1998)
55 Ellenwood Ave. (Before 1994 Renovation)
FINDING #5
“Original structure as I
remember it, and I’ve lived
here for 50 years!” - HPC
“Appearance +
style hasn’t
changed.” - HPC
FALSE
FALSE
Existing Property Picture From Redfin Real Estate Listing (2019)
FINDING #5
NEW ADDITION (1994)NEW ADDITION (1998)ORIGINAL STRUCTURE
Approved Permits (1994)
Existing
Area of total
demolition
Original Footprint
1994 Footprint
Existing
100% Original House Footprint Per San Born
Map 1928 +1944
FINDING #5
Outline of
residence as
reflected in 1994
Building Permit
Technical demolition of area 50% affected at “front facade”
50% Original Front Facade
50% Technical Demolition at Front Facade
50%
50%
✓5. The integrity has been compromised such that the
structure no longer has the potential to convey significance.
Staff Comment: “Based upon
available information, the
property has likely incurred a
technical demo.”
50%
50%
TRUE
Approved Permits - (1998)
FINDING #5
➢Technical demolition of area 60% and 70% affected at “front facade”
40% Original Front
60% Technical Demo at Front
“Staff leans towards
interpretation that prior
permitted work already
involved a technical demo”
✓5. The integrity has been compromised such that the structure no longer has the potential to convey significance.
Original
New
Area of total
demolition
25%
35%40%
New
30% Original Front Facade
70% Technical Demolition at Front Facade
70% > 25% max demolition @ FRONT
TRUE
35%
15%
25%
15%
Area of total
demolition
Original House Remain
Area of Total Demolition
Approved Permits (1994, 1998)
FINDING #5
1994 Addition
1998 Addition
“Staff leans towards
interpretation that prior
permitted work already
involved a technical demo”
“Still has the feeling even
though it’s been added to
from when I moved here 45
years ago.” - HPC
“Appearance + style
hasn’t changed.” -
HPC
“Still looks
historic.” - HPC
✓5. The integrity has been compromised such that the structure no longer has the potential to convey significance.
“Original structure as I
remember it, and I’ve lived
here for 50 years!” - HPC
TRUE
FALSE
FALSE
FALSE
FALSE
FINDINGS:
Related to a request for a determination that a pre-1941 structure (55 Ellenwood) has no historic significance or architectural merit:
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.
5. The integrity has been compromised such that the structure no longer has the potential to convey significance.