Staff Report with Attachments 1 through 8. 1 Orchard Street
PREPARED BY: Samina Merchant
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: 04/23/2025
ITEM NO: 1
DATE: April 18, 2025
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-1:10. Located at 1 Orchard Street.
APN 529-32-041. Request for Review PHST-25-006. Exempt Pursuant to CEQA
Guidelines, Section 15061 (b)(3). Property Owner/Applicant: Mahsa Nakhjiri.
Project Planner: Samina Merchant.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider a request to remove a pre-1941 property from the Historic Resources Inventory for
property zoned R-1:10, located at 1 Orchard Street.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1939 (effective year built 1990) per County Assessor
2. Town of Los Gatos Historic Status Code: - Historic and some altered
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. The Santa Clara County Assessor’s Database lists a construction date of
1939, with an effective year built of 1990, indicating substantial construction occurred around
1990. The property is included in the 1990 Anne Bloomfield Survey (Attachment 1); however, it
is not included in the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps.
Page 5
PAGE 2 OF 4
SUBJECT: 1 Orchard Street/ PHST-25-006
DATE: April 18, 2025
The applicant provided a letter justifying the requested removal (Attachment 2), property
research results (Attachment 3), a list of building permit records (Attachment 4), and pictures of
the current residence (Attachment 5) Based on the research provided, the applicant believes
that the required findings for removal from the Historic Resources Inventory can be made for
this property as the residence is not in its original condition and there is nothing noted about
the property that is significant to the Town’s history.
Building Permit records from the renovations completed in 1995 and 1999 are included as
Attachments 6 and 7, respectively. The 1995 permit scope primarily included updates including:
the replacement of existing windows with dual-glazed units to match those already installed,
the installation of new French doors, structural underpinning, addition of a retaining wall in the
rear yard, and replacement of a fireplace damaged in the Loma Prieta earthquake. The 1999
scope shows a more extensive renovation.
Elevation comparisons show an extension of the lower level with the addition of new living
space and installation of 36-inch high redwood railings with posts and pickets designed to
match the existing detailing (Attachment 8). The front elevation illustrates several notable
changes including introduction of a new six-foot wide by three-foot, one-inch tall bay window
with side casements featuring clad wood consistent with existing materials. The original attic
vents were removed, and the front entrance was reoriented with the addition of a new small
gable-style entry cover that reflects the design of the adjacent gable form. On the left elevation,
one existing door was replaced with a window, and another door was removed and replaced
with siding. On the right elevation, an addition was constructed that included the installation of
a new garage door, new windows, and replacement of existing doors executed with materials
and detailing that reference the original construction and the 1995 renovations. The rear
elevation appears to have undergone one of the more extensive alterations, including replaced
doors and windows, the introduction of new railings, and a continuation of the wood-clad
window and door detailing consistent with the existing installations.
CONCLUSION:
Should the Committee find that the structure no longer has historic significance or architectural
merit due to the loss of integrity, a recommendation of approval of the request to remove the
property from the Historic Resources Inventory would be forwarded to the Community
Development Director. Once approved by the Director, 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.
Page 6
PAGE 3 OF 4
SUBJECT: 1 Orchard Street/ PHST-25-006
DATE: April 18, 2025
_____ 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. 1990 Anne Bloomfield Survey
2. Letter of Justification
3. Applicant’s Research
4. Building Permits
5. Exterior Photos
6. Town Records -1995 Building Permit Plans
7. Town Records -1999 Building Permit Plans
8. 1995-1999 Renovations Comparison
Page 7
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank
Page 8
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank
Page 10
Page 11
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank
Page 12
1 Orchard Street
Supplemental document
for historic removal
Mahsa Nakhjiri
ATTACHMENT 3
Page 13
Historical Map of Los Gatos 1884-1944
Orchard is not showing in the map
Page 14
Orchard is not showing in the map
Historical Map of Los Gatos 1884-1944
Page 15
San Jose city directory 1952
Brickman Ben was listed in the directory
Page 16
San Jose city directory 1956
1 Orchard street was vacant
Page 17
Los Gatos city directory 1958
Dinkel Erma was listed in the directory
Page 18
Los Gatos city directory 1964
Kennedy Vance was listed in the directory
Page 19
Los Gatos city directory 1967
Kennedy Vance was listed in the directory
Page 20
San Jose city directory 1971
Gillman Thos was listed in the directory
Page 21
1941 tax assessment was searched at Los Gatos library
I found the tax assessment for the lots 38, 39, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49
But there was no tax assessment information about lot 41
Page 22
Page 23
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
Page 33
Page 34
Page 35
Page 36
Page 37
Page 38
Page 39
Page 40
Page 41
Page 42
Page 43
Page 44
Page 45
Page 46
Page 47
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank
Page 48
1 Orchard Street
Photos of the exterior of the house
ATTACHMENT 5
Page 49
Front
Page 50
Corner Front
Page 51
Front-side
Page 52
Side-driveway
Page 53
Back of the house
Page 54
Page 55
Page 56
Page 57
Page 58
Page 59
Page 60
Page 61
Page 62
Page 63
Page 64
Page 65
Page 66
Page 67
Page 68
Page 69
Page 70
Page 71
Page 72
Page 73
Page 74
ATTACHMENT 7
Page 75
Page 76
Page 77
Page 78
Page 79
Page 80
Page 81
Page 82
Page 83
Page 84
Page 85
Page 86
Page 87
Page 88
Page 89
Page 90
Page 91
Page 92
1995 Renovations 1999 Renovations
1.Replace 6/8 existing windows w/
dual glaze – windows will match all
other windows already installed.
2.Replace one set of French doors
with similar doors which are 6'-8"
high.
3.Add underpinning to foundation –
see structural engineer's drawings.
4.Add retaining wall outside in yard –
see structural engineer's drawings.
5.Replace old fireplace destroyed in
earthquake w/ new.
1.Existing 1"x10" rustic redwood siding
2.New 1"x10" rustic to match existing
3.Existing roof to be removed
4.Class “A” Fire Rated – See Detail & Note
5.36" high redwood rail, posts & pickets
6.New redwood rail posts & pickets to match existing
7.New 5'-6" x 6'-8" door & sidelight unit w/ 36" wide clear opening
8.Approved zero-clearance fireplace w/ spark arrestor – built in cabinets
9.New 16'-0" x 7'-0" steel roll-up garage door w/ garage door opener
11. 6'-0" wide x 3'-1" tall 150° bay window w/ side casements (clad wood), (new)
12.New wood-clad windows & doors to match existing
13.Existing wood windows & doors
14.New steel garage door.
15.Existing galvanized gutters & downspouts
16.New gable roof structure w/ 2x6" facia, siding, roof & gable vents
17.Existing concrete block retaining walls
18.Remove existing doors & windows
19.Two 14½" x 12" combustion air openings. Locate one opening within the upper
12 inches of the enclosure and one opening within the lower 12 inches of the
enclosure
ATTACHMENT 8
Page 93
1995 Front Elevation Drawing 1999 Front Elevation Drawing
Existing Condition
Page 94
1995 Left Side Elevation Drawing 1999 Left Side Elevation Drawing
Existing Condition
Page 95
1995 Right Side Elevation Drawing 1999 Right Side Elevation Drawing
Existing Condition
Page 96
1995 Proposed Rear Elevation Drawing 1999 Proposed Rear Elevation Drawing
Existing Condition
Page 97
This Page
Intentionally
Left Blank
Page 98