Staff Report with Attachments 1 through 7. 37 Ellenwood Avenue
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: 05/28/2025
ITEM NO: 4
DATE: May 23, 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-1:8. Located at 37 Ellenwood
Avenue. APN 510-19-015. Request for Review PHST-25-008. Exempt Pursuant
to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061 (b)(3). Property Owner/Applicant: Arthur
Chatoff. Project Planner: Samina Merchant.
RECOMMENDATION:
Consider a request to remove a pre-1941 property from the Historic Resources Inventory for
property zoned R-1:8, located at 37 Ellenwood Avenue.
PROPERTY DETAILS:
1. Date primary structure was built: 1940 per County Assessor; 1950+ per Bloomfield Survey
2. Bloomfield Preliminary Rating: None provided
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
1940. The property was included in the 1990 Anne Bloomfield Survey; however, a preliminary
rating and estimated age were not provided (Attachment 1). The evaluation notes at the
bottom of the sheet are annotated with a construction date as 1950+. The subject property was
included in the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps through 1956; however, no structures are shown
in the location of the existing residence. The maps show that a residence existed in the present
location of the existing carport.
PAGE 2 OF 4
SUBJECT: 37 Ellenwood Avenue/ PHST-25-008
DATE: May 23, 2025
The applicant provided a Letter of Justification for the requested removal (Attachment 2),
property research results (Attachment 3), and photographs of the current residence
(Attachment 4). Based on the submitted research, the applicant believes that the findings
required for removal from the Historic Resources Inventory can be made. Further, the
justification letter states that the residence lacks any architectural features that would indicate
historical significance in terms of design or features, and there is no documentation suggesting
the property holds any significance to the Town’s history.
The Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps from 1928-1956 show an existing dwelling and an accessory
building located in the area now occupied by the existing carport (Attachment 5). Town records
do not provide a date for the demolition of the previous dwelling. The location of the current
residence is shown undeveloped through 1956. The Sanborn Maps support the build date listed
on the Bloomfield Survey, that the existing residence was constructed after 1956 and is
therefore not historic pursuant to the Town Code having been built after 1940.
CONCLUSION:
The evidence in the record indicates that the existing residence at 37 Ellenwood Avenue was
constructed after 1956 and is therefore not historic under the Town Code. Based on this
evidence, staff recommends that the Committee forward a recommendation of approval to
remove the property from the Historic Resources Inventory to the Community Development
Director. Once approved by the Director, the property would no longer be on the 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.
PAGE 3 OF 4
SUBJECT: 37 Ellenwood Avenue/ PHST-25-008
DATE: May 23, 2025
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 1990 Anne Bloomfield Survey
2. Letter of Justification
3. Applicant’s Research
4. Exterior Photos
5. Sanborn Fire Maps
6. Building Permits
7. Town Records - 2010 Building Permit Plans
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Historic Preservation Committee
May 1, 2025
To Whom It May Concern:
I am the current owner of both 37 Ellenwood Ave and 41 Ellenwood Ave in Los Gatos. I have owned
and resided at 41 Ellenwood Ave for over 30 years. My wife and I purchased 37 Ellenwood Ave from
the previous owners 9 years ago. The previous owners had 4 generations living in the home during
the time we owned 41 Ellenwood Ave. They purchased the home in 1950. One of the living owners
stated the home was built in 1940 from the same builder as the home on Apricot Lane directly behind
37. The records show the first owner as Hodges and second owners as Hetzner. The records found
also state 1940 for the age.
The Anne Bloomfield records updated, June 1991, Historic Resources inventory does not have 37
Ellenwood Ave on the inventory list.
The pictures of the home will show additions around 20 years ago which included T1-11 siding
material as well as various lap siding. The house layout is dysfunctional. There is not any
architectural features that would indicate any historical significance of design or features.
The house is not visible from any street. Our Home at 41 Ellenwood Ave has the only direct view of
37 Ellenwood.
In our research at the Los Gatos Library and Santa Clara County Records, as well as contact from the
previous owners, indicate nothing of historic significance about the home or owners. Therefore, we
request that 37 Ellenwood be removed from the Historic Inventory in Los Gatos.
Respectfully,
Art Chatoff
Owner
ATTACHMENT 2
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No mention of 37 Ellenwood Ave ATTACHMENT 3
Sheppard R C is listed in the directory
Hodges E B is listed in the directory
Hetzner Harold is listed in the directory
Hetzner Harold is listed in the directory
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ATTACHMENT 4
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ATTACHMENT 6
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