HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-11-07 Heritage Preservation Commission Agenda PacketCity of Saratoga
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
AGENDA
Date: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 8:30 a.m.
Place: Planning Conference Room, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue
Type: Regular Meeting — Please meet in the parking lot in front of the
Warner Hutton House at 8:30 A.M. and Staff will provide
transportation to the site visit under New Business and return to the
Planning Conference Room by 9:00 A.M.
1. Routine Organization
A. Roll Call
B. Approval of minutes from August 14; 2007 meeting
C. Posting of Agenda — Pursuant to Government Code .Section 54954.2, the
agenda was posted on September 6, 2007
D. Oral & Written Communication - Any member of the public may address the
Commission about any matter not on the agenda for this meeting for .up to
three minutes. Commissioners may not comment on the matter but may
choose to place the topic on a future agenda.
E. Oral Communications — Historic Preservation Commission direction to Staff —
Instruction to staff regarding actions on current Oral Communications.
2. Old Business
A. Discuss National Registry & Saratoga Landmark Plaques
B. Discuss Heritage Orchard Signage
C. Discuss Historic Incentives
D. Discuss Mustard Walk
E. Discuss Sign for McWilliams House
F. Discuss Orchard Pathway
G. Discuss Orchard Maintenance
3. New Business
A. 8:35 A.M. Site Visit — 15235 Bellecourt Avenue — Determination of the
historical significance of the residence.
4. Pending Items
A. Historic Resources Inventory
B. McWilliams House Renovation
C. National Register Applications
D. Adopt a Tree Program for the Heritage Orchard
E. Update Heritage Ordinance
F. Review Oak Street as a Heritage Lane
G. Review additional content for Heritage Resources webpage
H. Historic Preservation Data Base
I. Review list of properties with structures 50 years and over in age
5. Adjournment
Adjourn to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 9, 2007, Warner Hutton House, 13777
Fruitvale Avenue.
Please advise the Chair if you will be absent from the next scheduled meeting
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you are a disabled person and you
need a disability - related modification or accommodation to participate in this meeting, please
contact the City Clerk's Office at (408) 868 — 1269 or ctclerk @saratoga.ca.us. Requests must .
be made as early as possible and at least one full business day before the start of the meeting.
Any recommendation made by the Heritage Preservation Commission may be appealed to the
Planning Commission within ten (10) days of the date of the decision. The appeal shall be
taken by filing with the Secretary of the Planning Commission a written notice and filing fee
within ten (10) days of the date of the decision.
Certificate of Posting of Agenda:
I, Christopher Riordan, Senior Planner for the City of Saratoga, declare that the foregoing
agenda for the meeting of the Heritage Preservation Commission of the City of Saratoga was
posted at the office of the City of Saratoga, 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga, CA 95070 and was
available for public review at that location. The agenda is also available on the City's website at
www.saratoga.ca.us.
Signed this 06th day of September 2007 at Saratoga, California.
/ �i
Christopher iordan
Senior Planner
City of Saratoga
(408) 868 —1235
City of Saratoga
HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION
DRAFT MINUTES
Date: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 8:30 a.m.
Place: Planning Conference Room, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue
Type: Regular Meeting — Please meet in the parking lot in front of the
Warner Hutton House at 8:30 A.M. and Staff will provide
transportation to the site visit under New Business and return to the
Planning Conference Room by 9:20 A.M.
1. Routine Organization
A. Roll Call
PRESENT Commissioners Gomersall, Louden, McCarty, Marra, Chair
Koepernik, and Vice Chair Kellond
GUESTS: Ms. Rosemarie Dippel, Ms. Sasi Murthy, Mr. Sergio Ramirez
STAFF: Senior Planner Chris Riordan
B. Approval of minutes from July 10, 2007 meeting - Approved
C. Posting of Agenda — Pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.2, the
agenda was posted on August 9, 2007
D. Oral & Written Communication - Any member of the public may address the
Commission about any matter not on the agenda for this meeting for up to
three minutes. Commissioners may not comment on the matter but may
choose to place the topic on a future agenda. - None
E. Oral Communications — Historic Preservation Commission direction to Staff —
Instruction to staff regarding actions on current Oral Communications. -None
2. Old Business
A. Discuss National Registry & Saratoga Landmark Plaques.— Item discussed.
Mr. Riordan stated that the Saratoga Landmark Plaques had arrived and he
proceeded to show them to the Board. The Board discussed the process of
presenting the plaques to the recipients. Chair Koepernik stated that the
presentation of the plaques to the recipients should not be done all at the
same time so as to maintain momentum. Commissioner Marra stated that
that the city staff should be responsible for mounting the plaques. Vice Chair
Kellond stated that there should be a photomontage of all the properties with
a statement of why they were received. Commissioner Louden stated that he
wanted to make sure that the financial donation from the Lions club be
acknowledged. Chair Koepernik stated that the city council should be involved
in the presentation of the plaques and the local paper should be contacted so
that the citizens of Saratoga are shown the goodness of what the City is
doing. Commissioner Gomersall thought stated that the public outreach was
important because it was her opinion that most Saratoga citizens were
unaware of the existence of the Board. Chair Koepernik stated that he would
"spearhead" the efforts. Vice Chair Kellond stated that Commissioner Louden
should represent the Board in front of the Board as an acknowledgement of
the time and effort he had put into the plaques. Chair Koepernik stated that
he would write up a procedure of how the Board was going to move forward
with the plaques.
B. Discuss Heritage Orchard Signage — Item discussed. Chair Koepernik stated
that he is still in the process of getting bids for the orchard signage.
C. Discuss Historic Incentives — Item discussed. Commissioner McCarty stated.
that she would be interested in some kind of financial incentives.
Commissioner Marra stated that he would be interested in finding out what
kind of incentives the City would support. Chair Koepernik responded that the
Board should formulate some ideas for historical incentives for presentation to
the City. Commissioner . Marra. stated that the City should consider an
incentive that would lower application fees. Chair Koepernik responded with
a suggestion that all members of the Board should consider some ideas for
historical incentives that will encourage positive public response and we will
discuss them at the September meeting. Commissioner Marra stated that the
public should be made aware of the incentives and the process for applying.
Commissioner Gomersall stated that there should be an article in the paper.
Commissioner Louden stated that there should also be an article about the
plaques. Chair Koepernik stated again that the Board should come up with
some creative ideas for historical incentives.
D. Discuss Mustard Walk — Not discussed
E. Discuss Sign for McWilliams House — Not discussed
F. Discuss Orchard Pathway — Item discussed. Commissioner Marra stated that
a friend had but her ankle while walking on the orchard pathway. Chair
Koepernik stated that there has been clearing of vegetation along the creek,
he is aware of an idea for construction of a wooden bridge to span the creek,
is most concerned about access, and requested that staff research the status
of the pathway for the next'meeting.
3. New Business
A. 8:35 A.M. Site Visit — 13601 Saratoga Avenue — Review proposed
replacement buildings for Saint Andrew's Parish and School. and determine
consistency with Heritage Lane. Site visit completed with representative from
Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church & School present. Motion to approve by
Commissioner Louden and seconded by Commissioner Gomersall and
carried by a 6 -0 vote.
B. 8:50 A.M. Site Visit — 18524 Montpere Way — Determination of the historical
significance of the residence that the owner would like to remodel. Site visit
completed with applicant (Ms. Sasi Murhty) present. Item discussed.
Commissioner McCarty questioned the accuracy of the site coverage that is
stated on the project plans. Ms. Murhty stated she was aware of the
inaccuracy and that the site plan is to be revised. Commissioner Gomersall
stated that she did not believe that the building was historic and
Commissioner's Louden and McCarty agreed. Motion to approve by
Commissioner Marra and stated that the building was not on the historic
inventory nor historically significant with respect to its design or individuals
associated with the property, motion seconded by Commissioner McCarty
and carried by a 6 -0 vote.
C. 9:05 A.M. Site Visit - 15211 Hume Drive — Determine if the existing
residence is of historical significance. Applicant is proposing demolition. Site
visit completed with applicant (Mr. Sergio Ramirez) present. Item discussed.
Mr. Ramirez stated that he was ready to answer any questions about the
project. Mr. Ramirez stated that the house will be demolished and the
building materials will be recycled, the house will be green structure and with
some of the power to be supplied by photovoltaic panels. Commissioner
Kellond stated that the proposed new structure would most likely be more
historically significant than the existing structure to be demolished and
Commissioner Marra agreed. Mr. Ramirez stated that.the adjacent neighbors
were given an opportunity to review the plans and they were supportive of the
design. Motion to approve by Vice Chair Kellond following recommendation
#1 from the project memorandum, motion seconded by Commissioner Marra
and carried by a 6 -0 vote.
4. Pending Items
A. Historic Resources Inventory
B. McWilliams House Renovation
C. National Register Applications
D. Adopt a Tree Program for the Heritage Orchard
E.. Update Heritage Ordinance
F. Review Oak Street as a Heritage Lane
G. Review additional content for Heritage Resources webpage
H. Historic Preservation Data Base
I. Review list of properties with structures 50 years and over in age
5. Adjournment
Adjourn to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 11, 2007, Planning Conference Room,
13777 Fruitvale Avenue.
Community Development Department
City of Saratoga
13777 Fruitvale Avenue
Saratoga, California 95070
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: September 11, 2007
TO: Heritage Preservation Commission
FROM: Christopher Riordan, Senior Planner C
SUBJECT: Determination of whether or not the existing home is historically significant.
Property Location: 15235, Saratoga, California
Property APN: 510 -03 -013
Project Applicants: Mike Tinsley
Property Owners: Craig Nicholson and Susie Cabral
Project Summary
The applicant requests a determination from the Historical Preservation Commission (HPC) on
the historical significance of the existing. residence. The applicant has not yet made the
determination to remodel or demolish the property. Such determination would be based on the
recommendation from the HPC.
Historic Evaluation
The property is not currently listed on the City's Historic Resources Inventory. The home
appears to be of a Spanish - Eclectic design that is representative of single - family residences
from the mid- 1920's. Because of the potential historical significance of the structure staff
requested an historic evaluation of the residence. The applicant has secured the services of an
architectural historian to evaluate the property. The contents and results of the analysis have
been included as part of a DPR523L form that was prepared on July 5, 2007 (attached to this
memorandum).
The evaluation concludes that the property is not significant for architectural reasons or by
association with historically significant people or events per Federal, State, and local criteria and
that development of the property, to include alteration to the original design or demolition, would
not cause an adverse impact to the environment as defined by the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA).
Decision by HPC
The applicant is requesting a determination of the HPC regarding the historical significance of
the structure. The following are options available to the Commission in reviewing this proposal:
Determine that the structure is not historically significant: If the Commission
determines that the structures are not historically significant, the property would not be
listed on the Historic Resources Inventory. Proposed future alterations would not be
subject to HPC review.
HPC September 11, 2007 Meeting
Project Address: 15232 Bellecourt Avenue
Project Applicant: Mike Tinsley
2. Determine that the. property /structure is historically significant and direct staff to
place the structure on the historical list: If the Commission determines that the
property /structure is historically significant
■ At least one (1) of the seven (7) criteria listed in the City code must be
selected to reflect the reasons why the structure is significant.
■ The HPC would need to determine that the proposed project either
meets or does. not meet the Secretary of Interior Standards (Standards)
for historic properties. Suggestions to ensure compliance. with the
Standards may be provided.
■ Staff would place the property on the Historic Resources Inventory and
proposed future alterations to the structures would require HPC review
and would be required to meet Standards for historic properties.
The seven Criteria are as follows (City Code §13- 15.010):
(a) It exemplifies or reflects special elements of the cultural, social, economic,
political, aesthetic, engineering or architectural history of the City, the County, the
State or the nation; or
(b) It is identified with persons or events significant in local, county, state or
national history; or
(c) It embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period or method of
construction, or is a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials; or.
(d) It is representative of the notable design or craft of a builder, designer, or
architect; or
(e) It embodies or contributes to unique physical characteristics representing an
established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood or district within the City;
or
(f) It represents a significant concentration or continuity of site, buildings,
structures or objects, unified by past events or aesthetically by plan or physical or
natural development; or
(g) It embodies or contributes to a unique natural setting or environment
constituting a distinct area or district within the City having special character or
special historical, architectural or aesthetic interest or value.
Attachments
(1) DPR 523L Form, completed by Archives & Architecture, dated July 5, 2007
(2) Letter from Archives and Architecture, received on August 16, 2007
Memorandum to the Saratoga Historic Preservation Commission Page 2
A R C 11 1 V E$ 6 A Q C 111 1 T Z C T 11 V C
PO Box 1332
San Jose CA 95109
408.369.5683
408.228.0762 FAX
Craig Nicholson & Susie Cabral
15235 Bellecourt Ave. V
Saratoga, CA 95070 p lUl L5 IN
C/o Mike Tinsley Al Ir 6 ZOO
Flury Bryant Design Group, Inc.
CITY OF SARATOGA
RE: 15235 Bellecourt Ave., Saratoga, CA - Historical Ev&�&WTY DEVELOPMENT
Dear Craig and Susie:
Please consider this letter a statement of findings considering the potential architectural and historical
significance of the property at 15235 Bellecourt Ave. in Saratoga, California. This letter outlines our
evaluation of the property, based on the definition of historical significance pursuant to the Guidelines for
Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) — Preliminary Review of Projects and
Conduct of Initial Study, to determine the significance of impacts to potential historical resources according
to section 15064.5 of the California Code of Regulations. The historical documentation of the property and
elaboration of the evaluation are found in the attached California Department of Parks and Recreation Form
523.
For the purposes of CEQA, the City of Saratoga is required to consider historical significance if a property
meets the criteria for listing on the California Register of Historical Resources. Generally,. properties that are
at least 50 years old are considered historic and require some level of evaluation by the agency. The City of
Saratoga utilizes the research, evaluation, and findings of qualified consultants to help them in determining
whether a property might be historically significant as a part of the land development review process.
The property has not been previously surveyed for or recorded on any local, state, or national registers., We do
not believe the property qualifies for listing on the California Register. The building, although originally a
good example of Spanish Eclectic residential architecture of the 1920s, does not individually embody
distinctive architectural character, and the property does not illustrate significant associations with people,
patterns, or events to be considered a local resource under City of Saratoga criteria.
Development of this property, to include alteration to the original design or demolition, would not in our
opinion, appear to cause an adverse impact to the environment, as defined by CEQA, because the property is
not historically significant according to the minimum requirements for listing on the California Register of
Historical Resources.
Since ,
f
Franklin Ma*Arcitectural Historian
Cc: Mike Tensley, Flury Bryant Design Group, Inc.
Page 1 of 12 *Resource Name or M (Assigned by recorder) Herman and Ida Greeff House
P1. Other Identifier: None
*P2. Location: ❑ Not for Publication ® Unrestricted a. County Santa Clara
and (P2b and P2c or P2d. Attach a Location Map as necessary.)
*b. USGS 7.5' Quad Cupertino, CA Date 1980 photorevised T .75. ; R .2W.; Mount Diablo B.M.
c. Address 15235 Bellecourt Ave. City Saratoga Zip 95070
d. UTM: (Give more than one for large and /or linear resources) Zone 10S; 587169ME/ 4122760mN
e. Other Locational Data: (e.g., parcel #, directions to resource, elevation, etc., as appropriate)
Assessor's Parcel Number: 510 -03 -013,
west side of Bellecourt Avenue south of Saratoga -Los Gatos Road.
*P3a Description: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, setting, and boundaries)
This east - facing Spanish - Eclectic -style house is representative of single - family residences
of the mid- 1920s. The surrounding setting of the property includes a series of single - family
houses on large parcels. Although at the base of the foothills, the immediate setting of the
property consists of fairly level ground with many large trees, including oaks and cedars,
and a large rear yard. The moderately sized front yard has a semi - circular driveway that
connects to a driveway along the south edge of the property; this leads to a detached garage
to the southwest of the house. The front yard is landscaped with lawn behind a row of hedges
at the street, and features a large cedar. The moderate side yards are landscaped with a
variety of plantings, including low plantings and larger trees, and the rear yard is
primarily a lawn, with some additional low plantings.
(Continued on page 2, DPR523L)
*P3b. Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes) HP2 . Single family property
*P4 Resources Present: ® Building ❑ Structure ❑ Object ❑ Site ❑ District ❑ Element of District ❑ Other (Isolates, etc.)
*P11. Report Citation: (Cite survey report and other sources, or enter "none ".)
None
P5b. Description of Photo: (View, date,
accession #)
Viewed facing west, June,
2007.
*P6. Date Constructed /Age & Sources:
® Historic ❑ Prehistoric ❑ Both
Circa 1924, 83 years old,
deeds.
*P7. Owner and Address:
Craig Nicholson & Susie
Cabral
15235 Bellecourt Ave.
Saratoga, CA 95070
*P8. Recorded by: (Name, affiliation, and
address)
F. Maggi, L. Dill, & J. Kusz
Archives & Architecture
PO Box 1332
San Jose CA 95109 -1332
*Pg. Date Recorded: July 5, 2007
*P10. Survey Type: (Describe)
Intensive
*Attachments: ❑ NONE ® Location Map ❑ Sketch Map ® Continuation Sheet ® Building, Structure and Object Record ❑ Archaeological Record
❑ District Record ❑ Linear Feature Record ❑ Milling State Record ❑ Rock Art Record ❑ Artifact Record ❑ Photograph Record ❑ Other (List)
DPR 523A * Required information
Page 2 of 12 'Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) Herman & Ida Greeff House
*Recorded by F. Maggi, L. Dill, & J. KUSZ 'Date July 5, 2007 ® Continuation ❑ Update
(Continued from page 2, DPR523a, Pia)
Although modified and expanded somewhat over time, this house has the form and general
detailing typical of its style: it is a one - story, stucco building with a compact, mostly
square original main mass and low -slope gable roof. Much of the main roof is side - gabled,
with gabled wings projecting shallowly to the front and somewhat more deeply to the rear of
both sides. The front facade is strongly symmetrical, with the front - gabled roofs flanking a
centered front porch; the rear facade has been changed by the construction of additions. A
gabled two -story addition steps out and to the rear from the northwest corner of the house,
and a flat -roof addition stretches across the remainder of the rear facade. The detached
garage and two additions create an open rear courtyard that centers on a large cedar tree;
the courtyard has been paved in exposed- aggregate concrete. The north side of the house has
two cantilevered bays. At the original house, there is a square bay with a shed roof; it is
placed asymmetrically under the side gable; at the northeast corner as part of the rear
addition, there is a narrow, two -story cantilevered element. Under the front gable of the
rear addition, the upper story is cantilevered slightly.
The front entry porch projects slightly forward, but primarily is recessed into the center of
the front facade. It features a stained, scored concrete landing and steps, coupled with a
wide front walkway; the ceiling is clad in beaded board. The front opening is a thick, flat
arch, with raised stucco trim at the top and bottom of the quarter - circle arched corners. The
porch roof is a continuation of the main roof, at a lower pitch, so its eaves are lower than
the surrounding gable ends.
The house has a light -dash finish stucco cladding; some of the original walls appear to have
been retextured for consistency when the additions were constructed. The front wall of the
house extends to the sides in shaped buttresses; the stucco finish is very sharp at the
corners, not radiused. The south and west sides of the upper level of the two -story addition
are clad in vertical board siding. The house is raised on a concrete foundation that is
generally not visible on the exterior, as the stucco covers it. Screened crawlspace vents are
placed along the lower walls, and crawlspace access is screened with a latticework
background. Atypical of the Spanish - eclectic style, the house does not have red tile roofing;
instead it has a tar - and - gravel covering. The eaves are shallow and not boxed, but they are
without exposed rafter tails, so the sheathing supports the frieze board. Louvered wooden
attic vents at the north and south gable ends have angled tops that follow the line of the
roof. A stucco chimney projects from the ridgeline; it is topped by a soldier course of red
brick.
The window side and header casings are standard ogee stucco moldings. Fenestration on the
sides of the house consists of a variety of window types and styles, a pair of original,
matching focal windows at located at the front. The focal windows are centered within the
front gables; they are recessed into shallow niches. They are in the form of a segmental -arch
tripartite unit with decorative muntin patterns and transoms. The narrow side windows are
2x4 -lite casements; the side transoms have two vertical lites and the center transom includes
four lites above the single -lite fixed center picture window. Original fenestration on the
side elevations includes a 6/1 double -hung window on each side and single -lite casements
along the north facade. On the south side, an aluminum slider has replaced an earlier window
unit. The two -story addition has a variety of windows, including what seem to be original
paired, wide, double -hung windows at the upper story, and a vertical, jalousie unit near the
northeast corner of the second floor. Texture differences in the stucco show that large
windows or doors were filled in on three sides of the ground floor, and casement windows were
added at these locations. An added prefabricated bay window cantilevers from the north
facade, supported by brackets, and a large sliding replacement window is found under the rear
(west) gable. Within the one - story, flat -roof addition, most of the fenestration consists of
one -lite fixed -pane windows. Both additions have French doors with multiple lites, which open
onto the rear courtyard.
(Continued on next page)
DPR523L ' Required information
Page 3 of 12 *Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) Herman & Ida Greeff House
*Recorded by F. Maggi, L. Dill, & J. Kusz, *Date July 5, 2007 ® Continuation ❑ Update
(Continued from previous page)
The detached garage has a main front - gabled two -car portion near the house, with an almost -
flat -roof addition to the south and a small bump -out to the rear (west) with an extremely
low -slope roof as well. The main roof is low- slope, similar to the main house, but it is
covered with composition shingles, not tar - and - gravel. The garage and south addition are clad
in stucco, and the rear gable end and rear addition are clad in horizontal v- groove siding.
The windows primarily consist of 1/1 units; some newer and some older. There are also 1 -lite
fixed windows and multi -lite French doors. The garage door is a recent overhead unit.
DPR523L * Required information
Page 4 of 12 *Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) Herman & Ida Greeff House
*Map Name: USGS Cupertino, CA *Scale: n. t . s . *Date of Map: 1980 photorevised
DPR523J * Required information
Page 5 of 12 `NRHP Status Code 6z
*Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) Herman & Ida Greeff House
61. Historic Name: Herman & Ida Greeff House
B2. Common Name: None
B3. Original use: Single family residential B4. Present Use: Single family residential
*BS. Architectural Style: Spanish Eclectic
*B6. Construction History: (Construction date, alterations, and date of alterations)
Constructed circa 1924. Rear additions and other modifications circa 1950s or 1960s.
*B7. Moved? ® No ❑ Yes ❑Unknown Date: n/a Original Location: n/a
*B8. Related Features:
Garage
B9a Architect: Unknown b. Builder: Unknown
*B10. Significance: Theme Architecture and Shelter Area Saratoga
Period of Significance 1924 Property Type Residential Applicable Criteria None
(Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, and geographic scope. Also address integrity.)
The subject property was constructed circa 1924 on a portion of Lot 11 of the Glen Una
Ranch, Map #1 subdivision, a tract that was recorded May 20, 1919. The tract and related
ranch is on land that was once part of earlier Quito Rancho. In 1841, Mexican governor Juan
B. Alvarado granted three - square leagues of land (over 13,000 acres) in the vicinity of
future Saratoga to Jose Noriega and his father -in -law Jose Zenon Fernandez. By 1858, the
property was acquired by Jose Ramon Arguello, his mother, Soledad Arguello and a business
partner, S. M. Mezes. The Arguello family was involved in real estate and sold many parcels
to ranchers who established this area around Saratoga as a prime horticultural region.
With the development of the San Jose -Los Gatos Interurban Railroad (later the Peninsular
Railway Co.) which opened in 1904, residential development boomed during the early part of
the twentieth century. The Interurban connected Saratoga with the rest of the Santa Clara
Valley and beyond. The railroad ran along the current route of the Saratoga -Los Gatos
highway, a short distance from the subject property, until 1933 when the rail route was
replaced by buses. After World War II, the town began to grow as a suburban community and
was incorporated in 1956.
(Continued on next page, DPR523L)
B11. Additional Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes) None
*B12. References:
Brainard maps, on file with the California Room, SJPL.
Cunningham, F., Saratoga's First Hundred Years, 1967.
Polk directories, Los Gatos and San Jose.
San Jose Evening News, Notice of sale, 12/28/1921.
Santa Clara County recorded deed, maps, vital records.
Santa Clara County school district maps.
US Federal Census, 1920, 1930.
DO
B13. Remarks: Proposed demolition
*B14. Evaluator: Franklin Maggi
*Date of Evaluation: July 5, 2007
(This space reserved for official comments.)
DPR 523B
C
r. !
w
in
Page 6 of 12 *Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) Herman & Ida Greeff House
*Recorded by F. Maggi, L. Dill, & J. Kusz *Date July 5, 2007 ® Continuation ❑ Update
(Continued from previous page, DPR523b, BI0)
The Glen Una Ranch was established in the early 1880s by Dr. Handy and covered 680 acres,
over half of which were covered with prune trees. Handy also grew cherries, pears and
grapes, but the ranch was eventually known as the worlds largest prune ranch. In 1891, Handy
sold the acreage to George Hume, who then gave it to his son, Frank, who eventually married
Una Handy.
Before the property was sold and subdivided in 1919, the land that became Glen Una Ranch,
Map #1 Subdivision, was owned by Helen B. Finch. Finch was a real estate agent in San Jose,
who sold the land to W.S. Clayton, J.R. Chance, E. Shillingsburg and J.P. Dorrance, who then
subdivided the property into 16 lots of various acreages (Maps P:34). The subdivision was
bounded by Saratoga -Los Gatos Road on the north, Bellecourt Avenue on the east, Glen Una
Drive on the south and Hume Drive to the west. A north -south street, Chemin Des Dames (now
Pepper Lane), bisected the subdivision. The street names were taken from prior landowners
and referenced French locales.
By 1921, Lot 11, upon which the residence was constructed, and Lot 9B of the same
subdivision, were owned by Mabel H. Harrison. She owned the property only a short time, as
she died in May of 1921. The lots were sold off by her executor in January of the following
year, with Thomas Maurice Widby the purchaser (Deeds 545:336, 548:347). Almost three years
later, Widby, a real estate salesman, sold the property that included the subject property
to Herman Greeff (also Greff and Greeft) (Deeds 115:261, 10/29/1924). The subject house was
built about this time, although it is not known if the house was built speculatively by
Widby, or if Greeff built the house shortly after acquiring the property. Little could be
learned about Greeff. Born in Germany in 1873, in 1930 he was living on this property with
wife Ida A., who also was an immigrant from Germany. Ida came to the United States in 1916,
while Herman arrived in 1924, the year he acquired the property. They appear to have married
in 1925. Census records and local directories do not list occupations for these residents.
In 1948, Mrs. Herman Greeff had a record of survey prepared for her property, then
identified as portions of Lots 9 -B & 11 of the Glen Una Ranch Map #1. The portion along
Bellacourt Avenue was split into five lots south of the corner parcels at Saratoga -Los Gatos
Road then owned by L. R. Parisich. The fourth of these lots had previously been sold to
Prosten Allen in 1927, and the lot north of the subject parcel was subsequently sold to
Nathanial Kendall in 1949. In 1950, Ida Greeff sold the most southerly parcel to Alec
McKenzie and the subject property to Mabel E. Pierce (OR 1990:614). It is not known if Mabel
Pierce lived in the subject house. The property was conveyed to Charles and Dorothy Pierce
in early 1954 (OR 2833:103); they then sold it to Alex and Leda Casalegno in November of
that year (OR 2998:222), who then sold the property shortly after to Carl M. and Jeanie A.
Eklof. .
Carl Eklof had worked as a teacher, and retired to this property with his wife. A native of
Sweden, he had married his wife prior to immigrating to the United States. She was a native
of Scotland. The Eklofs sold the property in June of 1964 to Rolland and Pamela Langley (OR
6556:532), and returned to San Francisco. Rolland Langley, also a San Francisco resident,
worked as an engineer at Bechtel Corporation.
(Continued on next page)
DPR 523L * Required information
Page 7 of 12 *Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) Herman & Ida Greeff House
*Recorded by F. Maggi, L. Dill, & J. Kusz *Date July 5, 2007 ® Continuation ❑ Update
(Continued from previous page)
Integrity and character - defining features:
The property maintains much, but not all, of its historical integrity as per the National
Register's seven aspects of integrity. It maintains its original location at the base of the
foothills in Saratoga; it continues to be surrounded by most of its historic residential
setting, including a surrounding neighborhood with houses and properties of a similar size
and scale, along with mature trees, although most of the nearby houses are not of the same
era. Although modified by the rear additions, the front half of the house retains its early -
twentieth- century residential scale and feeling, although it appears that the house may
originally have had a tile roof. The majority of the exterior of the house retains its
integrity with the Spanish - Eclectic style, including stucco walls, arched windows, and shaped
buttresses. Original character - defining materials and workmanship have been preserved;
however, the rear changes are visible reminders that the house was modified over time.
EVALUATION
The subject property is not currently listed on the Saratoga Heritage Resources Inventory,
nor has it been recorded on any other local, state, or national inventory of historic
properties or districts. The property was developed as a part of Glen Una Ranch, Map #1
Subdivision, a small, large -lot, single - family tract that has been re- subdivided over time.
Today it contains a diverse mix of residential houses in both style and age. Most of the
house in this subdivision were built in the post World War II period. Although the
neighborhood appears to have some association to its historic period of development that
occurred over 50 years ago, a considerable number of individual properties have houses that
have been built in the recent past, or modified with changes to their exterior envelopes.
Because the property at 15235 Bellecourt Ave. does not individually represent important
patterns of development or events, nor does it contribute to a recognized district of
historical significance, it would not appear to qualify for the National Register of Historic
Places under Criterion A, or California Register of Historical Resources under Criterion (1).
The extant house was built for or acquired at the time of construction by Herman Greeff in
late 1924, and remained in his family until 1950. Little is known about the Greeffs; both
Herman and his wife Ida were immigrants from Germany, and references to their occupations or
dates of death could not be found. They are not mentioned in local history books, and are not
known to have participated in local community affairs. Their association with this property
is not of the type that would establish eligibility for listing on the National or California
Registers. The property would therefore not qualify under Criterion B or (2) of those
registers.
It is not been confirmed who designed this house. It has good quality of form, composition,
and detailing, that has some artistic merit and visual quality for its association with local
Spanish Eclectic residential architecture that first became popular during the Interwar
Period in Santa Clara Valley. The original house, although seemingly vernacular in design,
has clearly identifiable visual and design value, with its simple massing and minimal
decorative detailing, echoing Spanish Revival houses of the period. Houses of this genre were
built during the years following World War I and through the 1930s. Many early houses within
this style were architect designed, and it is possible that this house was designed by a
local architect rather than being design /built by either Widby or Greeff. The design of this
building however is not an individually distinguished example within the Spanish Eclectic
style. As the design of an architect of the Interwar period, it would not appear to represent
a distinctive work that would signify eligibility for the National or California Registers
under Criterion C or (3).
DPR 523L * Required information
State of California - The Resources Agency Primary #
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI # .
CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial
Page 8 of 12 'Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) Herman & Ida Greeff House
'Recorded by F. Maggi, L. Dill, & J. Kusz 'Date July 5, 2007 ® Continuation []Update
Detail view of front entry, viewed facing west.
DPR 523L . Required information
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-fury B jant DesOrc Cjraup, Inc.
15951 LOS GATOS BLVD., SUITE 3 LOS GATOS, CA 95032
TEL: 408.356.5500 FAX: 405.356.5115
PHOTOS
NICHOLSON RESIDENCE
15235 BELLECOURT AVE.
SARATOGA, CA.
JOB NO: 07 -009
DRAWN: MT
DATE: MAY 2, 2007 1
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RIM OF SANITARY SEWER MANHOLE (SHOWN)
WAS USED FOR THE ASSUMED BASIS OF ELEVATIONS
ASSUMED ELEVATION USED= 100.00'
PHILLIPE AUGER. RCE 21500 EXPIRES 9/30/07
KENNETH M. ANDERSON, L.S. 7523 EXPIRES 12/31/07
PLANNING • LAND SURVEYING I CIVILI`LL ENGMINEERING • CONSTRUCTIIOMON STAKING
UaL gOg MH C�]C�0HEEN29 mC
RESPONSIVE, RELIABLE RESULTS SINCE 1953
355 Reed St.. Santa Cloro, Colifornio 95050
Ph: (408) 727 -8262 FAX: (408) 727 -8285 E -mail: missioneng®eorthlink.net
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SANTA CLARA COUNTY
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1. CONTRACTOR SHALL CONTACT U.S.A. AT LEAST 48 HOURS PRIOR
TO EXCAVATING IN ANY AREA WHERE UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
1
ARE LOCATED. PHONE (800)642 -2444.
1
1
" 2. THE EXISTENCE. LOCATION AND ELEVATION OF ANY UNDERGROUND
UTILITIES ARE SHOWN IN A GENERAL WAY ONLY. IT PALL BE THE
lh
RESPONSIBILITY AND DUTY OF THE CONTRACTOR TO MAKE FINAL
1
1
DETERMINATIONS AS TO THE EXISTENCE, LOCATION AND ELEVATION
'
1
OF ALL UTILITIES.
(SSI4H
,oa.ao
3. DATE OF SURVEY: MARCH, 2007
4. LOT AREA a 0.81 ACRES 35,283 SO FT
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP- NICHOLSON RESIDENCE
15235 BELLECOURT, SARATGA, CA 95070
APN 510 -03 -013 0.81 ACRE PARCEL ROS 17 M 40
SANTA CLARA COUNTY
REVISIONS SCALE:
DESCRIPTION CH'KD VERT.
SHEET
1' -10'
,1
DATE:
4 -02 -07
OWN:
KA ME16
CHKD:
JOB NO.
07054
OF 1 SHEET
DWG NO.
L13963
D4.03 I
14'OAK
0107.16 iT (2)6-OAK
0107.11 S/1�
Scale 1" = 101
FENCE
x103.11
11104.21
02.98
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Oa.
f 04.55 n014e
BASIS OF BEARINGS
MONUMENT LINE OF BELLECOURT
ROS 17 M 40
SITE BENCHMARK
RIM OF SANITARY SEWER MANHOLE (SHOWN)
WAS USED FOR THE ASSUMED BASIS OF ELEVATIONS
ASSUMED ELEVATION USED= 100.00'
PHILLIPE AUGER. RCE 21500 EXPIRES 9/30/07
KENNETH M. ANDERSON, L.S. 7523 EXPIRES 12/31/07
PLANNING • LAND SURVEYING I CIVILI`LL ENGMINEERING • CONSTRUCTIIOMON STAKING
UaL gOg MH C�]C�0HEEN29 mC
RESPONSIVE, RELIABLE RESULTS SINCE 1953
355 Reed St.. Santa Cloro, Colifornio 95050
Ph: (408) 727 -8262 FAX: (408) 727 -8285 E -mail: missioneng®eorthlink.net
40 -TREE
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f9I.69
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP- NICHOLSON RESIDENCE
15235 BELLECOURT, SARATGA, CA 95070
APN 510 -03 -013 0.81 ACRE PARCEL ROS 17 M 40
SANTA CLARA COUNTY
REVISIONS SCALE:
DESCRIPTION CH'KD VERT.
SHEET
1' -10'
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L13963
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`9B 34
(2)14-OAK
'
1
I
I
NOTES
98.46
I
197.95
'98.66
1
1. CONTRACTOR SHALL CONTACT U.S.A. AT LEAST 48 HOURS PRIOR
TO EXCAVATING IN ANY AREA WHERE UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
1
ARE LOCATED. PHONE (800)642 -2444.
1
1
" 2. THE EXISTENCE. LOCATION AND ELEVATION OF ANY UNDERGROUND
UTILITIES ARE SHOWN IN A GENERAL WAY ONLY. IT PALL BE THE
lh
RESPONSIBILITY AND DUTY OF THE CONTRACTOR TO MAKE FINAL
1
1
DETERMINATIONS AS TO THE EXISTENCE, LOCATION AND ELEVATION
'
1
OF ALL UTILITIES.
(SSI4H
,oa.ao
3. DATE OF SURVEY: MARCH, 2007
4. LOT AREA a 0.81 ACRES 35,283 SO FT
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP- NICHOLSON RESIDENCE
15235 BELLECOURT, SARATGA, CA 95070
APN 510 -03 -013 0.81 ACRE PARCEL ROS 17 M 40
SANTA CLARA COUNTY
REVISIONS SCALE:
DESCRIPTION CH'KD VERT.
SHEET
1' -10'
,1
DATE:
4 -02 -07
OWN:
KA ME16
CHKD:
JOB NO.
07054
OF 1 SHEET
DWG NO.
L13963