AgdaPkt 2014-12-08 Closed and Joint SA

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Staf 8.C. - Page 13 ie Resources Agency Primary# DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial Page 6 of 6 *Resource Name or#(Assigned by recorder)823 Blandford *Recorded by: Richard Brandi *Date: June 3,2014 ✓Continuation ❑ Update The earliest occupants and owners of 823 Blandford were George P.Bloxham and his wife Jessie according to city directories. Records indicate that they lived here from 1933 to 1948 with their four children.Bloxham was a manager with an importer of fertilizer and chemicals. In 1948,Louis B.Dematteis and his wife Lillian bought the house and took up residency.Louis B. Dematteis was a San Mateo County district attorney and Superior Court judge who rose to prominence in the 1940s,when he led an effort to clean up gambling and corruption.He was the youngest lawyer in the state when he was admitted to the bar in 1932. In private practice from 1932 to 1935,he served in the San Mateo County district attorney's office from 1935 to 1944,when he joined the U.S.Navy.He returned to private practice in 1945 and rejoined the district attorney's office in 1948. In 1949,he was appointed district attorney and was appointed to the Superior Court in 1953.He retired in 1973 and served on many boards including the Cow Palace,the California State Bar,and the California Judges Association.He died in 1993 and his wife Lillian continued to live in the house until her death in 2009. Historical Significance. To be potentially eligiblefor individual listing on the California Register of Historical Resources a resource must usually be more than 50 years old,must have historic significance,and must retain its physical integrity. Since the building was constructed approximately 89 years ago,it meets the age requirement. Given its association with Wellesley Park,the building appears to be eligible for the California Register of Historical Resources under criterion 1,"Resources associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of local or regional history,or the cultural heritage of California or the United States." As the family home of Louis B.Dematteis,a locally prominent person,the house may be historically significant under criterion 2 for being,"associated with the lives of persons important to local,California or national history."However,Dematteis died less than 50 years ago and it is too soon to judge his significance for purposes of listing the house on the California Register. The house is a good example of the combined hipped and gabled roof subtype of Spanish Colonial Revival style and therefore is eligible under the California Register of Historical Resources criterion 3,"Resources that embody the distinctive characteristics of a type,period,region or method of construction." In addition to historical significance,a resource must retain its physical integrity,or the property's ability to convey its historic significance.Integrity consists of seven aspects:location,design,setting,materials,workmanship,feeling,and association. Only one modification was made to the house when a rear addition was made in 1955. The addition did not alter any of the seven aspects of integrity in that the addition did not alter the form or plan of the house. The change apparently did not destroy significant historic fabric and the addition cannot be seen from the public right of way. For these reasons,the house retains its historic integrity. The addition to the garage significantly alters its design and it was done in a way as to mimic the original materials,thus contributing to a false sense of history.For these reasons,the garage is not eligible for the California Register.A wood outbuilding on the property is also not eligible as it does not meet the criteria for listing. Chapter 40 of the Redwood City Municipal Code establishes the Redwood City Historic Preservation Ordinance which has criteria similar to the California Register.For the reasons outlined above,the building is eligible for listing under the Redwood City Historic Preservation Ordinance as a local landmark DPR 523L(1/95) *Required information