Laserfiche WebLink
<br />88 <br />Page 39 <br /> <br />zoning is R-5 and that because of the size of the lot only a single family dwelling could <br />be built there today, but if two or three owners get together and decide that they want to <br />joint venture then there is potential for higher densities. Mr. Gonzalez stated he did not <br />buy this proposed district, he stated he bought two houses, and does not think it <br />appropriate to cluster all these houses in that area as a group when they are all <br />individual properties. He.asked about boundaries and asked if the old houses on .the <br />other side of EI Camino would qualify under another historical area. Chair Paulson <br />Stated that they very well could. Mr. Gonzalez said that he would like to know about any <br />future changes, and the City decides to make this a historical area that would be fine, <br />but he would like to know what he has now and what he can do today to the properties <br />and move forward, <br /> <br />Ken Rolandelli, Chair of the Historic Resources Advisory Committee, stated that he is <br />here to encourage the Planning Commission to support the Historic Resource Advisory <br />Committee's recommendation to go forward with an analysis of the historic district <br />potential for Redwood City's Mezesville area. It is clear in the report that what spurred <br />this request had to do with the recent purchase of an assemblage of three adjacent <br />properties: 702 Warren, 734 Brewster,and 726-72.8 Brewster. These properties are <br />unique. They are on a block including other period structures which is completely intact <br />containing typical Redwood City working class homes all nearing the century mark with <br />one 1910 and two 1914 structures. This is actually one of the few remaining such <br />blocks, and certainly a visible one, because of the comer location on Brewster Avenue <br />and Warren Street. While there is agreement with the individual reports prepared by an <br />Architectural Historian hired by the current property owner, that none of these properties <br />are worthy of individual historic status, the one thing that was not considered was <br />looking at these properties, not just individually, but in broader terms and in the context <br />of a district. The HRAC is suggesting looking at the entire neighborhood that these <br />properties are a part of, then after sufficient information is gathered, make a <br />determination of whether there is sufficient historic value when an assemblage of these <br />homes is considered. Back to the three properties on Warren and Brewster, Mr. <br />Rolandelli believed it was important to point out that the properties did not warrant <br />individual historic status. The applicants Architectural Historian did indicate, with respect <br />to 702 Warren Street. that it "appears to retain historic integrity" and regarding the other <br />two properties on Brewster that they "retain a high level of historic integrity." These <br />properties may be modest and no one lived in these homes that changed the course of <br />history, and perhaps they don't stand out like other more prominent structures in other <br />historic areas of Redwood City, but as a grouping, these homes and others in the <br />neighborhood seem to truly represent that Redwood City was historically a "working <br />class town". The MezesvjJJe area is an important part of our history, let us find out more <br />about it by getting a professional opinion of its value and then decide how to proceed. <br /> <br />Chair Paulson asked Mr. Jany to address the timing issue with Mr. Gonzalez and to jet <br />Mr. Gonzalez know exactly what is going to happen and what the schedule is going to <br />be. Mr. Jany stated that he plans to meet with Mr. Gonzalez to provide all information as <br />it becomes available.. <br /> <br />Ms. McElroy, CIRCA consultants, stated that property development in these older <br />portions of Redwood City need a context statement and without a context statement it is <br />very hard to provide clear direction to applicant's question. Properties are historic for a <br />variety of reasons: architecturally, because a famous person lived there, or a famous <br />event, something to that effect, but it also has to do with architecture development <br />pattßrnsandas to why these properties are here. If we just eliminated aU the 'working <br />men's housing', then there will be a lot of people in Idaho and Iowa and the Carolinas, <br />Page30f11 <br /> <br /> <br />.. _..._-- --_.....--~.. - ...- <br />