Houghton-Donner
Mansion
This large Victorian Italianate style house was home to two
historically important San Joseans, early mayor Sherman
Houghton and his wife, Donner Party survivor Eliza Donner
Houghton, who wrote some of the earliest and most
authoritative accounts of the tragic 1840's wagon train
party.
UPDATE - The house burned down July 2007 under "suspicious" circumstances. It was empty and waiting to be moved.
Lost
A Lowe's Home Improvement Store project on the old IBM campus at 5600 Cottle Road in South San Jose would raze this historic building. PAC*SJ had proposed that the full scale project could be built while saving this important asset. However, Building 25 is not lost yet, and we are fighting this one to the end.
Hot Topic! Threatened!
First Church of
Christ Scientist and Letcher's Garage
The Good News:
Barry Swenson Builder has talked about rehabilitating the First Church
of
Christ Scientist and exploring possible reuses for the property. The Bad News: Conceptual
designs for nearby high-rise housing towers will demolish historic Letcher’s
Garage.
Threatened!
Del
Monte Plant #3
A high-density residential development by KB
Homes demolished the old Del Monte Plant #3. Although the
Planning Commission and Landmarks Commission supported
alternatives that would re-use the cannery buildings, the City
Council voted for the project plan that included demolition. Too bad this project won't mix old and new as well as the
housing project built around Del
Monte Plant #51
.
Lost
This Mission Revival building stood in the way of a parking structure for the new City Hall. PAC*SJ won a lawsuit, asserting that the EIR inadequately examined feasible alternatives to prevent demolition of this candidate City Landmark. The City filed a supplemental EIR and the building was demolished.
Lost
A housing development demolished this remnant of San Jose's fruit packing industry despite the Landmark Commission's recommendation that it be reused for affordable housing.
Lost
SAVED!
The St. James Park Historic District is the most threatened of the three downtown historic districts. The RDA is threatening the carefully devised Historic District Design Guidelines by proposing high-rise housing projects in the area that would be incompatible with the architecture and feel of the Park, San Jose's "most important public space". If one more contributing historic structure within the District boundaries, such as Letcher's Garage, is lost, it will create a risk that the whole district will be delisted. Delisting would prevent local property owners or developers from accessing federal historic rehabilitation tax credits.
Hot Topic! Threatened!
This historic jewelry store to be renovated.
Threatened
SAVED!
We are working hard!
Fox
California Theatre
Built in 1927, the California Theatre had been in
disrepair since the 1970's. A joint rehabilitation and restoration project
between RDA and The Packard Humanities Institute was completed in Spring
of 2004. The building has become the main venue for Opera San Jose and
Symphony Silicon Valley.
View Bob Shomler's
wonderful pictures and descriptions of the Fox and its new
lease on life.
Saved!
Near the San Jose Arena and Diridon Station, this former packing plant is being rehabilitated to provide housing.
Saved!
See pictures of how this important landmark was relocated 180 feet to the south on Jan 29th, 2000. Saving Montgomery Hotel gets PAC*SJ Governor's Award!
Saved!
The Jose, built in 1904 as a vaudeville house, is the oldest theater in San Jose. In 1996 it was threatened with demolition. It has been beautifully renovated and now houses the Improv Comedy Club. Read more about the project that threatened this city landmark, and our work that saved it.
Saved!
The River Street district's existence was threatened by a flood control project. Now nine houses have been relocated and renovated to create an enclave that feature gardens and small businesses.
Update! River Street Rebounds! See the Bocca House being moved.
The River Street Project received the Downtown Association's Golden Nail Award for 2003. Congratulations to Karita Hummer, Ellen Garboske, Andre Luthard, the Historic Landmarks Commission, and all the other people at PAC*SJ who worked so hard to make this project a reality. River Street shows the immense potential that can be realized through intelligent reuse of historic properties.
Saved!
The Scheller House is located on the campus of the San Jose State University, and was saved from demolition by PACSJ.
Update! Renovation is complete and the house is now being used by the SJSU Alumni office. See how great it looks!
Saved!