Peter Ortiz
Running for:
Council District 5
Campaign Website:
1) The Preservation Action Council of San Jose (PAC*SJ) was formed in 1990 with concern for the abandonment of Willis Polk's First Church of Christ, Scientist on St. James Square. The continued abandonment has vexed residents and City officials for years. As Councilmember, what actions would you take to hold the current owner accountable for the neglect and re-establish its presence in the St. James Square Historic District? What actions would you take to facilitate its urgently-needed rehabilitation? Do you have a vision for the adaptive reuse of the structure?
Are there other properties on PAC*SJ’s Endangered 8 list, or any other culturally important sites, that you would encourage San Jose to collaborate on revitalization?
I believe all of them should be considered for protection in some form. When you look at San Jose’s history, we completely gutted our downtown and lost countless beautiful buildings that told the story of our city and could have remained valuable community assets today. We only need to look at places like the De Anza and the Saint Claire to understand what once existed and what has already been lost.
We have to learn from those mistakes and ensure that historic buildings which connect communities and preserve our shared identity are not demolished in the name of progress. True progress does not require erasing our history.
2) In the past five years alone, at least ten vacant historic buildings in San José have been lost to fire. Often, these properties are left vacant after tenants are displaced in anticipation of future development that may never materialize. Would you support entitlement conditions that would hold property owners accountable? If so, what would those look like?
Yes, I would support those entitlement conditions. What that ultimately looks like is difficult to define at this stage, as requirements of this nature should involve input from a broad range of stakeholders. What I can assure you is that I would want PAC SJ to have a seat at the table and play an active role in those discussions.
3) California Senate Bill SB 79 was recently signed into law by Governor Newsom, allowing by-right multistory new construction within a half-mile of qualifying transit stops, including 56 in San Jose. Many of these new TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) zones cover areas with high concentrations of historic buildings and pedestrian-scaled commercial corridors. SB 79 specifically allowed cities to exempt locally-designated historic resources from upzoning through the creation of local alternative plans, yet San Jose City Council recently voted not to do so. What do you think the role of the Council should be in exercising local control of planning decisions impacting historic resources?
The City Council must maintain local control over decisions that impact historic buildings. We cannot erase history in an effort to solve today’s challenges, because doing so erases the shared story and identity of our community. What makes San Jose such an important part of the Bay Area is not only its growth and innovation, but also the history and culture that have shaped the city for generations.
4) How would you motivate and incentivize the development community to view adaptive reuse of historic structures not as an obstacle, but as a design opportunity? What partnerships do you envision for stewardship of sites and buildings?
Councilmembers are not experts in every subject area. That is why I would bring together the development community and historic preservation advocates to have meaningful conversations and work toward solutions that balance the needs and priorities of all parties. I believe the larger reality is that most of us ultimately want the same outcome, which is a stronger and better San Jose. The key is making sure we are communicating, collaborating, and listening to one another so the final result truly benefits our city.
5) How do you think that preserving historic buildings and districts might contribute to the economic vitality of San Jose by enhancing its distinctive qualities of place, drawing visitors and local residents alike?
Preserving our history is vital to the City’s long term economic health. We must protect the character, charm, and history that make San Jose unique and give people a reason to visit, explore, and invest in our community. Supporting historic preservation is not just about honoring the past, it is also a smart economic strategy for the future. Historic buildings and cultural landmarks can help transform neighborhoods into destinations that attract tourism, local business activity, and long term investment.