REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
September 25, 2014
FROM: JENNIFER K. CLARK, AICP, Director
Development and Resource Management Department
BY: KARANA HATTERSLEY-DRAYTON, M.A., Historic Preservation Project Manager
Development and Resource Management Department
SUBJECT
Title
HEARING to consider adoption of Resolutions related to the designation of properties to the Local Register of Historic Resources (Council District 5)
1.* RESOLUTION - Designating the Ralph and Jenny Watson Home located at 3537 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno, California to the Local Register of Historic Resources
2.* RESOLUTION - Designating the C.M. and Gertrude Prescott Home located at 3707 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno, California to the Local Register of Historic Resources
3.* RESOLUTION - Designating the Fred J. and Mary Dow Home located at 3369 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno, California to the Local Register of Historic Resources
4.* RESOLUTION - Designating the Clarence and Bessie Bernhauer Home located at 3428 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno, California to the Local Register of Historic Resources
5.* RESOLUTION - Designating the F. Rex and Vera Sporleder Home located at 3702 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno, California to the Local Register of Historic Resources
6.* RESOLUTION - Designating the Fred and Virginia Billings Home located at 3650 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno, California to the Local Register of Historic Resources
7.* RESOLUTION - Designating the Eugene and Elsie Brinker Home located at 3965 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno, California to the Local Register of Historic Resources
Body
RECOMMENDATION
The Historic Preservation Commission recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Resolutions designating the C.M. and Gertrude Prescott Home located at 3707 E. Huntington Boulevard; the Fred J. and Mary Dow Home located at 3369 E. Huntington Boulevard; the Ralph and Jenny Watson Home located at 3537 E. Huntington Boulevard; the Clarence and Bessie Bernhauer Home located at 3428 E. Huntington Boulevard; the F. Rex and Vera Sporleder Home located at 3702 E. Huntington Boulevard; the Fred and Virginia Billings Home located at 3650 E. Huntington Boulevard; and the Eugene and Elsie Brinker Home located at 3965 E. Huntington Boulevard to the Local Register of Historic Resources pursuant to FMC 12-1607 and 12-1609.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The property owners for the seven Huntington Boulevard homes (listed above) have all requested in writing that their buildings be considered for designation to Fresno's Local Register of Historic Resources. All of these properties were evaluated with respect to the historic resource criteria of the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance, Fresno Municipal Code (FMC) Article 16 of Chapter 12 and were publicly noticed in the Fresno Bee as required by the Ordinance. The City of Fresno's Historic Preservation Commission held noticed public hearings on July 28, 2014 and August 25, 2014 and concluded that the properties were all eligible for listing on the Local Register. The Commission hereby forwards these nominations to the City Council for consideration.
BACKGROUND
In 2009 property owners along Huntington Boulevard applied to be a historic district pursuant to FMC 12-1610. Progress on the overall district is nearing completion. However, in the interim, staff has encouraged property owners for homes which appear to merit individual listing to apply for Local Register status, while the overall documentation for the District continues. At the July 28, 2014 meeting four properties were reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission and found eligible for designation. At the August 25, 2014 meeting, three additional properties were reviewed and also found eligible for individual listing on the City's Local Register of Historic Resources. As required by the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance, the properties were publicly noticed in the Fresno Bee.
The seven individual properties are as follows:
The Ralph and Jenny Watson Home was constructed in 1922 on Block 17 of the Alta Vista Tract, adjacent to the home constructed in 1912 for Jenny Watson's father, Albert Wishon. The tract was platted in 1911 as a streetcar suburb on either side of the Sunnyside and Recreation Line which had been extended circa 1907 by Albert Graves Wishon, to carry Fresno residents out to his Recreation Park. The two-story home is an excellent example of the Tudor Revival, a style loosely based on a variety of Medieval English prototypes and which was popular in Fresno between the two World Wars. The home appears to be eligible for individual listing on the Local Register as an early building in the Alta Vista Tract (Criterion i), for its association with a family of importance, the Wishons (Criterion ii), and for architectural significance (Criterion iii). Additionally, it is a contributor to the proposed Huntington Boulevard Historic District.
The C.M. and Gertrude Prescott Home is a stunning example of the Tudor Revival style. It was constructed in 1921 for C.M. "Ned" Prescott and family who came to Fresno from Iowa. Ned Prescott and his uncle C.S. Pierce established the Prescott Lumber Company and thereafter Valley Lumber and were active in the early logging of the Hume district. Prescott ran unsuccessfully for Mayor and he and his wife were important in civic and community affairs. Character defining features of the home include the decorative strapwork (non-structural half-timbering) particularly on the westernmost cantilevered second story bay. The Prescott Home (and garage) appear to be eligible for Fresno's Local Register of Historic Resources as an early home in the Alta Vista Tract and a contributor to the proposed historic district (Criterion i); for its association with a pioneer lumber family, the Prescotts (Criterion ii), and for architectural excellence (Criterion iii).
The Fred J. and Mary Dow Home was constructed in 1929 in a Tudor Revival style. The one-story cottage has unique detailing including a scalloped edge bargeboard and Art deco stained glass windows on the exterior and interior. Fred J. Dow was a Fresno pioneer who came to the area in 1885 with his family. Following 20 years with the fruit packing company of Griffin-Skelley he followed other business pursuits and in 1912 established a contracting and building firm, Dow and Cannon. By the time this home was constructed he had considerable experience in "all classes of construction and practical planning," according to an article in the San Joaquin Power Magazine which featured the updated electrical amenities of the residence. The Fred J. and Mary Dow Home appears to be eligible to the Local Register of Historic Resources for its architectural significance (Criterion iii) and is also a contributor to the proposed Huntington Boulevard Historic District (Criterion i).
The Clarence and Bessie Berhauer Home is a full two-story Italian Renaissance style residence which sits on a .5 acre parcel. The façade portico which is supported by Ionic style columns is a particularly striking character-defining feature of the home. The house was built in 1920 and as with other properties along the boulevard previously included private tennis courts. Clarence Bernhauer was the Vice President of the Fresno Planing Mill, one of the most prosperous businesses of its kind in the San Joaquin Valley. The property appears to be eligible for Fresno's Local Register of Historic Resources for its association with the Bernhauer family (Criterion ii); as an excellent example of an architectural style, The Italian Renaissance Revival (Criterion iii); and as an early property and contributor to the proposed Huntington Boulevard Historic District (Criterion i).
The F. Rex and Vera Sporleder Home was constructed in 1926. Rex Sporleder was the owner of the Hollenbeck-Bush Planing Mill which was founded in Fresno in 1890. This distinct home shows stylistic influences from both the Spanish Eclectic as well as the Italian Renaissance Revival. Character-defining features include double French doors which open onto a wrought iron balconet off the master bedroom as well as a hexagonal breakfast nook on the northwest corner of the home. The wrought iron includes a decorative "S" for the original homeowners. The home was constructed by a major contracting firm, Fisher and McNulty, who built numerous homes and commercial buildings of note, including the Pantages Theatre and Twining Laboratories (National Register of Historic Places). The F. Rex and Vera Sporleder Home appears to be eligible to the Local Register of Historic Resources for its association with the owner of the Hollenbeck-Bush Planing Mill (Criterion ii); for its association with an outstanding contracting firm and its architectural character (Criterion iii); and as a contributor to the proposed Huntington Boulevard Historic District (Criterion i).
The Fred and Virginia Billings Home was constructed in 1938 and designed by architect Charles E. Butner. The façade of the residence is rigorously symmetrical, including matching end chimneys. A character defining feature of the home is the portico entrance which is supported by slender Corinthian style columns. Fred Billings with business partner Rhine Meyering acquired the Alta Vista Tract in 1914 and they completed the infrastructure and marketed the subdivision. Billings was also important in civic affairs and among his many credits served as the first chair of the County Planning Commission. Architect Charles E. Butner was trained under the well-known Beaux Arts designer, Paul Cret, and with his former classmate, Edward Glass, formed the architectural firm of Glass and Butner in 1914. The two men were responsible for several notable Fresno buildings including the Fresno Republican Printery Building (now the Downtown Club). The Fred and Virginia Billings Home appears eligible to the Local Register of Historic Resources (Criteria i, ii and iii).
The Eugene and Elsie Brinker Home is a charming Tudor Revival cottage and was constructed in 1930. The first owners and residents were William Eugene and Elsie Brinker. Eugene Brinker was born in Toledo, Ohio and was a co-owner with his mother of the French Furniture Company on Fresno Street. Brinker and his mother also financed the construction of at least two "bungalow courts" in the Tower District. This Huntington Boulevard residence has been attributed to the design-build firm of Taylor-Wheeler, however no proof to date has been found to substantiate this association. Nevertheless, the home with its hexagonal bay window and decorative strapwork is a distinct and interesting expression of the Tudor Revival aesthetic and appears eligible for the Local Register (Criterion iii). It is also a contributor to the proposed Huntington Boulevard Historic District (Criterion i).
Local Register Criteria and Protocols:
The City's Historic Preservation Ordinance is located at Chapter 12, Article 16, Section 1607 outlines the criteria for designation of a resource to the Local Register of Historic Resources. A "historic resource" is "any building, structure, object or site" which is generally more than fifty years of age and "possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association, and:
(i) Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or
(ii) Is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or
(iii) Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction, or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values; or
(iv) Has yielded or may be likely to yield, information in prehistory or history.
The City's criteria for assessing significance are patterned after the National Register of Historic Places (1966 as amended) which uses letters A-D for significance. Fresno's Local Register is also similar, although not equivalent, to the California Register of Historical Resources which uses a numbering system of 1-4 for criteria. Although the concept of "integrity" is not specifically defined in the City's Ordinance, it is implicitly understood to follow the National Register which defines "integrity" as "the ability of a property to convey its significance." "To retain integrity a property will always possess several and usually most, of the aspects" of integrity. ("How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation" 1988:44).
The process for designating a historic resource is outlined in FMC 12-1609. In brief, a request to designate a resource to the Local Register may be made by the Council, the Commission, the Secretary to the Commission, the property owner, or an authorized representative of the owner (12-1609(a).) Applications for listing use the state protocol for survey forms with both a DPR 523A (Primary) as well as a DPR 523B (Building, Structure, Object Form) (12-1609(a)(1-9)). A notice must be published in a local newspaper at least 10 days prior to the hearing and sent to the property owner as well. Commissioners must also physically visit the property prior to the Commission hearing (12-1609(c)(1)).
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
The designation of historic properties is not a "project" for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as it will not result in a direct or indirect change in the environment.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no additional fiscal impact beyond the expenditure of staff time.
Attachments:
1. Designation Criteria for the Local Register of Historic Resources (FMC 12-1607)
2. State of California Primary and BSO Forms for the Ralph and Jenny Watson Home, 3537 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno.
3. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Fresno, California, Designating the Ralph and Jenny Watson Home Located at 3537 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno, California to the Local Register of Historic Resources.
4. State of California Primary and BSO Forms for the C.M. and Gertrude Prescott Home, 3707 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno.
5. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Fresno, California, Designating the C.M. and Gertrude Prescott Home Located at 3707 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno, California to the Local Register of Historic Resources.
6. State of California Primary and BSO Forms for the Fred J. and Mary Dow Home, 3369 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno.
7. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Fresno, California, Designating the Fred J. and Mary Dow Home Located at 3369 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno, California to the Local Register of Historic Resources.
8. State of California Primary and BSO Forms for the Clarence and Bessie Bernhauer Home, 3428 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno.
9. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Fresno, California, Designating the Clarence and Bessie Bernhauer Home Located at 3428 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno, California to the Local Register of Historic Resources.
10. State of California Primary and BSO Forms for the F. Rex and Vera Sporleder Home, 3702 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno.
11. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Fresno, California, Designating the F. Rex and Vera Sporleder Home Located at 3702 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno, California to the Local Register of Historic Resources.
12. State of California Primary and BSO Forms for the Fred and Virginia Billings Home, 3650 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno.
13. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Fresno, California, Designating the Fred and Virginia Billings Home Located at 3650 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno, California to the Local Register of Historic Resources.
14. State of California Primary and BSO Forms for the Eugene and Elsie Brinker Home, 3965 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno.
15. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Fresno, California, Designating the Eugene and Elsie Brinker Home Located at 3965 E. Huntington Boulevard, Fresno, California to the Local Register of Historic Resources.