Technology and innovation can represent the present of San Jose and its future, but well before the micropuce redesign the identity of the city, it has amassed a Chief of cultural and historical jewels – According to lighter inventions like fruit salad And EGGO waffles the emblematic moments of the civil rights movement – that the conservatives continue to fight to keep their hands.
Dana Peak, an agent of historic preservation of the city, said that many people did not think that San Jose has a story or that there is something to preserve. But although this is not a city of the coast is founded by the pilgrims, she said that San Jose had her own unique story to tell.
May marks the month of historical preservation and the theme is the power of place, which means how history can move people, develop how they see the world and build a feeling of belonging, said Peak.
“I think it is really important that we are guards for the next generation and that we ensure that the physical incarnation of all the stories is high and preserved,” said Peak. “Much preservation is not going towards the federal government but towards more inclusiveness and which can tell the story, of which it is a question of history, and edifying more of a story where there are many different layers and points of view.”
From literature and music to interesting architectural components, town planning officials said that San Jose had a broad and diversified history beyond its designation as the capital of Silicon Valley, including being a city of many first which have nothing to do with technology.
For example, before Del Monte was marketed fruit cocktails in 1938, Herbert Gray created the product of the Barron-Gray Packing Co. in the South Fifth and Martha streets in 1930. Frank Dorsa also created the Waffle Eggo in San Jose, and its factory at 475 EGGO WAY has already been offered to be added to the inventory of historical resources.
San Jose is home to the Century 21 Theater at 3161 Olsen Drive, the emblematic dome structure built in 1963 which was a first of its kind. As a local benchmark listed on the Californian register of historic places, Peak said it was the last cinema in the dome in the Bay region.
The city also has a rich history of arts and culture.
Low Rider Magazine The registered office was at 282 rue Willow after Sonny Madrid, Larry Gonzalez and David Nunez founded the publication in 1977 centered on the culture of Chicano, including cars, music, fashion and political questions.
The other notable places in the city include 285 S. 12th St., the craftsman style house that Tom Johnston, founder and principal singer of the rock group The Doobie Brothers, rented during the attendance of the San Jose State University and the study of graphics. Cassady house on Santa Clara Street was known as a meeting place for the generation of Beat, including Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac.
A house lived by Tommie SmithA member of the “Speed City” athletics program by San Jose State and the Olympians who gained notoriety for his salvation of “black power” at the 1968 Olympic Games, also has the status of City Landmark. Although Smith and his teammate John Carlos were originally criticized for the gesture, they later became civil rights icons for their stand.
Peak said that the municipal council, the historic commission or the owner of ownership can initiate the historic designation, which requires that a historic resources consultant documents and assesses ownership on the basis of eight specific criteria.
“Historical buildings offer us a way to discover the history and history of our cities which are different from San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley,” said Peak. “We have our own story and it’s the way to connect with our community and give us roots.”
The city has recently completed historic surveys and interactive history cards for areas of Alviso,, Martha gardens And Five injuries.
During the last year, the municipal council approved several notable historical designations, notably Grace Baptist Church, which is renowned for its history of inclusiveness and will of several decades to help all races, sexes and denominations. The church also contains the only surviving pipe organ of the Liberty Theater.
“What is new becomes old,” said church moderator Jeanne Wardrip last year. “It doesn’t mean we throw it away.”
After an expectation of more than 20 years, the Schiele Avenue / Alameda Park district became the sixth district to receive the status of monument after Hensley, Lakehouse, Reed, River Street and St. James Square. The district – with Queen Anne, Tudor, Craftsman and the Spanish Renaissance homes in the late 1800s – was the first designation of the historic district granted since 2007.
However, in the process, he raised a debate according to which the conservatives often heard about the question of whether the conservation of history is at the expense of future development.
“We consider historical preservation as it is not like a choice,” said Ben Leech, executive director of preserving the action of the action of preservation. “It is often considered” why we have to save for the past or build for the future “. It is a false choice because there is room to make both. »»
Although he recognized that San Jose needed housing, Leech was largely satisfied with the efforts of the city and developers to recognize that historic buildings can contribute to future needs.
He pointed out Passerelle tour projectA development of affordable housing for mixed use approved this year at 470 S. Market St. who pays tribute to Charles “Doc” Herrold, a pioneer of radio broadcasting. Herrold’s KQW station later became known as KCBS.
“Cities are intrinsically more interesting and vibrant when there are strata of history,” said Leech.
Leech hopes that San Jose officials will continue to preserve historical buildings more easily and see the benefits of reuse of buildings.
Although Leech pushed the city to offer adaptive reuse incentives, he said that he had seen developers carrying out the advantages of existing historical buildings and that the Conservatives did not only ask them to save the structure for the history of history.
“I think we see it going with Jay Paul looking at the CityView project,” said Leech. “It is clear that buildings have a functional life and use, even if they are not architectural stellar.