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CULTURAL RESOURCES
1.
SETTING
The site was reviewed for
potential archaeological and historic/architectural significance as part
of the 1988 General Plan Amendment EIR. That documentation is included
by reference and is on file in the City of San Jose Planning
Department. A summary of the information contained in the
Archaeological report is summarized in this section.
As a result of the
information contained in the historic report, the Almaden Winery
site was given a Historic District Overlay designation. Since
the certification of the 1988 General Plan Amendment EIR, the site has
experienced significant changes due to a fire which occurred on June 2,
1989. An updated report on the remaining historic and architectural
resources was prepared by Urban Programmer Inc. for this project. The
consultant has also evaluated the impacts of the proposed project on the
existing historic features of the site. Both documents are included in
Appendix G. The findings of these reports are summarized in the
following text:
a. Archaeological
Resources
An Archaeology Report was prepared for this site. No prehistoric
deposits are known or suspected to exist on the site, although
it is possible that buried prehistoric artifacts could exist on
the property. Other studies conducted in the vicinity have identified
nine small cultural deposits or isolated artifacts within a one mile
radius of the property.
A review of historic data indicates that several sets of buildings
have existed on the subject property in the past, and that the winery
property used to include lands now occupied by the Cinnabar and
Vineland Schools. It is suspected that historic era trash deposits,
foundation elements of former structures or outhouse shafts could be
present on the site, particularly near the Original Winery Building
(Bldg. 29, in Figure 12).
b. Historical and
Architectural Resources
Site Background and
Resources
The Almaden Winery site is a designated California Registered
Landmark No. 505 in recognition of the premium winemaking industry
established by Charles Le Franc in the 1850's. The Landmark plaque
states:
“ALMADEN WINERY
On
this site in 1852, Charles Le Franc made the first commercial
planting of five European wine grapes in Santa Clara County to
found Almaden Vineyard. Le Franc imported cuttings from vines in the
celebrated wine districts of his native France, shipping them by sailing
ship around the Horn.”
II-32
The State Landmark designation does not, however, specify
whether a particular portion of the site, or the entire Almaden
parcel is considered under the Landmark designation. Therefore,
the entire site has been assumed to be the designated landmark,
and of historical significance. The site is also listed in the
Santa Clara County Historical Heritage Resource Inventory as
significant by the County Historical Heritage Commission.
The Almaden Winery is the second oldest winery in the
State of California, and the oldest, continuously operating
winery in the Santa Clara Valley. The primary period of historical
significance for the winery is considered to be 1856-1887. It is
during this period that Le Franc began cultivating vines on the
site and importing varietal vines from France to begin the
commercial wine industry in the Santa Clara Valley. He increased the
production of premium wines to make his New Almaden Vineyards one of the
largest and most respected wineries in the state. For his contributions,
Charles Le Franc is considered the "Father of Commercial Winemaking in
the Santa Clara Valley."
Figure 12 presents an aerial view of the site taken in 1985. The
buildings on the west half of the site were utilitarian and of minor
architectural or historical importance. They included industrial style
metal shed buildings which housed the bottling and wine making
activities. They have been dismantled and this portion of the site is
now vacant (Refer to Figure 2A).
Current Conditions of the Site:
On June 2, 1989, a fire destroyed the sandstone 1876 winery building,
the wooden building that enclosed it and other small associated
buildings and trees. The winery was considered possibly the oldest
sandstone structure in Santa Clara County and was considered a historic
resource of great significance. Remnants of the large redwood
structural timbers and metal hardware were virtually all that remained
after the fire. Also destroyed by the fire was the Centennial Cask of
1876 that had been stored in the 1876 winery building.
Remaining structures in the middle portion of the site are the Original
1850's Winery, the Ranch House and an administrative office building
built in the 1970's. A description of the two remaining historic
buildings is included in the following text.
Original 1850's Winery (Building 29 in Figure 12)
This linear building appears to have been constructed during the 1850's
and was expanded by later development. Built into the knoll, the
building is variously described in literature as having natural adobe,
rubble, or brick walls. In different places and at different times, all
may have been correct. At present, the building exhibits exterior walls,
primarily of brick, with some wood sheathing. Rehabilitated in 1985 to
achieve a level of seismic stability and to provide the first public
tasting and sales room, the building retains the architectural integrity
of the original design. Constructed as Le Francis original winery, this
building is one of the most historically significant buildings in the
Santa Clara Valley.
Ranch House (Building 32 in Figure 12)
This structure is of a much later time period than the original 1850's
Winery or 1876 Winery buildings, but it is a more handsome architectural
example, as a whole. The building is a board batten structure, with a
cross-gabled roof with a wooden tower. A covered, recessed porch
highlights one of the building wings. The building is almost an
archetype of the western ranch style home. Although this building is of
much less historic importance than the previous two buildings
discussed, the architectural purity of the Ranch House heightens its
status.
Trees and Landscaping
Most of the mature vegetation that was installed during the operation of
the winery still remains in the central historic core area. This
includes a Fig, a Pepper, and five Olive trees which have been
designated Heritage Trees by the City of San Jose. The Mission Fig,
located adjacent to the Ranch House, may have been planted by
Etienne Thee, Charles Le Franc's partner, in the early years of
the site's occupation. Other landscape features include large mature
Oaks, hedges, lawns and an extensive rose garden. All of the vineyards
have been removed. Two rows of mature Cedars exist along the southern
perimeter of the site, to the south and east of the office building
(Refer to Figure 12). Two rows of Olive trees exist along the west side
of the existing main driveway, extending to the south boundary. While
these Olives are not designated heritage trees, they are
distinctive in that they reflect a historic planting pattern which is
associated with the development of the Winery.
Review Criteria
The Almaden Winery has been reviewed to determine if the site
possesses historical significance based on the criteria of the City of
San Jose and the National Register of Historic Places. The site
has already been registered as a State Landmark. As discussed
previously, the State Landmark designation does not specify
whether part or all of the Almaden property is considered
under the landmark designation. The full discussion of the historic
analysis is included in the 1988 General Plan EIR; its findings are
summarized in the following text.
The City's criteria for designating an historic landmark require that a
property exhibit:
Special historical, architectural, cultural, aesthetic or
engineering interest or value of an historical nature, and
that its designation as a landmark conforms with the goals
and policies of the General Plan.
In
order to be evaluated for listing on the National Register,
buildings or areas must be significant for their historical,
architectural, archaeological, engineering, or cultural
values that maintain their integrity through location,
design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and
association and:
- are
associated with events that have made a
significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or
- are
associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or
- embody
the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method
of construction, or that represent the work of a master,
or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a
significant or distinguishable entity whose components lack
individual distinction; or
- have
yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in
prehistory or history.
In reviewing the Almaden
Winery against City and Federal criteria for evaluation, three issues
must be addressed:
· Identification
of the period and unit of significance; and
· The
quantity and quality of contemporary buildings and structures in
relationship to those older than 50 years; and
· Alterations
to the historic buildings older than 50 years.
The first consideration relates to defining a period of significance.
If the winery consists primarily of contemporary buildings, that lack
significance, and if the site, by virtue of associations is considered
important, the period of significance would be that time during which
the most important events or associations occurred. As stated in the
State Historic Landmark plaque, the prime significance is attributed
to the activities of Charles Le Franc. The most important period is
defined as the initial operation and its relationship with founder
Charles Le Franc. Therefore, the prime period of historical
significance is the time associated with Le Franc, between 1852 and
1887.
Buildings, trees, vines, and other features associated with Le Franc
during this period are considered to be of prime significance. The
central historic unit of significance would include the 1850's winery
building, pepper and olive trees, vines and the spatial relationship of
the area which connects these features (Figure13). The 1850's original
winery building which still remains, is considered one of the most
significant historic buildings in California. The effect of the fire did
not diminish the historical significance of the site; it only changed
the context. With the loss of the 1876 winery building, it becomes more
important to consider the supporting historic trees, plantings and
topography, as significant contributors to the sense of history
communicated by the remaining winery features.
The second consideration relates to the number of contemporary
buildings, landscaping features, and industrial structures that dominate
the buildings over 50 years old. The impact of the newer buildings is
lessened only by the mature trees and remaining vineyards that provide a
level of historic identification. The contemporary buildings and
structures do not meet the criteria of the historic designation.
Therefore, it is appropriate to consider a smaller unit, where the
historic buildings are separated from the contemporary industrial
development to determine if they retain both historic and architectural
context and integrity. While all of the designated heritage trees are
located near the historic buildings, it is important to consider the
trees, plantings and topography contained throughout the site in that
they communicate a sense of the historic planting pattern.
The third area for consideration is the alterations to the historic
buildings. The original winery has been extensively altered. The
original winery appears to have had four enlargements, the last as
recent as the 1930's. In addition, it has been structurally upgraded
within the past 8 years, and this work was sensitive to the historic
fabric and character of the building. The concern for architectural
integrity can be overcome by noting that additions of the 1930's, while
they are outside the period of significance as it relates to Charles Le
Franc, were accomplished over 50 years ago and can be considered to show
the buildings evolution. Removing the additions would make a stronger
case for integrity of the historic structure, but is not essential to
determine significance.
c. Summary
As discussed previously, the site is a designated California Registered
Landmark, although it is not clear whether that designation applies to
all, or a portion of the Almaden property. Therefore, the entire site
is assumed as historically significant, since the winery has
been in continuous operation since its inception.
When evaluated against the criteria of the National Register of Historic
Places and the City of San Jose Historic Landmark program, the site's
historic association and unit of significance (the portion of the site
containing the 1850's winery, Heritage Fig, Pepper and Olive trees)
render the historic unit a significant cultural resource. The unit of
significance would also be eligible for listing in the National Register
of Historic Places.
The more modern office building and ranch house exhibit distinctive
characteristics, however, the 1850's winery is an example of archaic
construction that embody methods and materials no longer in
common use. When taken as a unit, the original winery, and the plantings
remaining from the early years of the winery, establish a
distinguishable entity of greater distinction than any of the individual
components.
When the City of San Jose Historic Landmark Criteria is applied, it
is found that Almaden Winery, by virtue of the association with
Charles Le Franc and the importance of the winery in the local
economy would qualify the site for designation. Further consideration
of the importance of the c. 1850's winery building shows that this
building would individually qualify for designation.
The original winery building is of prime historical significance and the
significance has not diminished as a result of the loss of the 1876
winery. The effect of the fire on the historic winery is in the change
to the context of the site. With the loss of the 1876 winery, it becomes
even more important to consider the supporting historic trees, plantings
and topography as significant contributors to the sense of history
communicated by the remaining winery building.
To reinforce the context of the historic area and Original Winery,
historic plant patterns, specifically the olive trees not within the
area of greatest significance should be integrated into the new
development. Using the historic pattern of bordering the main
street, and where possible set in multiple rows, would help
communicate the historic orchard pattern. Vines and roses would also
enhance the sense of the history and the viniculture heritage of the
site. However, it is important to note, that the use of Olive trees in
public-rights-of way is discouraged because the fruit droppings result
in maintenance problems (Phone conversation with Marc Bodoin, City
Arborist, August 29, 1989). Olive trees can be sprayed to eliminate
fruit production, but this is also considered a high maintenance effort
which is currently not considered under the street maintenance budget.
The designated street tree on Blossom Hill Road is the Chinese Pistache.
2. IMPACTS
a. Archaeological
Resources
While no archaeological resources are known to exist on the site, it is
possible that historic or prehistoric artifacts are buried on the
property. Project excavation could disturb such resources. This would
be a significant impact which can be reduced to an non-significant level
with mitigation.
b. Historical and Architectural Resources
Since the existing winery facility had been in continuous
operation from the 1800's, any disturbance of the site would result in
significant historic impacts which could not be mitigated to a less
than significant level. This would be an unavoidable Significant Impact
The proposed single-family project does not involve the removal of
historic buildings, and is located outside the Central Historic Unit or
Area of Historic Significance around the original winery. However, the
development will involve removal or disturbance of the historic unit,
consisting of trees and selected plantings such as the removal of two
rows of Olive trees. The historic unit is considered worthy of
protection based on its historical merits and relation to City, State
and Federal Criteria. The loss and/or disturbance to these historic
resources would be a significant impact which could be reduced to a
non-significant level with mitigation.
The development of two-story residential units may visually impact the
area of historic significant. This represents a potentially significant
impact which would be reduced to a non-significant level with
mitigations.
MITIGATION MEASURES
The
following mitigation measures, as proposed by the project, would reduce
the adverse impacts.
a. Archaeological
An archaeological monitor shall be present during any excavation
activity that is conducted east of the existing chain link fence.
Standard archaeological monitoring procedures shall be followed as
described in the 1988 General Plan EIR (incorporated by reference).
b.
Historic/Architectural
The landscape and perimeter/entry along Blossom Hill Road will
incorporate a historic planting pattern of Olive trees and rose vines.
While most of the Olive trees will be removed, the tree mitigation
proposes to replace them in accordance with City of San Jose
tree mitigation guidelines (See Biotics Section for a description of
condition of trees). The entry monument will incorporate remnants of
historic sandstone taken from the 1876 ruins and other historic details
from the site, including the Historic Landmark plaque.
The project will retain all the existing vegetation within the area of
historic significance. This helps provide a natural buffer between
that area and the new two-story residences fronting onto the
southerly extension of Dartmouth Way, which will mitigate the
potential visual impacts to the area of historic significance. The
added distance of the 60 ft. street and front yard setbacks provide an
additional buffer and mitigation. The landscape plan for this buffer
will incorporate plant materials and a design approach compatible
to the existing landscaping found in the area of historic
significance. The landscaping to be included within the 60 ft. street
right-of-way will increase the visual buffer for the historic buildings.
The building which will be closest to the new homes is the
administration building which is not considered as historically
significant as the other two buildings.
The project will maintain the two rows of mature Cedar which border the
south property line, south and east of the administration building.
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