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We want to alert you all to a project coming before the Palo Alto Historic Resources Board next Wednesday, September 1. The project proposes to demolish a 1920's house at 405 Lincoln and replace it with a very contemporary dwelling. While the proposed house is interesting and well-designed, the pr= oposed location in the Professorville National Historic District and the resulting demolition of a contributing structure make it objectionable. With few exceptions, most owners in the Professorville Historic District have chosen to maintain their contributing houses or to rebuild in styles that are compatible with existing homes. There are many neighborhoods which have either always been eclectic, Downtown North, for example, or have been so altered in the last building boom as to have lost much of their original character (many parts of Old Palo Alto, or College Terrace, for instance). PAST questions whether it is appropriate to place such an avant-garde structure in a neighborhood that is so proud of its origins and respectful of its cohesiveness.
We urge you to read the Environment Impact Report prepared by the City (the report may take a few minutes to load).
If you feel as we do that this project is not appropriate in Professorville, there are a couple of things you can do.
First, we urge you to attend the HRB meeting on Wednesday, September 1 at 8 a.m. The meeting takes place in the Council Chambers on the first floor of the Civic Center. You may wish to have short remarks prepared.
Alternatively, you can write to the HRB (TODAY!!) with your concerns:
Historic Resources Board
City of Palo Alto
250 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301Please join the Palo Alto Stanford Heritage Board in protecting this cherished neighborhood!
Most of the original homes built in Palo Alto have been lost, but luckily, the families of some owners saved pictures of their houses for futures generations. This one was at 318 Middlefield Road.
Spring 2010
The house at 171 Everett Avenue was on the list to receive a centennial plaque. . . (still under construction in June 2010).
Winter 2010
This small house at the corner of Ruthven and Cowper is gone.
January is not a slow time for demolitions. While the next home is not historic, this Stern and Price home is very representative of tract housing of the 1950s. Built in 1952, it has served its residents well. Some cosmetic up-grades have been made in recent years, but the original built-in ironing board was still there! It was surprising to see how much effort went into leveling this house.. Another similar house, but enlarged, on East Meadow was demolished at the end of December.
Street view of 609 Alger Drive
Back yard of 609 Alger Drive
Entry patio at 609 Alger Drive
p>
Hidden ironing board in kitchen. The metal box at the bottom provided safe storage for a warm iron.
Here today, gone today! January 13
The living/dining room is gone except for the fireplace.
A bedroom and bathroom are all that is left..
Only the redwood rubble remains.
Summer 2009
It was over 100 years old and a charmer that had been relocated south of Colorado in 1949. Check out 2950 Ramona Street!
p>Who remembers what was here?
A new home at 179 Cowper Street will be surrounded by homes built in the earliest years of the 20th century. Photos of those early houses at north end of Cowper Street can be found on the Centennial Houses page.
January 2009
This block of Seale Avenue had some really nice Old Palo Alto homes at one time that reflected what Old Palo Alto used to be—simple, charming, well maintained family homes with a really nice neighborhood feel. This particular group was lived in by various members of a well-known family that still has ties to Palo Alto.
310 Seale
330 and 336 Seale Avenue, smaller, but with lots of charm.
October 2008
Demolitions happen fast! Most houses were gone before a picture could be taken.
548 Barron Avenue— Photos taked October 10, permit issued Sept. 30, 2008
3864 Corina— Photos taken October 9, permit issued September 24, 2008
640 Santa Rita — Photos taken October 9, permit issued September 22, 2008
2296 Saint Francis Drive— permit issued September 15, 2008
For more information or the latest news, call (650) 299-8878.
Or, send us an e-mail.
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