REPORT TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION August 26, 2024 FROM: ASHLEY ATKINSON, Assistant Director Planning and Development Department BY: LISHA CHEN, Historic Preservation Specialist Planning and Development Department SUBJECT ..Title Consideration of the Property Owner's Request to Recommend City Council Designation of the Following Property to the Local Register of Historic Resources and Adoption of Findings Pursuant to FMC 12-1607 & FMC 12-1609. 1. 914 F Street (APN 46707111) ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Historic Preservation Commission recommend to the City Council the designation of the following property to the Local Register of Historic Resources. * 914 F Street (Assessor Parcel Number: 46707111) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Application of designation was filled by the property owner to designate the property located at 914 F Street as a local Historic Resource. The property located at 914 F Street was evaluated and found eligible for local registration under Fresno Municipal Code Sec. 12-1607 Criteria a(i) and (iv). It is associated with a significant event, and it has the potential to yield information important to the history of the Japanese American community in Fresno. BACKGROUND 914 F Street The property at 914 F Street is one-half of a single-story commercial building. It is in the Chinatown district of the City of Fresno, suited on the north side of F Street, near its intersection with Kern Street. Fresno's Chinatown has been a focal point for various immigrant communities since the late 19th century. By the 1890s, Japanese immigrants began to settle in Chinatown, contributing to its cultural and economic diversity. The Japanese community in Fresno grew significantly through the early 20th century, despite facing intense discrimination and exclusionary policies, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, Executive Order 9066, and the Asiatic Exclusion League's efforts to curb Asian immigration. The commercial building at 914-920 F Street, constructed around 1900, is emblematic of this history. Initially, it was a large space that housed a pool hall. By 1906, the building was divided into two separate commercial spaces, with "Japanese Female Boarding," likely prostitution cribs, flanking the building. In 1910, repairs were made, and the building continued to be rented out to various tenants. In 1928, it was transformed into a caf� owned by the Nakamoto family. The caf�, known as the Sunrise Caf�, operated until 1942, when the Nakamoto family was interned following the signing of Executive Order 9066 during World War II. Analysis Any building, structure, object or site may be designated as an Historic Resource if it is found by the Commission and Council to meet the FMC SEC. 12-1607. - Designation Criteria. (1) It has been in existence more than fifty years, and it possesses aspects of integrity to convey its significance based upon location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling or association, and: (i) It is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or (ii)It is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or (iii) It 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) It has yielded or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. (2) It has been in existence less than fifty years, it meets the criteria of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section and is of exceptional importance within the appropriate historical context, local, state or national. The building was constructed around 1900, making it more than 120 years old. Although the building has had numerous alterations, it still maintains sufficient integrity in its location, setting, and association to convey its historic significance. This integrity ensures that the building continues to serve as a meaningful link to the past, capable of telling the story of the Japanese American experience in Fresno's Chinatown and that community's broader contribution to the city's history. The building is associated with significant historical events, particularly related to the Japanese American community in Fresno. The history of Japanese immigration, Japanese American economic contributions to Chinatown development, and the impact of World War II internment on the Japanese community align with significant events in American history. The transformation of the Nakamoto family's Sunrise Caf� to the Victory Caf� during World War II represents a broader pattern of American history, especially the internment of Japanese Americans and the adaptation of businesses during wartime. Secondly, the building has the potential to yield information important to the history of the Japanese American community in Fresno, especially regarding the impact of World War II and the internment experience on local businesses. Given these points, the property at 914 F Street meets the criteria (i) and (iv) for historic designation under the Fresno Municipal Code Sec. 12-1607. Additionally, the other half of the building, located at 920 F Street, was designated as a local historic resource in 2012, further strengthening the case for designating 914 F Street. The designation of 914 F Street will reinforce the integrity and significance of the entire building located at 914-920 F Street. Duties and Powers of the Commission SEC. 12-1606. - DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. (a) The primary duties of the Commission shall be: (1) The identification, designation and preservation of Historic Resources and Historic Districts owned by the city or located within the city limits; (b)The Commission shall have the following additional duties and powers: (1) Conduct studies and evaluations of applications requesting the designation of Historic Districts, make determinations and recommendations as appropriate for consideration of such applications in order to effectuate the purposes of this article. SEC. 12-1609. - HISTORIC RESOURCES. (c) Commission Hearing: (1) The Commission shall review all materials prepared and submitted and only members of the Commission who have physically visited and seen the proposed property may vote on the designation recommendation. (2) At the conclusion of the hearing, the Commission shall recommend to the Council approval, disapproval or modification of the proposal for designation and make findings in support of that recommendation; or the Commission may continue the hearing. (3) An affirmative roll call vote of a majority of the authorized membership of the Commission is required for a recommendation to the City Council. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS The designation 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. FRESNO MUNICIPAL CODE FINDINGS The property located at 914 F Street was evaluated and found eligible for local registration under Fresno Municipal Code Sec. 12-1607 Criteria a(i) and (iv). CONCLUSION Staff recommends that the Historic Preservation Commission recommend to the City Council the designation of the following property to the Local Register of Historic Resources: * 914 F Street (Assessor Parcel Number: 46707111) ATTACHMENTS Exhibit A - 914 F St Application for Designation of an Historic Resource Exhibit B - 914 F St Letter of Owner Authorization Exhibit C - 914 F St Updated DPR Inventory Forms Exhibit D - 914-920 F St 2006 DPR Inventory Forms Exhibit E - 914 F St Public Hearing Notice & Noticing Map Exhibit F - Fresno Municipal Code Designation Criteria & Process