Board designates 137 East Santa Fe Avenue a 'significant' building, with exclusions for nonhistoric additions

The Santa Fe Historic Districts Review Board voted May 13 to designate the house at 137 East Santa Fe Avenue in the Don Gaspar historic district as a ‘significant’ structure, while excluding a rear mudroom and several nonhistoric materials from the primary‑facade protection.

Staff recommended the upgrade after a review of the building’s age, architectural integrity and historical associations; the house was described in the staff report as an intact bungalow/Craftsman with distinctive brickwork and notable historic associations with local families. In discussion the board considered whether the mudroom — a later utilitarian addition — should disqualify the whole house from significant status; staff and members noted the mudroom is historic in age but not a defining architectural feature.

Why it matters: A ‘significant’ designation carries stronger protections for primary facades and conveys a higher preservation priority than the more common ‘contributing’ designation. The board’s decision will affect how future alterations to the house are reviewed.

Key details: Staff recommended the residence be labeled significant, retaining primary facades while excluding the rear mudroom and nonhistoric materials (vinyl soffit, fascia, simulated siding). Several board members supported the significant designation because of the building’s preserved bungalow features and historic associations; one board member voted against the motion, expressing concern about the number of altered elements.

Board action: Vice Chair Bienvenu moved to adopt staff’s recommendation that the property be designated significant with exclusions noted; Member Degnan seconded. A roll call vote recorded one dissenting vote (Member Beachy) and the motion passed.

Public input: Neighbors and descendants with long family ties to the property addressed the board in support of preservation; an owner representative and the project architect spoke to the building’s integrity and to proposed exclusions for later materials.

What’s next: The designation will be recorded in the city’s historic property inventory and used in future design reviews. Staff said they are updating the status map used by the division; board members encouraged staff to continue annual map updates rather than multi‑year batches.

Vote: Motion passed (yes: Member Cherry; Member Degnan; Member Aguilar Medrano; Vice Chair Bienvenu; no: Member Beachy).