Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council tables decision on historic listing for former raisin-packing warehouse; property owner opposes designation
Summary
A proposal to list a century-old raisin-packing warehouse on Fresno's local register of historic resources was tabled for two meetings after debate over exterior changes, Mills Act eligibility and preservation trade-offs between retaining historic fabric and reusing the building as self-storage.
The Fresno City Council on Sept. 11 voted 7-0 to table a decision on whether to designate a three-story former raisin packing house as a local historic resource while city staff, the property owner and preservation advocates continue talks.
The property owner, represented on Zoom, said the firm plans to redevelop the building into a self-storage facility and does not want a local historic designation because, after reviewing options including the Mills Act, the owner concluded tax incentives would not offset renovation costs. “We’ve gone through the potential designation and potential Mills Act… it is our stance that we would not like to be designated historic,” the owner said.
City planning staff and preservation advocates outlined the building’s local significance: constructed in 1918 by Rosenberg Packing (a major local raisin packer), it was once among the city’s largest packing operations and is part of Fresno’s agricultural history. Planning staff said exterior changes proposed by the owner — including covering window openings with metal panels to accommodate HVAC and pigeon-proofing — could remove historic exterior features and affect eligibility for local listing.
Staff also explained that designation would not prevent reuse but would trigger review of exterior changes and could make the property eligible for the Mills Act, a property-tax program for preserved historic properties. The owner said the building’s windows are asbestos-ridden and that restoring or replacing them to historic standards would make the project financially infeasible.
Council Vice President Arias moved to table the hearing for two meetings to allow further discussions between the owner, staff and the Historic Preservation Commission; Council Member Richardson seconded the motion. The motion carried 7-0. Council members said they want to explore options such as erecting a plaque or other interpretive signage to recognize the site’s raisin-industry history while minimizing the risk that preservation restrictions would make the redevelopment impossible.
The matter will return to council on Oct. 16 for additional information and potential alternatives.
