944-946 University Way

San Jose, Department of Parks and Recreation [DPR] Form, 2022

Located in San Jose’s historic College Park neighborhood, the property at 944-46 University Way was built circa 1890 as a single-family residence and was designed in an eclectic Queen Anne and/or Shingle Style of architecture with Victorian Period details. The property was first owned and occupied by the Draper family, who were farmers. By the mid-1940s, however, the building had been sold and subdivided into three residential units, and two additional units were constructed in the rear yard, for a total of five households residing on the property from this time until approximately 2020. Brewster Historic Preservation was retained by the current owners to evaluate the potential historical significance of the property at local, state, and national levels in anticipation of a project that would renovate, expand, and relocate the residence on the lot while constructing two new Accessory Dwelling Units in the rear yard. After an extensive research and survey effort, Brewster Historic Preservation recommended that while 944-946 University Avenue meets the minimum age threshold for potential listing as a historical resource, it would not qualify for such listing because it does not meet any of the federal, state, or local register evaluation criteria. In addition, the property exhibits low-to-moderate physical integrity due to the numerous incompatible alterations which occurred primarily during the Post-War Period.