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History could foil ballpark proposal

EIR uncovers Sunlite may have landmark status

By Monica Heger

History buffs may end up thanking San Jose for its efforts to build a ballpark.

Public comments for the environmental impact report have revealed that the old Sunlite Baking Company building, which sits on the proposed ballpark site, could be historically significant and a candidate for both the state and national register of historic buildings and city landmark status. The former bakery is architecturally significant because it has distinctive characteristics of the Art Moderne style that was popular in the 1930s.

This discovery has extended the EIR comment period until Oct. 12, and the draft EIR has been re-circulated to include the new information.

"In effect, the public review process worked," project manager Dennis Korabiak said.

The new information found that architect Ralph Wyckoff designed the building. In San Jose, Wyckoff is best known for designing the post office near St. James Park, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. He also designed the science building on the campus of San José State University, the San Jose National Bank Building at Market and Santa Clara streets and the Moderne Drugstore Building at Second and Santa Clara streets.

Since the discovery, the language in the EIR was changed to indicate the ballpark project would have a significant impact on the building. The incorporation of the building into the project is not feasible because it is located in the middle of the proposed ball field.

Mitigation measures include relocating the building, documenting the building in the Historic American Buildings Survey and salvaging the architectural elements to an appropriate agency or museum. The relocation of the building is the only option that would preserve the building; the other options would involve demolishing the building.

Korabiak said relocation was not a possibility because the building was too large.

Copies of the EIR have been recirculated to all branches of the public library, the Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement, and it is also available online at www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/eir/ eir.asp.

Comments about the revised portions of the EIR should be submitted to Michael Rhoades in the Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement by Oct. 12 at michael.rhoades@sanjoseca.gov or by fax at 408.292.6055 or by regular mail at 200 E. Santq Clara St., 3rd floor, San Jose, CA 95113.