Fans of the century-old Immigrant House later this week will urge the Mountain View City Council to grant formal historic status to the humble cottage that formerly housed farm laborers. The Council will consider the historic recognition at their regular session at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 27.
The action comes as the latest step to recognize and preserve the tiny 300-square-foot building. About three years ago, an office development threatened to raze the structure, but a passionate group of volunteers pressed the city to find some way to save it as a relic of the city's agricultural past.
The final home for the building is still a work in process. The Immigrant House is destined to be the centerpiece of a new city park that is still being built at 771 N. Rengstorff Ave. The house is expected to be moved to the new park sometime next year.
On Tuesday, the Mountain View City Council is expected to approve adding the Immigrant House to the city's Register of Historic Resources, a list that includes sites such as the Adobe Building, St. Joseph's Church and the Rengstorff House. Getting added to that register is important, supporters say, because it will help win grants to repair and maintain the structure.
Earlier this month, city staff and members of the Friends of Immigrant House submitted an application for $50,000 in grant funding from the Santa Clara County Historical Heritage Commission. The historical commission is currently reviewing the application.
Comments
Old Mountain View
on Oct 27, 2015 at 12:20 pm
on Oct 27, 2015 at 12:20 pm
I cannot believe some people are expecting taxpayers to pay $50K for the preservation of this shack. It is not historical and nobody cares! Tear it down.
Waverly Park
on Oct 27, 2015 at 1:34 pm
on Oct 27, 2015 at 1:34 pm
We get it -- you didn't actually READ the article.
Too bad for that, because you would have learned something.
Sylvan Park
on Oct 27, 2015 at 2:37 pm
on Oct 27, 2015 at 2:37 pm
They could probably rent it out for 3K per month