HomeMy WebLinkAbout034-2017RESOLUTION NO. 34-2017
DESIGNATING THE JAMES ROOT HOUSE AS A DANVILLE HERITAGE
RESOURCE (APN: 199-330-011 - CRAIG & CARA CHASE)
WHEREAS, Craig & Cara Chase are the owners of the property identified as 90
Railroad Avenue; and
WHEREAS, on June 14, 2010 the Danville Planning Commission and Heritage Resource
Commission jointly approved Development Plan request DEV08-0062 which served to
allow the construction of a new 3,144 +/- square foot building to the rear of the lot; and
WHEREAS, the approval also provided for the restoration of the James Root House;
and
WHEREAS, the restoration of the James Root House was satisfactorily completed; and
WHEREAS, the Danville Heritage Resource Commission held a public hearing on
February 13, 2014, and approved Heritage Resource Commission Resolution No. 2014-
01 recommending that the Town Council designate the James Root House as a Danville
Heritage Resource; and
WHEREAS, the property owners Craig & Cara Chase have consented to the
designation of the James Root House as a Danville Heritage Resource; and
WHEREAS, Section 32-72 of the Danville Municipal Code (Historic Preservation)
establishes criteria for designation of a heritage resource; and
WHEREAS, the history of the James Root House includes the following:
1. The structure was built by Joel Haden Boone, a direct descendent of Daniel
Boone, sometime in the late 1800s.
2. In 1901, Joel's daughter, Ina, and her husband, James Root, moved into the
structure.
3. The house was moved from North Hartz Avenue to Linda Lane in 1950 when a
gas station purchased the property where the structure was originally located.
4. In the early 1950s, the house was used as a gift shop and has been used for
business ever since, typical of many residential structures in the District.
5. Next door, on the corner at 120 West Linda Mesa Avenue, is the Austin Root
House, built by Austin Root, the son of James Root.
6. The Roots were an important family in Danville history and are related to other
19th century pioneers including the Boone and Love families. They owned local
businesses downtown, worked in agriculture, were active as firemen and
American Legion members. James Sr. and his son, Austin, started the Mt. Diablo
Dairy in 1931 and the 1925 Sanborn Map shows a dairy on Linda Mesa, west of
the two Root houses, presumably theirs. James Root's wife, Viola Root, was the
local telephone operator from 1917 to 1952.
7. The James Root House was constructed in Queen Anne Cottage Style. This style
was a more affordable version of the Queen Anne Style and developed in
response to growing populations throughout America and California at the time.
In Danville, the style was quite common at the turn of the century.
RESOLVED, that the Danville Town Council designates the James Root House located
at 90 Railroad Avenue as a Danville Heritage Resource.
APPROVED by the Danville Town Council at a regular meeting held on May 2, 2017"
by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
Arnerich, Blackwell, Morgan, Stepper, Storer
None
None
None
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
0
TOWN ATTORNEY
PAGE 2 OF RESOLUTION NO. 34-2017