History of the PHRC

Palm Haven residents formed the Committee (originally named the “Palm Haven Restoration Committee”) in 2002 and have been improving the neighborhood ever since. This brief summary is intended to introduce new residents to our mission and functions, and to update everyone on our accomplishments and plans.

Committee Memberships and Meetings

The membership of the Committee is open to all homeowners and residents of Palm Haven. The Committee generally meets twice a year. Notice of the meetings is posted in the “Nextdoor” neighborhood bulletin board at www.palmhavenca.nextdoor.com

Brief History

The Palm Haven neighborhood was developed as a “residence park”. It was just over 100 years ago, on March 15, 1913, that the public was invited to inspect the tract and purchase lots. (Residents interested in the early history of Palm Haven will find a wonderful book on the neighborhood, Palm Haven, by residents Michael Borbely and Brian Hoffman, in the Images of America series.

But by 2002, the signature Palm Haven pillars were seriously dilapidated. All the flower planters and lanterns were missing along with many of the wood and plaster details. The picture at the right shows the appearance of a typical pillar at that time.

In January of 2002, Rosemarie Delson called a meeting in the park to get neighbors together to see what could be done to improve the pillars’ appearance. A second meeting was held at a church (no longer there) on Broadway Court near Coe Avenue, and a committee was formed. Upon careful consideration, the committee decided that the correct way to restore the pillars was to adhere to the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Historic Restoration. The Palm Haven Restoration Committee was formed, the Mission Statement adopted, officers elected, and work started towards the goal of restoration. 

Accomplishments

The first President of the PHRC was Michael Borberly who presided over the meetings, spearheaded the design, interfaced with the City of San Jose, and acted as project manager, overseeing the construction and restoration, and organizing neighborhood work parties.

1.      Pillar restoration

Seven pillars were repaired and fully restored to their original condition. This work included the following steps:

 

•        Re-poured foundations; fixed and righted pillars where necessary
•        Repaired damage to pillar structures
•        Refinished with a historically accurate finish
•        Restored existing redwood arms and replaced missing arms with new solid redwood and cedar members
•        Purchased and installed new lanterns
•        Connected pillars to city electrical power
•        Using new forms, fabricated new domes and urns for installation on the pillars
•        Planted the new urns with rosemary plants

2.  Landscaping improvements

•       Concrete around pillars was broken up and removed where present
•       Park strip adjacent to pillars restored with grass, and irrigation installed where necessary
•        Area around the pillar in the park re-landscaped and sprinkler system  modified (to prevent the foundation from sinking)
•       Pathway installed across the corner of the park (to delimit the landscape from the grass in the rest of the park)
•   Electrical and irrigation control boxes, which had been adjacent to the pillar, were moved to a more discrete location hidden by bushes

3.  Streetscape improvements

•  The city wanted to replace the original “candy-cane” style streetlamps with newer versions. The PHRC worked with the city to restore and preserve the original “candy-cane” portions of the poles and pair them with newer poles and lanterns consistent with their historical character.
•     In parallel, the industrial sign posts for street signs and stop signs were replaced with other signs that were deemed to be more compatible with our historical neighborhood. 
• The Committee designed and installed the historical plaque that was installed at the corner of the Palm Haven park.

4.  Heritage tree designation 

•  Palm Haven’s original trees in public spaces (in the park, in parking strips, and in the median) were added to the City of San Jose’s list of Heritage Trees. This provides recognition of their importance to san Jose’s history, heightened legal protections for the trees, and ensures that regular maintenance is funded. The group of 356 trees is by far the single largest group of trees to be added to the list of Heritage Trees.

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Financials

The total cost of the project work has been approximately $130,000. The  main sources of financing have been:

• Grants from San Jose’s Community Action and Pride (CAP)
•  Grants from San Jose Beautiful 
•   Money raised by neighborhood-sponsored homes tours
•   Donations from private individuals and businesses
•   Sales of greeting cards, pillar mementos, and pillar key chains
•   Proceeds from coordinated yard sales
•    Special events and auctions

Celebrations

• Starting with the U.S. Bicentennial on July 4, 1976, we have had a Fourth of July Parade and Picnic in the Park every year. (This is not a PHRC event per se, but is organized by many PHRC members).
•  There was a community party on July 25, 2004 to officially relight the lanterns in the pillars to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the restoration project.
•  In December of 2007 we celebrated the completion of the second phase of the project, and unveiled the historical plaque. The plaque itself was installed and dedicated in a ceremony in the park on December 21, 2008.
•  On September 21, 2013 the PHRC sponsored a Centennial Celebration to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of Palm Haven.

On-going activities        

•  Watering the rosemary plants in the urns at the pillars. (This is done on a weekly basis by various neighbors living close to each pillar.)
•  Replacing panes in the lanterns when they are broken (as happened from time to time), and replacing bulbs as they burn out.
•  Planting flowers and bushes around the pillar in the park, plus occasional weeding. (Weeding is one activity where we certainly could use more neighborhood volunteers!)
•  Occasional power washing of the pillars.
•   On one occasion, after a car crash knocked over and broke one of the urns, it was necessary to cast a new one, refasten it to the pillar, and replant it with rosemary.