Historic Preservation Commission meeting summary | 1626 E Street | Fresno | The Common News

Summary

Historic Preservation Commission meeting summary

FresnoApr 28, 20263 min read

At a glance

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The Commission approved minutes and agenda, voted unanimously to recommend City Council designation of Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church (207 E San Joaquin Street) to the Local Register of Historic Resources, and unanimously recommended the future North Fulton parking structure be named Carnegie Library Garage. The Commission recommended denial of historic-eligibility findings for 1626 E Street (the former Fresno Bee building) while asking that any future development on the site include interpretive recognition of the site's full history. Staff and subcommittees also provided updates on Historic Preservation Month events and regular program items.

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Historic Preservation Commission

Topics discussed

Transportation

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What this means

The Commission recommended that City Council formally recognize the Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church as a local historic resource, which will move that building onto the city’s Local Register if Council agrees. They also supported naming a new downtown parking garage the Carnegie Library Garage to acknowledge the former library on that site. For the former Fresno Bee property at 1626 E Street, the Commission concluded it is not eligible as a historic resource but asked that future development include displays or other ways to interpret the site's journalism history and the neighborhood’s past. The meeting included schedule and outreach updates for Historic Preservation Month.

Key decisions

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Approved minutes (March 23, 2026) and adopted the meeting agenda.
Recommended City Council designate 207 E San Joaquin Street (Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church) to the Local Register of Historic Resources (unanimous vote).
Recommended the future North Fulton parking structure be named 'Carnegie Library Garage' for consistency with prior Council direction (unanimous vote).
Recommended denial of eligibility for listing 1626 E Street on the Local Register; motion also requested that any future development at the site include interpretive recognition of the site's journalism and neighborhood history (4 ayes, 2 abstentions).
Received updates and approved programming for Historic Preservation Month and regular staff/subcommittee reports.

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Meeting information

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Historic Preservation Commission

Apr 28, 2026, 1:00 AMCity Hall, Council Chamberscompleted

Regular Meeting

Agenda

THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION WELCOMES YOU TO COUNCIL CHAMBERS, LOCATED IN CITY HALL, 2600 FRESNO STREET, FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93721. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – Any interested person may appear at the public hearing and present written testimony or speak in favor or against the matters scheduled on the agenda. Public participation during Fresno City Historic Preservation Commission meetings is always encouraged and can occur by attending a meeting in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 2nd Floor, 2600 Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93721. When called to speak during a meeting, you may approach the speaker podium upon the Chair's call for additional public comment. All public speakers will have up to 3 minutes to address the Commission pursuant to Rule No. 13 of the Historic Preservation Commission Bylaws of the City of Fresno (available in the City Clerk’s Office). VIEWING HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETINGS (non-participatory) – For your convenience, there are ways to view Historic Preservation Commission meetings live: 1. Community Media Access Collaborative website: https://cmac.tv/ 2. Cable Television: Comcast Channel 96 and AT&T Channel 99 3. Participate Remotely via Zoom using the following link: https://fresno.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_BHr_6TJZR72DixRQkVVhog a. The above link will allow you to register in advance for remote participation in the meeting via the Zoom platform. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing additional details about joining the meeting. Should any of these viewing methods listed above experience technical difficulties, the Commission meeting will continue uninterrupted. Commission meetings will only be paused to address verifiable technical difficulties for all users participating via Zoom or in the Chambers. The City of Fresno’s goal is to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Anyone requiring reasonable ADA accommodations, including sign language interpreters, or other reasonable accommodations such as language translation, should contact the office of the City Clerk at (559) 621-7650 or clerk@fresno.gov. To help ensure availability of these services, you are advised to make your request a minimum of 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.
PAGE BREAK
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
PROCEDURES
For each matter considered by the Commission, there will first be a staff presentation, followed by a presentation from the project applicant. The Commissioners will then have the opportunity to ask questions of Staff and Applicant before opening to Public. Testimony from supporters of the project will then be taken, followed by testimony from those in opposition. Staff may provide a summation, if necessary. The applicant will have the right to a final rebuttal presentation prior to closing the public hearing, followed by consideration of the item and action, if any, by the Commission. In accordance with section 13 of Article 2 of the Historic Preservation Commission Bylaws governing length of public debate, all public testimony from those in support and in opposition of the project will be limited to three minutes per person. All public testimony must be presented to the Commission at the podium (in person / electronically). Any testimony that references race, religion, ethnicity, economic status, national origin, or any other classification protected under state or federal law in a derogatory manner shall be deemed irrelevant and will not be considered by the Commission in making its determinations. If you challenge these matters in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised in oral or written testimony or before the close of the hearing.
APPROVE MEETING MINUTES
March 23, 2026 Historic Preservation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
APPROVE AGENDA
CONSENT CALENDAR
CONTINUED MATTERS
COMMISSION ITEMS
Consideration of the Property Owner’s Request to Recommend City Council Designation of the following Property to the Local Register of Historic Resources and Adoption of Findings Pursuant to FMC 12-1607 & FMC 12-1609: · 207 E San Joaquin Street (Assessor Parcel Number: 465-196-10) 1. RECOMMEND to City Council the designation of 207 E San Joaquin Street to the Local Register of Historic Resources
Review the request to name the future North Fulton Parking Structure to the Carnegie Library Garage for consistency with Resolution No. 2020-272 (APNs: 46620650T and 46620651T)
Hearing to determine eligibility for listing on the Local Register of Historic Resources the property located at 1626 E Street (Assessor Parcel Number: 465-084-30T)
Update on Historic Preservation Month
Update on Regular Monthly Topics: 1. Staff Updates 2. Subcommittee Updates
CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT
UNSCHEDULED ITEMS
Members of the Commission
Staff
General Public
NEXT MEETING
ADJOURNMENT
2025 HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULE
APRIL 27, 2026 - 6:00 P.M. MEETING MAY 18, 2026 - 6:00 P.M. MEETING (Rm 2165) JUNE 22, 2026 - 6:00 P.M. MEETING JULY 27, 2026 - 6:00 P.M. MEETING AUGUST 24, 2026 - 6:00 P.M. MEETING SEPTEMBER 28, 2026 - 6:00 P.M. MEETING OCTOBER 26, 2026 - 6:00 P.M. MEETING (Rm 2165) NOVEMBER 23, 2026 - 6:00 P.M. MEETING (Rm 2165) DECEMBER 28, 2026 - 6:00 P.M. MEETING

Documents from this meeting

Minuteshttps://legistar2.granicus.com/fresno/meetings/2026/4/4385_M_Historic_Preservation_Commission_26-04-27_Meeting_Minutes.pdf
Agendahttps://legistar2.granicus.com/fresno/meetings/2026/4/4385_A_Historic_Preservation_Commission_26-04-27_Commission_Agenda_%28no_veto_language%29.pdf

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