Some of the loudest warnings have been\u00a0issued from leaders in Japantown<\/a>, a neighborhood home to a large number of properties on the city\u2019s official inventory of historic buildings. Tamiko Rast, president of the Japantown Business Association, is applauding the proposed reforms.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would make all the difference in the world,\u201d she told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cI\u2019m hoping that this policy allows us to make our property safer, makes our neighborhoods safer, and makes it so that we can grow as a community.\u201d<\/p>\n Rast said\u00a0the city\u2019s preservation rules<\/a>\u00a0make it next to impossible to renovate Japantown\u2019s aging buildings \u2014 many of which contain unpermitted structures \u2014 a problem that has driven out would-be entrepreneurs. Without proper upkeep, such blighted structures become a magnet for squatters and other illicit activities, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not just affecting business,\u201d Rast said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just affecting land values. It\u2019s affecting quality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n A memo laying out the reform priorities<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 authored by Tordillos as well as Mayor Matt Mahan, Vice Mayor Pam Foley and Councilmembers Michael Mulcahy and David Cohen \u2014 gained approval from the Rules and Open Government Committee during its Dec. 3 meeting.<\/p>\n \u201c(San Jose\u2019s historic resources) connect us to our past, preserve communities, and enrich the urban landscape of San Jose,\u201d the memo reads.\u00a0\u201cWe have a responsibility to protect and restore them while minimizing the impact on our residents and business owners.\u201d<\/p>\n But it could still be months before concrete legislation lands before council. Officials with the department of Planning, Building & Code Enforcement said given the project\u2019s complexity, the review process will likely take nine to 12 months. Councilmembers are expected to set a firmer timeline\u00a0in January as they set budget priorities for the next fiscal year.<\/p>\n The controversy surrounding San Jose\u2019s preservation rules has been underscored in recent months by\u00a0the financial plight of Japantown business owners Jordan and Rina Trigg<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/LNM-20251213-SJHISTORICRULES-02.jpg\")
Many of the commercial buildings that line Jackson Street in San Jose\u2019s Japantown are listed on the city\u2019s \u201cHistoric Resources Inventory.\u201d (Keith Menconi\/San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight)<\/p>\n