Renzel, Ernest & Emily, House
Why it's listed
Set on a sloped, wooded lot above Coyote Creek at 120 Arroyo Way in San Jose, this house was designed by architect Chester Root and built in 1939-40 as the home of Ernest Renzel. It reads as one story from the street and two at the rear. Brick and wood siding, deep boxed eaves, glass-block sidelights and steel corner windows give it a low, horizontal profile, and the interior has a paneled two-story living room with a brick fireplace. Kress & Gibson added a compatible south wing in 1949-50. The house is described as a very early local example of Ranch-style design in the early Modern period. It is also tied to Renzel's civic career. He promoted a municipal airport for San Jose beginning in 1938, led the 1940 bond campaign, and served on the City Council from 1944 to 1948. The airport later grew into San Jose International Airport.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under Criterion A as the home of Ernest Renzel, a San Jose Chamber of Commerce member and City Council leader who championed the municipal airport, now San Jose International Airport. It is also significant under Criterion C as a very early local example of Ranch-style design that blends brick and wood siding with Modernist steel corner windows. Significance is local.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 10000773, listed September 23, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 120 Arroyo Way, San Jose |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Clara County |
| Listed | September 23, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000773 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1939-1950 |
| Architect / builder | Chester Root (architect, 1939-1940); Gibson & Wheeler Inc. (contractor, 1939-1940); Kress & Gibson (addition, 1949-1950) |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement: Ranch Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current function is single dwelling; the nomination states the property retains its historic integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 37.34243, -121.87247 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 10000773.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q123923553
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.