Landmark designation for historic downtown San Jose church may be answer to its prayers

A DOWNTOWN SAN Jose church is on the cusp of becoming a historic landmark, potentially ending a yearslong battle to shield the 1940s-era building from redevelopment.

The San Jose City Council will vote in the next few weeks to designate Grace Baptist Church as a historic landmark — protecting it, ideally, indefinitely. Councilmember Omar Torres’ request for the designation passed unanimously at the Oct. 4 Rules and Open Government Committee meeting.