Draft:Sample Sanitarium

• Comment: The sources given do not have any relation with the building itself. Sophisticatedevening ^(talk) 22:18, 16 March 2025 (UTC)

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Sample Sanitarium
U.S. Historic district
Location	311 N Fulton St, Fresno, CA 93701
Coordinates	36°44'51" N latitude and 119°48'2" W longitude
Built	1912
Architect	Starbuck & Swartz
Architectural style	Spanish Revival
Added to NRHP	2010

Sample Sanitarium is an abandoned historic building in Fresno, California, built in 1913. Also known as the "Sequoia Hospital" in the 50's or the "Riviera Building". This building at the time had a capacity of 28 beds, and 17 staff.

Created by Dr Thomas Nelson Sample (24 Oct 1877 - 23 Dec 1947) The Sample Sanitarium was originally used as a children's hospital, and medical facility specializing in all types of patient care and recovery. In 1946, seven osteopathic surgeons purchased the former hospital for $100,000. Mr. Sample said the new owners "intended to convert the facility into a non-profit organization offering diagnostic, osteopathic, medical and surgical services."

Later after it was used as an office building until it's closing during the 80s. The building stood vacant for years. Today it is considered a historical landmark and is on the Local Register of Historic Resources.

Cathy Rehart, information/education coordinator for the Fresno City and County Historical Society, said she feels special pain watching the Sample Sanitarium deteriorate because she was born there. On her birthday, she sat in front of the worn-out Fulton Street building.

"It's in jeopardy because it has been empty for so long, and I don't know who will want to come along and do something with it," Rehart said. "That's the problem with nearly all buildings on the list - They are vacant and uncared for, reducing their chances of ever attracting new owners."

It was bought by Howard Biddlecome and his wife in 2001 for $154,000.

Sample Sanitarium remained halfway boarded up until 2009.

The building was for sale in 2014

2021

The building, becoming a concern for the community due to its deteriorating condition and potential safety hazards (with notable fire damage seen on the top) for years.

In 2021, Fresno City Councilman Miguel Arias proposed an ordinance targeting vacant commercial properties like the Sample Sanitarium stating, “As we’ve seen the increase of fires and we’ve responded with an increase in resources for permanent firefighters, we’ve also identified the fact that many property owners have had a past exemption on meeting their legal obligations to maintain their properties,” Arias said. “They’ve become one more opportunity for fires in our city.”

Miguel arias has also said, “I’m going to ask my colleagues to remove the incentive from vacant property owners to keep their properties as blight and hold them to the same standard as we do for any other private property owner in the city,”

The proposal aimed to hold property owners accountable for maintaining their buildings to prevent blight and reduce fire hazards. The ordinance required owners to repair facades, roofs, fire suppression systems, maintain landscaping, and address trash within 72 hours of a report. The neighborhood has made several complaints. The owner cleans the property up, but it has become a nuisance for the neighbors because of vandalism and eyesore.

As if 2025, The sample Sanitarium was likely rebought by the same owners as it's owned by Encon Development and is a private property. It is uncertain whether it will be renovated.

The building today has occasional repairs and is frequently broken into and has become a target for illegal trash dumping and fires.