H E A D L I N E S
From an abundance of caution, but with great sadness, the San Rafael Heritage Steering Committee has decided we must postpone our planned March 12 Annual Meeting.
We apologize for doing this at the last moment, but it has become more and more clear to us that hosting a gathering of people at this time is not a particularly wise thing to do. A good number of our supporters are in the senior category, and the full impact of the coronavirus won’t be known for some time, so we’d rather not run any risk. Other groups in the Bay Area are also postponing similar events.
Thank you so much to those of you who had RSVP’d and planned to attend. We look forward to seeing you soon. And thanks to the Elks for being understanding and telling us to wash our hands.
As soon as this new illness is gone or under control, we will set a new date for our Annual Meeting. We have two good reasons for doing this: 1) Our By-Laws require it and 2) It is fun.
But our Presrvation/Cityscape Awards can go on! This delay gives all of you more time to look around San Rafael and pick out your favorite super buildings. Choose either new ones that enhance our cityscape or old ones that have been so well-preserved that their present use as either a home or a business makes our community a richer place.
Nomination forms can be found at https://tinyurl.com/SRH-nomination-form . There is no limit to the number of nominations an individual may make. Honoring these buildings, after all, is what San Rafael Heritage is all about, and it is certainly a delightful highlight of our Annual Meeting.
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San Rafael Heritage happily announces two new awards. We are very excited about honoring fine architecture, cultural sites, and innovations in our town based upon members’ keen observations of San Rafael’s heritage and cityscape. Read on for descriptions, criteria and nomination information. Great news, there is no predetermined number of awards!
Description of Awards
Remember, there is no limit to the number of nominations each SRH member may submit.
Note that all nominators must be SRH members current with their 2019 dues.
Description of Awards
- The Preservation Award recognizes structures or sites of import in our city with significant restoration and/or improvements that maintain the historic character of building or site. Recognition is open to buildings and resources spanning pre-history to mid-twentieth century.
- The Cityscape Award recognizes exemplary new projects that enhance our city. This is an opportunity to honor innovative design and new projects in San Rafael. The caliber of the nominations will dictate the number of winners.
Remember, there is no limit to the number of nominations each SRH member may submit.
Note that all nominators must be SRH members current with their 2019 dues.
Happy New Year from San Rafael Heritage!
In the New Year and the New Decade, your hardy band of San Rafael Heritage preservationists is already hard at it. We are renewing our commitment to achieve meaningful progress in our effort to preserve San Rafael’s fine legacy of historic structures. As always, we will reach out to YOU, the community, for help in meeting our goals.
Look at some of our ongoing projects:
•Preserving the 1929 NWP Depot by finalizing our application for San Rafael Landmark status.
Look at some of our ongoing projects:
•Preserving the 1929 NWP Depot by finalizing our application for San Rafael Landmark status.
•Preserving the best of our downtown buildings by helping the City in its preparation of a Downtown Precise Plan.
•Advocating for the preservation and civic re-use of the Carnegie Library while a possible new library at a new site is being studied.
•Finalizing our informal review of the City’s decades-old list of historically significant structures. (This involves lots of nice strolls.) This review will help us to encourage San Rafael to update the list so the most valuable parts of our built heritage will be recognized and respected as gifts to the community.
Mayor Phillips speaks at the 2019 Annual Meeting
Now, how can you help keep these gems in San Rafael? Let me count the ways:
1. Join or renew membership in SR Heritage. We’ll be sending out membership reminders to existing members; they and non-members can visit our membership page and pay the tiny, little sum of $15 to help with our ongoing expenses. AND, you could also make a generous donation in addition to your membership. Tax deductible! (Our work sometimes requires hiring professional help, so we need extra funds.)
2. Volunteer to serve on the SRH Steering Committee. We are seeking nominations for the SC now, to be confirmed at our March 12 Annual Meeting. This is a fun and rewarding job! We will invite those interested to share tea or coffee during a get-acquainted/ask-questions hour. Contact Amy at 415-450-1520 or alikover@aol.com for info.
3. Sign up to help with one of the tasks listed above. Call Cynthia at
415-450-7939.
4. Plan to attend our Annual Meeting, Thursday, March 12, at the San Rafael Elks Lodge. Details later, but we always have complimentary good food and a no-host bar, and good speakers, and a good time!
1. Join or renew membership in SR Heritage. We’ll be sending out membership reminders to existing members; they and non-members can visit our membership page and pay the tiny, little sum of $15 to help with our ongoing expenses. AND, you could also make a generous donation in addition to your membership. Tax deductible! (Our work sometimes requires hiring professional help, so we need extra funds.)
2. Volunteer to serve on the SRH Steering Committee. We are seeking nominations for the SC now, to be confirmed at our March 12 Annual Meeting. This is a fun and rewarding job! We will invite those interested to share tea or coffee during a get-acquainted/ask-questions hour. Contact Amy at 415-450-1520 or alikover@aol.com for info.
3. Sign up to help with one of the tasks listed above. Call Cynthia at
415-450-7939.
4. Plan to attend our Annual Meeting, Thursday, March 12, at the San Rafael Elks Lodge. Details later, but we always have complimentary good food and a no-host bar, and good speakers, and a good time!
Openings for Steering Committee positions at SRH
Are you passionate about historic preservation? Might you be interested in helping lead San Rafael’s only historic preservation organization? Our Steering Committee meets monthly and there are a few special events. Plus we have a lot of fun working together!
There are many opportunities for leadership: bring your knowledge of local history and government, or your communication, public relations, writing, graphic design, technology, financial, architectural skills, and aesthetic sense to our San Rafael Heritage table. Any of the above will enrich and enhance our group. Please consider throwing your hat in the ring for one of three available slots.
Check us out to learn more.
Stacey Counts and Amy Likover
San Rafael Heritage Nominating Committee
staceycounts@hotmail.com, alikover@aol.com
There are many opportunities for leadership: bring your knowledge of local history and government, or your communication, public relations, writing, graphic design, technology, financial, architectural skills, and aesthetic sense to our San Rafael Heritage table. Any of the above will enrich and enhance our group. Please consider throwing your hat in the ring for one of three available slots.
Check us out to learn more.
Stacey Counts and Amy Likover
San Rafael Heritage Nominating Committee
staceycounts@hotmail.com, alikover@aol.com
San Rafael Heritage 4th Annual Meeting and Preservation Awards were held March 14th
See Photos & Awardees Below
The Preservation/Cityscape Award Winners
Chez Bornia, San Rafael Joe's
Beautification of an Important Community Asset
Ben & Peggy Burtt, 1637 Fifth Ave
Creative Enhancement of a Historic Home
Mo Mashoon, 924‐26 B Street
Creative Enhancement of a Historic Resource
Justin Barnett and Hugh Murphy, 633 and 637 Fifth Avenue
Preservation, Upkeep and Adaptive Reuse of Victorian Neighbors
Mara Passetti, Gateway Bus Ctr 851 Irwin Street
Esthetic Architecture and Creative Landscaping
1850 Fourth Street
Protection of Decorative Elements on a Commercial Building
Christopher B Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth Street
Preservation and Restoration of a Cultural Asset
Beautification of an Important Community Asset
Ben & Peggy Burtt, 1637 Fifth Ave
Creative Enhancement of a Historic Home
Mo Mashoon, 924‐26 B Street
Creative Enhancement of a Historic Resource
Justin Barnett and Hugh Murphy, 633 and 637 Fifth Avenue
Preservation, Upkeep and Adaptive Reuse of Victorian Neighbors
Mara Passetti, Gateway Bus Ctr 851 Irwin Street
Esthetic Architecture and Creative Landscaping
1850 Fourth Street
Protection of Decorative Elements on a Commercial Building
Christopher B Smith Rafael Film Center, 1118 Fourth Street
Preservation and Restoration of a Cultural Asset
Mission Statement
To promote the preservation of San Rafael’s historic resources and architecturally significant
buildings and to support other historical and preservationist organizations in Marin County.
buildings and to support other historical and preservationist organizations in Marin County.
Goals
“The prevention of needless destruction of structures of historic, architectural or aesthetic value is essential to the economy and general welfare of the public." (San Rafael Historic Preservation Ordinance)
- To seek City of San Rafael designation of Landmark status to any appropriate San Rafael resource of local, state, or national historic significance
- To promote the preservation of San Rafael’s historic and architecturally significant resources
- To assist elected and appointed government officials in San Rafael and Marin County as they deliberate matters relating to historic resources.
- To encourage the City of San Rafael to act promptly to update its 1986 list of architecturally and historically significant buildings, to expand the list to include deserving buildings that were omitted from the original list, to clarify and strengthen the existing historic preservation ordinance, and to consider adopting a Mills Act, or Historical Property Contract program, to encourage restoration and proper maintenance of historic buildings through tax benefits.
- To give support to any viable entity that seeks to fulfill the mission of preservation of artifacts,
photographs and documents relating to the history of Marin County including the Marin History
Museum, Anne T. Kent California Room and other historically oriented groups in the county and beyond.