OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Alameda Historical Advisory Board Meeting on 802 Buena Vista Demolition - July 17, 2025

City CouncilThursday, July 17, 2025
BodyAlameda, California
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, July 17, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:19:52
Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Okay, well, we can uh take roll call first.

0:09

Um, member of Rito?

0:12

Here, board member Bevan.

0:14

Present.

0:14

And Chair Hernandez.

0:16

Present.

0:16

Okay, we have a quorum with two absences, Crady and Rabbercheck.

0:22

Super.

0:23

Um, first up, uh, non-agenda public comments.

0:27

Do we have anybody online or in person?

0:30

If anyone wishes to speak, we can raise your hand on Zoom.

0:37

We have no speakers.

0:39

Okay, super.

0:40

Um, next uh agenda item is the draft minutes from our last meeting.

0:45

Any comments from the gallery?

0:51

Nope.

0:52

Do we have a motion?

0:56

I move to accept the comments.

0:58

I second all in favor.

1:01

So we approve our minutes from the last meeting.

1:05

Yes, the three of you were there, and so we have a quorum and they pass.

1:08

Thank you.

1:09

Good job of the minutes.

1:12

Uh now on to regular agenda items.

1:14

So this is uh 802 Buena Vista Avenue.

1:17

We talked about this one, was it last time?

1:20

Uh or the time before coming back to us with additional information.

1:25

Is there a presentation on this?

1:29

Yes, this evening.

1:30

Uh Tristan Swear will be making the presentation.

1:32

Super.

1:33

Take it away, Tristan.

1:41

Uh thank you, Steam Chair, board members.

1:44

I appreciate your time this evening.

1:45

Um, as noted, uh the item before you today is the certificate of approval for the uh project located at 802 Buena Vista.

1:56

Uh, this is a certificate of approval to demolish the existing residential structure pursuant to uh Alme Municipal Code section 30-21.5, which requires the approval of the historical advisory board for demolition of uh historic structure.

2:13

Um I do want to take a quick minute just to give us an opportunity to get on the same page.

2:17

I know we've discussed this a little bit previously, but just to outline sort of the uh role of the historical advisory board um with regards to the certificate of approval.

2:26

Um so the uh the item before you is of course um a historic building, meaning it was uh well in this case it is both constructed prior to 1942 and included in the city's historical building study list.

2:39

Um the historical building study list obviously a function of the city's windshield survey conducted in 1979 to identify buildings that had potential for eligibility for inclusion on the statewide historic register, although the study list uh inclusion of a building is not sufficient alone to uh demonstrate eligibility.

2:56

Um, and so uh for any of those buildings when a proposal for demolition comes before staff, um we're required to get approval from the historical advisory board based on a very specific criteria to allow the demolition.

3:08

Um that criteria of course is that the historic monument um and this applies also to buildings prior to 1942 are included on the study list, so not just monuments, no longer meets the criteria therefore, which is identified as the four-part criteria uh for secret historic resources, or has become a detriment to the community, and that the condition making it a detriment cannot readily be cured.

3:28

And if that finding can be made, um the certificate of approval can be approved.

3:33

Um the uh criteria therefore that's referenced in the sort of former section of that um has been sort of uh delineated here uh in the findings as um the structure to be demolished no longer uh embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type period region or method of construction, nor does it represent the work of an important creative individual.

3:52

Um that there are no events associated with the property that make uh a historic contribution to the history or cultural heritage of the local or regional history, that the property is not associated with persons important to local, state, or national history, and that the property does not yield any information important to prehistory or history.

4:08

Uh and so um the reason I bring those up is just to make sure that we focus tonight um on those criteria um and the finding regarding the certificate of approval.

4:19

Um I mention that because there have been modifications proposed to the design of the building.

4:23

Um, and while those uh design considerations are intended to achieve harmony with the architectural character of the building, um they will be considered through the design review process, um, which is a staff level approval, can be considered up for the planning board.

4:37

Um, and so just a reminder that our focus tonight here is on the demolition of the structure and not the design of the resulting structure.

4:44

Um with that in mind, just a little bit of background to remind you of the subject property.

4:51

Um, the property located at 802 Buena Vista is a 1466 square foot single family residential building in a predominantly single-family residential neighborhood.

5:02

Built in 1908.

5:04

It was an exemplary craftsman building, likely built by the Strang Brothers, as evidenced by both the original DPR form that was under consideration last time, and the revised EPR form provided by Paige and Turnbull in response to the board's request for additional historic evaluation to provide context on the project.

5:24

So the subject property underwent a pretty significant fire in 2022.

5:35

The resulting damage to the fire caused quite a bit of damage, both the interior and exterior of the building.

5:43

The historic conditions, as you can see here, are really quite a beautiful H-shaped craftsman building, single story with a crawl space.

5:54

Defining architectural features include the front porch, the field stone columns, the triangular brackets, among other specific architectural features, some of which do actually remain intact after the fire, but the vast majority of which those character defining features were destroyed as a function of the fire, as identified in the DPR form and historical evaluation memo provided by Page and Turnbull.

6:26

The building has lost integrity as a historic resource.

6:32

Integrity defined by several seven excuse me, elements, including setting, location, worksmanship, design, all sort of intended to create a comprehensive image of whether the resource is able to convey its historic significance.

6:50

As noted, the uh conclusions to both the revised DPR form and the memorandum provided by Paige and Turnbull, they conclude that the um and I quote the building does not appear to retain sufficient overall integrity for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or California Register of Historic Resources.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Historic Preservation█████████████████████████████████████████████60%
Miscellaneous██████████████████████████34%
Procedural██2%
Community Engagement██2%
Environmental Protection1%
Affordable Housing1%
Summary of Proceedings

Historical Advisory Board Meeting: Certificate of Approval for 802 Buena Vista Demolition

The Alameda Historical Advisory Board convened on July 17, 2025, to consider a Certificate of Approval for the demolition of the fire-damaged building at 802 Buena Vista Avenue. The primary discussion centered on the property's loss of historic integrity, the findings required for demolition approval, and ensuring a strong historic record. The board also provided feedback on the design of the proposed replacement structure.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the draft minutes from the previous meeting without comment.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Christopher Buckley (Alameda Architectural Preservation Society): Provided detailed design recommendations for the proposed new building to better incorporate salvaged historic elements. His 12-point list included retaining porch rafter tails and original fieldstone column bases, ensuring appropriate window types and alignments, and correcting the resolution's language regarding historic criteria.

Discussion Items

  • Staff Presentation: Planning staff Tristan Swear presented the item, outlining the legal criteria for demolition: the structure no longer meets the criteria for a historic monument, or has become a detriment to the community that cannot be readily cured. Staff concluded the 1908 craftsman building, severely damaged in a 2022 fire, had lost its historic integrity and structural soundness (red-tagged). The recommendation was to approve the demolition, remove the property from the Historic Building Study List, and proceed with design review for the new structure.
  • Board Deliberation:
    • Board Member Biffin raised extensive questions about the historic evaluation's completeness. He argued the DPR (Documentation of Primary Record) form and historic memorandum had weaknesses, including a lack of interior access during assessment, insufficient research on the Strang Brothers builders, and an unclear analysis of the property's potential significance within the Mastic Park subdivision. He advocated for strengthening the final historic record.
    • Board Member Bevan and Chair Hernandez sought clarification on the 30% demolition threshold trigger and the process for removing a property from the study list.
    • Both Biffin and Hernandez expressed appreciation that the applicant's revised design aimed to incorporate salvageable historic features, viewing it as a positive step towards contextual harmony.
    • The board discussed the wording of the resolution's findings, aiming to make them more precise and less definitive where evidence was limited (e.g., regarding the Strang Brothers' significance).

Key Outcomes

  • Motion and Vote: A motion was made and seconded to approve the Certificate of Approval and the draft resolution with amendments to findings 1-4 for greater accuracy and neutrality. The motion passed unanimously (Aye: Biffin, Bevan, Hernandez).
  • Directives:
    • Staff was directed to finalize the resolution with the discussed amendments and ensure the language accurately reflects the board's intent.
    • The board strongly encouraged staff and the consultant to consider enhancing the final DPR record based on the substantive comments made during the meeting.
    • Design suggestions from the public and board were noted for consideration during the subsequent staff-level design review process.
  • Future Agenda Items: The board requested future informational items, including an educational session on the city's definition of historic resources and an update on base reuse and development activities at Alameda Point.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, well, we can uh take roll call first. Um, member of Rito? Here, board member Bevan. Present. And Chair Hernandez. Present. Okay, we have a quorum with two absences, Crady and Rabbercheck. Super. Um, first up, uh, non-agenda public comments. Do we have anybody online or in person? If anyone wishes to speak, we can raise your hand on Zoom. We have no speakers. Okay, super. Um, next uh agenda item is the draft minutes from our last meeting. Any comments from the gallery? Nope. Do we have a motion? I move to accept the comments. I second all in favor. So we approve our minutes from the last meeting. Yes, the three of you were there, and so we have a quorum and they pass. Thank you. Good job of the minutes. Uh now on to regular agenda items. So this is uh 802 Buena Vista Avenue. We talked about this one, was it last time? Uh or the time before coming back to us with additional information. Is there a presentation on this? Yes, this evening. Uh Tristan Swear will be making the presentation. Super. Take it away, Tristan. Uh thank you, Steam Chair, board members. I appreciate your time this evening. Um, as noted, uh the item before you today is the certificate of approval for the uh project located at 802 Buena Vista. Uh, this is a certificate of approval to demolish the existing residential structure pursuant to uh Alme Municipal Code section 30-21.5, which requires the approval of the historical advisory board for demolition of uh historic structure. Um I do want to take a quick minute just to give us an opportunity to get on the same page. I know we've discussed this a little bit previously, but just to outline sort of the uh role of the historical advisory board um with regards to the certificate of approval. Um so the uh the item before you is of course um a historic building, meaning it was uh well in this case it is both constructed prior to 1942 and included in the city's historical building study list. Um the historical building study list obviously a function of the city's windshield survey conducted in 1979 to identify buildings that had potential for eligibility for inclusion on the statewide historic register, although the study list uh inclusion of a building is not sufficient alone to uh demonstrate eligibility. Um, and so uh for any of those buildings when a proposal for demolition comes before staff, um we're required to get approval from the historical advisory board based on a very specific criteria to allow the demolition. Um that criteria of course is that the historic monument um and this applies also to buildings prior to 1942 are included on the study list, so not just monuments, no longer meets the criteria therefore, which is identified as the four-part criteria uh for secret historic resources, or has become a detriment to the community, and that the condition making it a detriment cannot readily be cured. And if that finding can be made, um the certificate of approval can be approved. Um the uh criteria therefore that's referenced in the sort of former section of that um has been sort of uh delineated here uh in the findings as um the structure to be demolished no longer uh embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type period region or method of construction, nor does it represent the work of an important creative individual. Um that there are no events associated with the property that make uh a historic contribution to the history or cultural heritage of the local or regional history, that the property is not associated with persons important to local, state, or national history, and that the property does not yield any information important to prehistory or history. Uh and so um the reason I bring those up is just to make sure that we focus tonight um on those criteria um and the finding regarding the certificate of approval. Um I mention that because there have been modifications proposed to the design of the building. Um, and while those uh design considerations are intended to achieve harmony with the architectural character of the building, um they will be considered through the design review process, um, which is a staff level approval, can be considered up for the planning board. Um, and so just a reminder that our focus tonight here is on the demolition of the structure and not the design of the resulting structure. Um with that in mind, just a little bit of background to remind you of the subject property.

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