San Leandro Facilities and Transportation Commission Meeting - October 27, 2026

The San Leandro Facilities and Transportation Commission met on October 27, 2026, to discuss updates on Casa Peralta and the East Bay Greenway project. The meeting included public comments on the golf course and Casa Peralta, staff presentations on structural assessments and project costs, and a consensus to explore relinquishing ownership of Casa Peralta. The East Bay Greenway groundbreaking was announced for the following week.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Joel Stewart (member of the public) spoke on the golf course, urging the commission to issue a non-binding RFP to explore options. He disclosed that his partner and he are willing to invest up to $5 million in the golf course. He stated the current management (American Golf) has hurt the course's reputation and that current net revenue to the city is about $1 million per year, potentially achievable to $2 million.
• Evelyn Gonzalez (President of the San Leandro Historical Society) expressed concern about Casa Peralta's condition and criticized the city's lack of understanding of its history. She requested the city gift the property back to the family or to a nonprofit willing to save it, citing that donors are concerned the city will not use funds for repairs.
• Pearl Johnston (private citizen) shared personal history with Casa Peralta, emphasizing its irreplaceable historical value and urging the community to save it rather than demolish it. She suggested using the property as an event center for revenue.
• R Johnson (private citizen) opposed adaptive reuse that would only preserve elements, stating that keeping only walls is not an option. He noted he had posted on Facebook about the issue.
• Angela Marau (private citizen) expressed anger over the city's negligence, accusing the city of deliberate inaction. She demanded line-item explanations for cost increases and urged immediate use of the remaining $1.3 million in the CIP budget for urgent repairs.
• Juniper Bacon (private citizen, first time speaker) asked whether the city has contacted the Brooks family to amend the gift grant deed and transfer to an organization like the Historical Society. She called for preserving the property's historical significance.
• Karen Diaz (private citizen) was appalled that the city had not maintained the house, stating the city must find proper caretakers and not discuss demolition. She noted a separate donation for a bridge renovation.

Discussion Items

• Casa Peralta Update: Library Director Brian Simons presented the history of Casa Peralta, built in 1901, donated to the city in 1971, and currently red-tagged due to structural unsafety. He outlined four options: renovation (estimated $15 million including soft costs), adaptive reuse (e.g., botanical garden), public-private partnership, or relinquishing ownership. Chief Building Official Mike Jeffrey described structural deterioration, yellow-tagging in May 2026, and red-tagging in August 2026 due to falling debris and safety hazards. He noted that the 2016 ARG report was superficial and that the true cost of renovation could be higher due to the "iceberg effect." Public Works Director Sheila Marquises explained cost escalation from $5.7 million (2016 estimate) to about $10 million today, with soft costs potentially adding another $5 million. The current CIP account has $1.3 million remaining. Councilmember Aguilar expressed support for relinquishing ownership to the Brooks family or a capable nonprofit, stating the city has not prioritized the property for 40 years. Mayor Gonzalez concurred, emphasizing the goal of preserving the house through transfer rather than demolition. The commission reached consensus to explore legal options for relinquishment.
• East Bay Greenway Update: Matt Bomberg (ACTC principal transportation engineer) presented the project, a 10.5-mile regional trail from Lake Merritt to Bayfair, with the San Leandro Boulevard package starting construction soon. The project includes shared-use paths, protected bike lanes, pedestrian crossing upgrades, bus stop improvements, and landscaped medians. Construction is estimated at 275 working days, with work limited to a couple of blocks at a time (3-4 weeks per zone). A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for the following Wednesday at the Boys & Girls Club. Councilmember Aguilar praised the comprehensive communication plan (door hangers, website, hotline) and asked about anticipated challenges; the team cited unforeseen underground utilities and public communication as key challenges. Mayor Gonzalez emphasized the importance of the city's website linking to the project page for resident inquiries.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken, but the commission directed staff to explore legal options for relinquishing Casa Peralta, with preference for returning the property to the Brooks family or transferring to a nonprofit preservation entity, with the goal of preserving the historic house.
• The East Bay Greenway groundbreaking was acknowledged, with construction to begin shortly. The commission expressed appreciation for the communication plan and encouraged continued coordination between city staff and ACTC.