2023 Reconnaissance Survey

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The City of Palo Alto is working with Page & Turnbull, an historic preservation planning and architecture firm, with the assistance of M-Group, to complete the 2023 Historic Resource Reconnaissance Survey. This Survey looked at approximately 165 buildings and structures that were identified as “eligible for the National Register of Historic Places” during the 1997-2001 Palo Alto Survey Update, and identified whether the properties remain eligible as historic resources. Those properties that retained their historic materials and character, and therefore retained eligibility, were nominated by the City for designation in the Palo Alto Historic Inventory.

On March 21, 2022, the City Council directed staff to work with the Historic Resources Board (HRB) to review the national eligible properties that were previously deemed eligible in the 1997-2001 Palo Alto Survey Update in an effort to designate them to the Palo Alto Historic Inventory. The direction included recommendations for listing on the inventory in accordance with the process set forth in the Palo Alto Municipal Code and for collaboration with the HRB for community engagement. This reconnaissance survey verified if the resources still exist, have been demolished, or have been significantly altered. The staff and consultants made their recommendations for nominating the properties that are still eligible for designation in the Palo Alto Historic Inventory. Following the survey and historic register listing, the properties would then be subject to the provisions of Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 16.49, Historic Preservation. This survey will implement the HRB's 2022 work plan Goal 2, Comprehensive Plan Policy L7.1.1.

Owners of properties included in the survey were notified regarding the community outreach meeting on October 24, 2023 at City Hall. The first community outreach meeting was held on April 25, 2023. Regular Historic Resources Board meetings were targeted for discussion of nominations in November and December 2023 and January 2024. Below are the HRB meeting dates for consideration of recommended nominations and links to current documents for the public’s reference.

Current Documents

  1. Interactive Map showing the locations of the properties within the survey
  2. List of Properties Deemed Eligible for National Register of Historical Places in 1997-2001 survey
  3. Introduction Letter provided to property owners within the survey, April 2023
  4. FAQ
  5. Incentives
  6. Revised Draft Reconnaissance Survey Report
  7. Property Groupings for HRB Nomination Hearings—This document offers a webpage link to each address - click on the address to see nomination memo and associated document (DPR/HRE)
  8. Nomination Notice Letter - November 9, 2023
  9. Nomination Notice Letter - December 14, 2023
  10. Nomination Notice Letter - January 11, 2024

Tasks and Community Outreach

Field Survey  
Completed by Page & Turnbull during the month of April 2023

First Community Meeting
Held on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Recording available on YouTube

Second Community Meeting
Staff Report(PDF, 1MB)
Presentation(PDF, 9MB)
Held on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Recording available on YouTube

HRB Meetings
Nov. 9, 2023 - Staff Presentation(PDF, 2MB)
Dec. 14, 2023 - Staff Presentation(PDF, 1MB)
Jan. 11, 2024 - Staff Presentation(PDF, 996KB)

City Council Meeting
April 22, 2024

Continued Community Outreach

The project’s community outreach will continue throughout the property's nomination process, which includes HRB meetings for recommendations to City Council and the City Council meeting. Public comments can be provided for both the HRB and City Council meetings. In advance of the HRB meetings and the City Council meeting, the following opportunities are available to you.

  1. Review of the project documents, located on the project website, including the “Revised Draft Reconnaissance Survey Report,” the “Nomination Memos,” and the “Property Groupings for HRB Nomination Hearings.”
  2. Contact city staff or consultant by email (Amy French at amy.french@cityofpaloalto.org or Isabel Castellano at icastellano@m-group.us), or submit a “Contact Form” on the project webpage to answer and complete the following:
    • To schedule a consultation meeting to discuss your property’s preservation incentives.
    • Specific questions related to the survey project and your property.
    • Request a digital copy of your property’s Nomination Memo.
    • Request a digital copy of your property's 1997-2001 Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Form or Historic Resource Evaluation.
  3. Visit the Development Center, located at 285 Hamilton Avenue, Suite 100, Palo Alto, CA 94301, if you would like to speak with planning staff or request a printed copy of your property’s Nomination Memo and DPR Form or Historic Resource Evaluation.
  4. Submit a letter to city staff, by email or to the Development Center, to express your support or clear objection to your property’s nomination for the HRB and City Council’s review and consideration.
  5. Preservation incentives are available to properties listed in the Palo Alto Inventory and included on the project website for review. Please review and feedback is welcome.

National, State, and Local Registers

National, State and Local Register are official lists that identify and provides for preservation of historic resources. Historic resources may be eligible for listing within one or more registers and quality for unique preservation incentives. These registers include the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), the California Register of Historic Resources (CRHR), and the Palo Alto Historic Inventory.

National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)

 

National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the national list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture as authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Directed by the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, Chapter 1, Part 60, § 60.4 Criteria for evaluation, the registers criteria's calls for historic resources to emit a quality of significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture and is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association and:

a) That are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or

b) That are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or

c) That embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or

d) That have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.

The Legal Information Institute webpage provides information regarding removing properties from the National Register of Historic Places.

California Register of Historic Resources (CRHR)

California Register of Historic Resources (CRHR) is an authoritative guide in California to be used by state and local agencies, private groups, and citizens to identify the state's historical resources and to indicate what properties are to be protected, to the extent prudent and feasible, from substantial adverse change. A historical resource registered with the CRHR must be significant at the local, state, or national level under one or more of the following four criteria:

1) It is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of local or regional history, or the cultural heritage of California or the United States;

2) It is associated with the lives of persons important to local, California, or national history;

3) It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of a master of possesses high artistic values; or

4) It has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information important to the prehistory or history of the local area, California, or the nation.

Palo Alto Historic Inventory

Palo Alto Historic Inventory is a list of properties officially designated or recognized as historically significant by the local government pursuant to its local ordinance and resolution. The following criteria as established by the City of Palo Alto's Municipal Code Section 16.49.040, Designation of historic structures/sites, along with the definitions of historic categories and districts in Section 16.49.020, shall be used as criteria for designating additional historic structures/sites or districts to the historic inventory:

1) The structure or site is identified with the lives of historic people or with important events in the city, state or nation; 

2) The structure or site is particularly representative of an architectural style or way of life important to the city, state or nation;

3) The structure or site is an example of a type of building which was once common, but is now rare; 

4) The structure or site is connected with a business or use which was once common, but is now rare;

5) The architect or building was important;

6)The structure or site contains elements demonstrating outstanding attention to architectural design, detail, materials or craftsmanship.

Project Contact

City Planning staff including, Amy French (amy.french@cityofpaloalto.org), Chief Planning Official & HRB Liaison and Isabel Castellano (icastellano@m-group.us), M-Group Historic Preservation Consultant, are available to communicate on the 2023 Reconnaissance Survey project.

For additional information and questions please complete the form below and staff will reach out. Include your name, property address, contact information, and briefly describe your inquiry.
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