HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 7863 (History and Archeology Grant Funds)RESOLUTION 7863
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL
APPROVING THE APPLICATION AND THE PROJECT AGREEMENT FOR
HISTORY AND ARCHEOLOGY GRANT FUNDS FOR THE FALKIRK CULTURAL
CENTER PROJECT FROM THE CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE, COASTAL, AND
PARK LAND CONSERVATION ACT OF 1988
WHEREAS, the people of California under the California
Wildlife, Coastal, and Park Land Conservation Act of 1988
have authorized the establishment of a History and
Archeology Grant Program, providing funds to the political
subdivisions of the State and to non-profit organizations
for the preservation of significant historical and
archeological resources; and
WHEREAS, the Office of Historic Preservation is responsible
for the administration of the program within the State,
setting up necessary rules and procedures governing
application by local agencies under the program; and
WHEREAS, said adopted procedures established by the Office
of Historic Preservation require the applicant to certify by
resolution the approval of applications prior to submission
of said applications to the State.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the
City of San Rafael hereby:
1. Approves the filing of an application for the
History and Archeology Grant assistance for
project; and
2. Appoints the City Manager or her authorized deputy
as agent of the City to coordinate, process, and
execute all contracts, agreements, amendments, and
ancillary documents within the scope of the
attached application.
I, JEANNE M. LEONCINI, City Clerk of the City of San Rafael
hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly and
regularly introduced and adopted at a regular
meeting of the City Council of said City held on M nday
the 21st day of November , 1988, by the
following vote to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Boro, Breiner, Frugoli, Thayer & Mayor Mulrya
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS• None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS• None
JEANNE M. EONCINI, City Clerk
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OFFICE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Department of Parks and Recreation
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, California 94296-0001
Amount Regrested: s 1,099,151
(DO NOT RETYPE THIS FORM
Use continuation sheets
as necessary to provide
additional information.)
1988 HISTORY AND ARCHEOLOGY GRANT PROGRAM
CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE, COASTAL, AND PARK LAND CONSERVATION ACT OF 1988
APPLICATION
1. Property name (as listed on the Rational Register of Historic Places, if
so listed; otherwise common name, followed by historic name,' if any):
ROBERT DOLLAR ESTATE, ( FALKIRK CULTURAL CENTER)
Address•• 1408 Mission Avenue
City: San Rafael County: Marin
._..
2. Legislative districts of property:
Congressional No. 6 and Name Barbara Boxer
State Senate No. 3 and Name Milton Marks
State Assembly No. 9 and Name William Filante
3. Designations of historic significance: (Complete all that apply)
California Historical Landmark Number
Point of Historical Interest Number
121181/2 Date placed on the National Register of Historic Places
114 '��'�'— Included in local inventory on approved Office of
Historic Preservation Inventory Form f DPR 523 (submit copy of the form).
Is inventory covered by a local preservation ordinance? Include a copy
of the ordinance.
Exceptional Designated by local review body (include a copy of the
designation and ordinance).
�j_nn Part of a local or regional plan (include pertinent
element of the plan).
4. Property owner: City of San Rafael
Address: P.O.Box 60 San Rafael 94915
If not owned and operated by applicant, what is applicant's method of
ownership control? Easement Lease Other
5. Applicant: Falkirk Cultural Center (unit of local government)
(must be elm ible it of local government or non-profit
organization
Address: 1408 ission Avenue, San Rafael 94915
16
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6. Contact person: Carol Adney, Falkirk Director iitural Affairs Supervisor
tLocal goverment or non-profit organization)
Address: 1408 Mission Avenue, San Rafael, 94915
Phone: (415) 485-3326 or 485-3328
7. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION: (Use Continuation Page following this application.)
(DO NOT WRITE MORE THAN ONE (1) PAGE FOR THIS QUESTION -- ONLY ONE PAGE
MILL BE READ.) exterior of
Condition --excellent interior good fair deteriorated mansion b
grounds
ruins unexposed
Appearance --unaltered X altered
Location --original site X =ved date 1888
Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance,
providing dates for changes made to original appearance. Include
photographs showing overall property, main resource(s) from several
angles, and details where preservation work is required. Include copies
of historic photographs that are available, to show property's appearance
at earlier periods of history. (If application proposes relocating a
historic structure, include adequate documentation and photos to show
that the new site adequately resembles the historic site, and that the
relocation will not adversely affect the historic resources of the new
site. Give address of new site.)
Also complete either the Historic Resources Inventory form (Appendix I)
or the Archeological Site Record form (Appendix II), if the property is
not only ready in the inventory and/or if you did not include a copy of
the previously completed form.
8. PROPERTY SIGNIFICANCE: (Use Continuation Page following this
application.) (DO NOT WRITE MORE THAN ONE (1) PAGE FOR THIS QUESTION --
ONLY ONE PAGE WILL BE READ.)
Period: prehistoric 1700-1799 1800-1899 X 1900 -
Area of significance --check and justify below: archeology
community planning X conservation economics x_ education y_
engineering exploration/settlement industry invention
landscape architecture X law literature mfi—itary x
music philosophy polit cs government religion
science sculpture social/humanitarian X theater
transportation X other specify)
Specific dates: comalgUd in 18W
Builder/architect: Archit"J: Clinton Day. Builder: F_F_ Chicolm
17
9. Kind of project proposed for grant funding (see definitions on pages 7-9):
Development: restoration rehabilitation X stabilization
Acquisition archeology
10. Brief narrative description of scope of work to be done with this grant,
and time frame, with sumo ry and schedule of further project phases
required to bring the property to a completed state of preservation:
For the mansion this grant will stabilize and seismic retrofit four fifty foot
tall chimneys; repair termite and dry rot damage, solve major foundation problems;
repair and paint the exterior, and provide fire access to the third floor which
will be rehabilitated into office space. Completed: July 1991.
For five acres of grounds a masterplan will be based on historic 'research then a
phased rehabilitation will be completed by May of 1992.
The next phase of work is the maintence of the property at this completed level
of excellence,and the development of an endowment to assure this maintence.
11. Major proposed work elements and their detailed costs, in priority,
order. (Include dates costs were/will be incurred for any
preconstruction work --architectural, archeological, structural
engineering, acquisition options --done between June 7, 1988 and June 30,
1989. Use a Continuation Page if necessary - use format below.
YORK ITEM
COST (DATE INCURRED)
see attached
TOTAL PROJECT COST: $ 1,099,151
12. Amount of grant funds requested with this application: s 1,099,151
(must be no less than $50,000)
13. Is this historic or archeological resource benefitting from any federal
grant-in-aid, loan or tax credit program? If so, provide the name or
names of the program: NA
Is this resource part of a California.. Main Street Project?
Yes No X
ITEMS 14 THROUGH 18 ARE FOR ACQUISITION PROJECTS ONLY. For development grant
proposals, proceed to item 19.
14. Property is is not available for purchase. (Explain.)
15. State lot dimensions
or acreage of property. Include a parcel map, with the
area to be acquired clearly detailed.
18
16. Proposed acquisit.,n schedule: (Contact OHP for wpy of legal
requirements.)
17. Project will will not result in acquisition of less -than -fee-
simple interest in the resource. Describe:
18. If appraisals have already been done, list the following:
NAME AND ADDRESS OF APPRAISOR DATE PERFORMED APPRAISED VALUE
Note: Questions 18 and 19 are critical to the competitive evaluation of
your project.
19. Is the property now endangered? Encroachment vandalism X
impending demolition by whose actions and why? Some vandalism has begun to
take place on the grounds as they are now unprotected by fencing or security tights.
Street ppeople loiter around the outbuildinas and distant areas,which are difficult
to sec e.
deterioration X code violations (specify) seismic safteyy codes
Ageing has deteriore�ea the mansion and grounds for more than CU years. Although the Cit
has spent more than $323,000 in improvements and now an annual operating budget of
$250,000, ere areendangerments which need a major infusion of funds to save the Estat
other specify�#rPoc t (� 5i{�htl ja ovggrow
Peeling paint -Water damage o stucco, dry rotin foundation, Moles in o r a i g r
20. How will this project significantly reduce the endangerment? (Use gutters.
Continuation Page following this application.) (DO NOT WRITE MORE THAN
ONE (1) PAGE FOR THIS QUESTION -- ONLY ONE PAGE WILL BE READ.)
21. What are the long-term plans for the property?
Today Falkirk, as a cultural center, houses three major arts organizations. Our
• mission is to "provide a cultural focal point and a historic site for San Rafael
and the greater community." Our activities involve Marin County residents and
youth in the cultural and historic resources of their community.
19
22. Now ofWn will the public be able to see the competed grant -funded work?
The grounds are adjacent to downtown San Rafael, and open free year round. The
f mansion is also free, open five days a week, 52 weeks a year. The house is rented
approx. 8 times per month by corporate and private organizations.
23. Brief description of project impact on its community, and relationship of
tthis roect to other 1p 1 reserYation activities:
The histor?c 1�esearch conducte� with this grant will De of major import to a
permanent educational program being initiated at Falkirk. We are working with
the schools and the Buck Trust to establish an educational program for students
and teachers which emphasizes historical, architectural, and cultural awareness.
This interpretive program will serve 5,000 students in 2 years, and train junior/
senior docents for the facility. Junior docents will lead visitors through the
Estate connecting the past with the resent. Our neighborhood also includes the
Louise Boyd House (National Landmark�,Mission San Rafael, and a preserved Victorian
area which will be included in historic tours of this project.
Falkirk hosts the Board meetings of Marin Heritage, and has its own Preservation Librar,
24. Architectural plans, historic structure report research, and/o open to the public.
archeologist's report have X have not been prepared. (If so,
include copies.) These are-7—or backgroundformation. They may or may
not meet the documentation requirements if the project is funded.
25. Names and addresses of any architect, principal researcher, and
archeologist that have already been selected (include resumes):
Do these persons meet the professional qualifications on page 16?
W�ME AND ADDRESS
* Charles Hall Page, Master of City Planning
* John Gordon Turnbull, Architect
364 Bush Street, San Francisco, 94104
* Thomas Brown, Landscape Architect
2275 Cedar, Berkeley 94709
* Morris Neil Finisy, Architect
1408 Fourth Street, San Rafael, 94914
* Brian Wittenkeller, Landscape Architect
1329 Via Sessi, San Rafael 94901
HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS PROJECT WITH THE ABOVE
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TITLE
Preservation Consultant
Preservation Consultant
Preservation Consultant
Architect
Landscape Architect
INDIVIDUALS, AND CONSIDERING THEIR INVOLVEMEN-
26. Project will will not X involve displacement of current tenants.
27. Date County Clerk stamped Notice of Exemption: November 22, 1988
If not exempt, date full environmental review was completed:
20
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CERTIFICATION: In am), 'ttiag this application. I car' lr that the applicant
is Willing to Whet M e,rirmants of the historic N _4ervation grant pm gram
Of the California Viidlife, Coastalg and park Land Conservation Act of In$ as
atlatnisterad by tha Office of Historic 'reservation. I certify that the
inforsstion provided is accurate to the best of the applicant's knowledge, and
that 00 tcant rill comply With all applicable state laws.
A.
t r I t ad L*Cjkl erniaent or Non•profif
Represents ire's Signature
tt e a specs i �ittilchid resolution
of app icant's governing body)
21
//,C�oel
03bri'QUW= RUM FM ITS N0. 7 Q AI?'PbIMTEN — FrOMY DESCRMICUS
Located on 11.1 acres of wooded hillside, the Falkirk estate exemplifies the late 19th century
grand country estates, once so prevalent in the Bay Area. The 2 % story Robert Dollar mansion has a
raised basement and a complex, picturesque roofline of gable&, chimneys and round and slanted bays,
half-timbering, small panel windows, as well as leaded and stained glass windows. A two story, vernacular
shingle East wing was added to the mansion by Robert Dollar in 1927.
The mansion skillfully combines two Victorian architectural styles: Eastlake (1870-1880) and
Queen Anne (1876-1900). The masonry insets, oriel windows changing shape at each floor, successive
overhangs, and applied wood paneling imitating half timbering above shingle siding are all characteristic
of the Queen Anne style. The arrangement of the downstairs rooms, also consistent with the Queen
Anne style, groups the library, dining and living rooms around a lozenge shaped central hall containing
a large, exquisitely decorated fireplace.
The interior decor follows closely the Eastlake style: inlaid hardwood floors, curved glass bay
windows, carved oak fireplaces, several large stained glass windows of exceptional quality, and redwood
paneled vaulted ceilings in the hall, dining and living rooms, with decoratively molded cross beams. All
carvings, brackets, fireplaces and fabric trimmings, carefully conceived in accordance with Eastlake's
suggestions, are exceptionally well preserved.
The main stairwell from the reception hall encircles the central hall fireplace, following two large
stained glass windows, restored in 1981. Architect Clinton Day employed considerable skill in planning
by raising portions of the second floor at least three feet to accommodate the first floor's 15 foot high
vaulted ceilings. This interesting separation of levels is repeated on the third floor. Presently, the original
second floor bedrooms are maintained as galleries and administrative offices for four local arts
organizations. A small windowless room at the center of the second floor has been converted to a public
reading room where both poetry collections and historic preservation books and journals are made
available to the public. The third floor, presently closed to the public, consists of three bedroom's
(originally servants quarters) and a nursery around a large central hall.
The Dollar mansion, set approximately 150' back from Mission Avenue, is reached by a long,
curving driveway. The rolling lawns, mature shrubs and trees, the winding drive and footpaths create
a gracious park -like setting, traditional for the grand country estates of the period. A brick -lined lily
pond adds to the elegance of the gardens.
Other buildings on the estate include a circular lath house with a gothic arched entrance. This
connects with a larger greenhouse restored in 1986 by Marin Heritage, a community based historic
preservation organization. A separate Gardener's cottage with an unfinished roof, damaged flooring and
walls, is in considerable need of repairs. Farther up the path, a barbecue area, complete with an outdoor
barbecue, small kitchen and a large patio, was added to the estate by the Dollars in 1928. The back wall
of a four car garage, once the Dollar's carriage house which had been moved from their J Street
. residence, is all that remains from a 1973 fire.
Changes to the estate since the City acquired the property in 1974 include new paths on the
grounds and around the building, a wheelchair access ramp to the first floor (1981) and the second floor
(1984), a wheelchair equipped first floor ba,*room, and restoration of the kitchen facilities.
J
CONTINUATION SHEL rOR ITEM NO. 8 OF APPLICATION - PROPERTY SIGNIFICANCE:
Distinguished architect Clinton Day designed the Falkirk mansion for Mrs. Ella F. Park.
Day, noted for his City of Paris design in San Francisco in 1888 as well as the Stanford Chapel
in Palo Alto, designated many local materials for the Queen Ann structure: stone from the Short
Quarry in San Rafael, brick from McNear's brickyard, and redwood from groves in Mill `!'alley.
It is said to be the best example of a victorian estate in the Bay Area. Ella Park, the widow of
Trenor Park whose land title law firm managed John C. Fremont's legendary Mariposas Gold
Mine, inherited $100,000 outright and $15,000 a year from her late husband's estate. After his
death, she returned to her native Bay Area; her father, A.C. Nichols, a San Francisco
businessman, kept a summer home in San Rafael. Ella Park took in convalescing
Spanish/American war veterans who benefitted from the temperate climate. The house,
completed in 1888, remained Ella Park's residence until her death in 1905.
Shipping magnate Robert Dollar purchased the home in 1906. From his humble
beginnings as a poor Scottish immigrant in Canada, Dollar built one of the world's largest
merchant shipping companies, the Dollar Steamship Company. His company brought Canadian
lumber to Alaska at the height of the Alaskan Gold Rush, opened up a large trading business
with China, and proved to be a formidable opponent to large established European shipping
companies which sought to compete in the western Pacific. He had lived in San Rafael on J
Street since 1888. Captain Dollar was well known in Marin for his philanthropy, donating land
for an orphanage in 1888, the Presbyterian church in 1895, and Boyd Memorial Park in 1911,
and endowing a chair at the San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1919. At the time of his
death in 1932, he was known as the Dean of American shipping.
The Falkirk estate, located within a few blocks from the hub of Marin County commerce
and government, remains a key component of San Rafael's cultural heritage. The Mission San
Raphael and the site of the County Courthouse are three blocks southeast of Falkirk, San Rafael
City Hall and the Carnegie -donated library are directly across the street, open space and portions
of Boyd Memorial Park are behind the estate, and Robert F. Boyd's mansion, Mat)le Lawn, and
the Boyd Carriage House, which houses the Marin Historical museum, border Falkirk's eastern
side.
Falkirk has received support from government, private and corporate sponsors: The
National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, the Buck Trust, and Lucas Film. In
addition to capital improvements of $323,000, the City of San Rafael has increased its
commitment from a budget of $30,500 in 1974 to $250,000 for 1989. San Rafael's current
mayor was instrumental in saving Falkirk. Since 1980, the Center has received sustained
leadership from the Cultural Affairs Commissioner:
Falkirk, as a cultural center, plans in 1989 to bring more students to the estate for an
• interpretative program focusing on the architectural heritage of their community.
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ITEM
UTAn
TOTAL ITM
DATE
-__W --------------------- - - -
f
- - -- ---
- - - - - - - - - - -
- - ------
-----
1.
1.
Foundation 'repair
Architecture/Eagineering •
14,107
construction
56,430
70,537
5/90
2.
Seismic Retrofit
Attic, Porch
44,360
Four chimneys: Brace i Restore
288,000
Architect/Engineering
83,090
415,450
5/90
3.
Exterior Repair and Paint
Paint
62,376
Repair
23,444
Asch/Engr
21,455
107,275
8/90
4.
Third Floor Restoration
Stairway/Fire access
73,590
Architecture/Engineering
18,397
91,987
7/91
S.
Repair Termite & Dry Rot Damage
Construction
26,840
Architecture/Engineering
6,710
33,550
7/90
6.
Landscape Ma.sterplan
Botanical/Historic Research
9,000
Masterplan
10,000
Project Manager
3,800
22,800
12/90
7.
Deer Fencing G Gates
Three Gates
13,000
1590 ft. Fence
29,000
Architecture/Engineering **
14,350
56,350
7/91
S.
Irrigation Rehab i Renewal
Lawn 1.0 Acre
32,700
Shrub 1.0 Acre
54,500
Architecture/Lnginsering
30,520
117,720
6/91
9.
Exterior Lighting (New)
Ten Locations
20,000
Architecture/Engineering
7,000
27,000
5/92
10.
Plantings
Replacements
20,000
2/92
Tree Pruned/Removed
25,000
1/91
Project Manager
14,000
59,000
11.
Gardener's House (outbuilding)
Restore
66,050
Architecture/Engineering
16,512
82,562
7/91
12.
Pathway i Roadway Rehab
11,000 sq. ft.
11,050
Project Manager
3,870
14,920
10/91
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PROJECT TOTAL
-------
---------
11099,151'
------------I--------------------------------------------------------------
*
Mansion and outbuilding Architectural
Engineering fees include
the following: 151 Architect fee, 10%
Project Manager
**
Landscape-construction Architectural
Engineering
fees include
the following: 15• for working drawings, 10• Contingency
fee,
10% Project Manager
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CONTINUATION SHEET FOR ITEM NO. 20 -- ENDANGERMENT:
101
Since the citizen's of San Rafael passed a bond issue 14 years ago to save the mansion from a
developer's wrecking ball, the City of San Rafael and volunteer groups have done much to restore
Falkirk to it's original splendoz However, a lack of funds have continually halted efforts to correct the
most serious structural problems. Also, with the absence of a master landscape plan, Falkirk is endanger
of losing its turn of the century integrity. Monies sought in this grant would, after a careful review
with restoration specialists, correct these problems so as to maintain integrity of historical appearance.
,Structural Stability
Foundation repair is needed in a number of places. Settlement of the west brick foundation wall
has created large cracks in the kitchen wall and smaller cracks in the second floor reading room. By
pouring a new concrete wall at this site, the settlement of the foundation can be stopped. Because
Falkirk was built before the post -1906 building codes were established, many of the structural
corrections address the issue of insuring earthquake safety. The San Andreas fault lies twelve miles west
of the Falkirk estate.
In addition, foundation cracks which allowed termite entry have weakened the original foundation
brick walls. This structural weakening increases both the amount of damage done to the structure and
the danger to any occupants of Falkirk during an earthquake. One option would be to cap the brick
walls with poured concrete, pour a new foundation wall against the existing wall, and install pressure
treated mudsills with anchor bolts.
Four of Falkirk's chimneys endanger occupants or visitors in the event of an earthquake.
Stabilization of these chimneys under this grant proposal would reduce that threat. In addition, seismic
retrofit is needed for the entry porch arch where turned posts sit on a shingled railing war and support
a shingled arch header One option would be to reconstruct this structure with a rigid steel bent that
would reduce the potential damage under seismic loads. Similar retrofitting needs to be done in the
attic, in crawl spaces and to inadequately framed third floor walls.
Insect Damage and Deterioration of Materials
Termites and dry rot have been found in the front porch framing, decking and railing, in crawl
spaces under the kitchen, the dining room and southwest turret. Continued deterioration under these
conditions will lead to eventual structural failure. Under this grant, replacement of damaged materials
and proper chemical treatment will stop the deterioration.
F-xterior Surfaces and Weather Fnvelone
Despite a complete 1978 exterior paint job, Falkirk requires another paint job today. Current
damage to the exterior surfaces include cracked and leaking stucco panels, badly deteriorated window
ills, a rotted third floor balcony railing, missing putty around 21 windows, and five rotted window
sashes. Without proper repair/replacement and protection, further damage will continue to endanger
the structure. Grant funds would correct existing damage to the structure as well provide resources to
paint (protect) these surfaces from future damage.