It’s time for the annual review of Benicia’s Mills Act properties and contracts. The Historic Preservation and Review Commission will hear Thursday about the progress property owners have made on their buildings.
The Mills Act gives owners of historic buildings the opportunity to lower their property taxes. However, they’re expected to spend the money they save on refurbishing and maintaining their buildings in historically appropriate ways.
In fact, their contracts include a list of tasks and a calendar detailing when those projects must be completed. Should a property owner complete all the tasks on the list, he or she can continue the contract with the city but must maintain the building according to historic standards.
At Thursday’s meeting the HPRC will review reports on the most recent inspections and hear about contract holders’ progress on their mandated assignments.
Suzanne Thorsen, associate planner, wrote April 4 that to assure compliance with the contracts, city employees have had additional conversations with property owners who were unable to complete work plan or maintenance tasks.
Since the program was authorized in Benicia in 2003, the city has contracted with 33 property owners. Two more properties have agreements that date to 1990.
One is the 1890 Queen Anne-style house originally built at 245 West K St. by Franklin and Henrietta Riddell Fish, described in a historical survey as “one of the largest and most impressive houses in Benicia.”
The other is the Frisbie Walsh House at 235 East L St., built by John Frisbie, son-in-law of Mariano Vallejo, whose wife is Benicia’s namesake. This is a Carpenter Gothic home that dates to 1860. The same analysts described it as “one of the most outstanding historic houses in Benicia.”
Most of the Mills Act contract properties are in compliance with the current stages of their contract and work plan, Thorsen wrote.
However, inspectors noted during their examination that the Union Hotel, 401 First St., is missing siding board on its third story south façade and has peeling paint on the first floor trim. In addition, they found a broken storm window on the first floor’s south side.
This year, the hotel is expected to get eight new plexiglass windows on its First Street and West D Street façades. Those windows are expected to protect historic stained glass. The building also should be getting lattice on its second-story roof.
The owners of 171 West H St. and 242 West I St. have asked for contract revisions, and their future task list may change if those revisions are approved, Thorsen wrote.
The city loses some of its share of property taxes when it agrees to a Mills contract, Thorsen wrote. The latest estimated revenue loss to the city for all Mills Act properties is $26,565, she wrote, and the buildings’ inspections cost $5,250, for a total of $31,815.
In other matters, the HPRC will hear a request by Matt Rutledge to replace 10 aluminum, single-pane windows in his apartment building at 121 East G St. Rutledge wants to install vinyl-clad dual-pane windows and two sliding glass doors in his building.
The property is not considered a contributor to the city’s downtown historic district, Principal Planner Amy Million wrote in her report. She is recommending approval of the request.
“The proposal would upgrade the existing single-pane windows wit new energy-efficient dual-pane windows,” Million wrote. Other units in the building have received similar upgrades, she noted, and Rutledge doesn’t propose changing the size of the windows.
The panel also will review a proposed informational brochure that would provide the public with information about the city’s historic preservation program, including guidelines for compliance.
The HPRC also will examine its current list of strategic plan and discussion topics to determine if any items need to be added or dropped.
Its top item under strategic plan projects is the update of the Downtown Historic Conservation Plan. Others on the list are two suggested changes to the Downtown Mixed Use Master Plan, historic district boundaries and the Arsenal Historic Context.
The HPRC will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Commission Room of City Hall, 250 East L St.
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