The Southern Pacific Train Depot could be one step closer to being named as a national historic landmark if the Historic Preservation Review Commission (HPRC) endorses the nomination at its Thursday meeting. In 2015, the Benicia Historical Society and Parks and Community Services Department put together a nomination for the Depot to be placed on […]
Historic Preservation Review Commission approves design modifications for proposed Tannery restaurant
The Historic Preservation Review Commission voted to approve design modifications for a new Italian-American restaurant at the Tannery Building during its Thursday meeting. Soon, 127 First St. will be the home of Bella Siena, a restaurant and bar that will serve Italian and Californian cuisine with a menu of pastas, salads, seafood, steaks and more, […]
Arts & Culture Commission presents public art proposal to HPRC
Several walls, utilities and spaces in Benicia could soon be undergoing artistic makeovers, as the Arts & Culture Commission (ACC) presented its plans for a bold new public art initiative at Thursday’s Historic Preservation Review Commission (HPRC) meeting. The plan? Take large, empty spaces on walls and paint murals on them. Also, take trash cans, […]
Council hears highlights, goals for Historic Preservation Review Commission
The chairman of the Historic Preservation Review Commission (HPRC) discussed the committee’s highlights from the previous year and goals for the future at Tuesday’s Benicia City Council meeting as councilmembers listened intently. Tim Reynolds presented the HPRC’s annual report, which began with a list of highlights from 2016. The seven-member commission met 11 times, had […]
City Council narrowly votes to uphold appeal to save historic buildings from demolition
The Benicia City Council voted 3-2 to uphold an appeal that would prevent two historic buildings from being demolished at its Tuesday meeting. The historic Foundry and Office building structures located at the end of East H Street were constructed in the 1850s as the shipping and office buildings for the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, […]
Update on Clocktower renovation projects provided at Thursday’s HPRC meeting
The city of Benicia is working to make some changes to its historic Clocktower, including a re-roofing and tower netting, Parks and Building Maintenance Superintendent Rick Knight said at Thursday’s Historic Preservation Review Commission (HPRC) meeting. Knight said the city has worked to stabilize the tower’s stones. During a routine inspection of the 158-year-old structure, […]
HPRC to consider supporting designation of Arsenal as ‘cultural district’ at Thursday’s meeting
The Historic Preservation Review Commission (HPRC) will consider supporting a request from the Arts and Culture Commission for the Arsenal to be designated as a cultural district by the California Arts Council. If approved, the request could go before the Benicia City Council as soon as its March 28 meeting. In a staff report, Community […]
Split decision in Board of Appeals hearing over historic property
The historic Foundry and Office buildings will stay standing…for now. After a split 1-1 decision by the Building Code Board of Appeals on Wednesday, no immediate action was taken on the decision to issue an emergency demolition permit for the buildings, which means it could go before the City Council in the future. The two […]
Board of Appeals to hear appeal of historic building demolition tonight
The Building Code Board of Appeals will hear the appeal of the chief building official’s decision to issue an emergency demolition permit for two historic buildings at tonight’s meeting. In October, the automobile import company Amports, filed an application for an emergency demolition permit to demolish the Foundry and Office buildings, located at 678 […]
Historic Preservation Review Commission to discuss proposed property at Thursday’s meeting
The Historic Preservation Review Commission (HPRC) will be discussing a design proposed for a new home on East H Street at Thursday’s meeting. Applicant Angela Fortain has proposed the construction of a new single family home on a 9,576 square foot parcel located at the corner of East H and Fourth streets. The two-story home […]