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MEMORANDUM
Date: March 11, 2024
To: Town of Atherton, Planning Department
Brittany Bendix, Principal Planner
From: Isabel Castellano, Historic Preservation Specialist Subject: Town of Atherton, Housing Element Update, Preliminary Evaluation regarding 9 subject properties: 999 Ringwood Avenue (APN 061091080); 352 Bay Road (APN 061091070); 318 Bay Road (APN 061091060); 296 Bay Road (APN 061091050); 175 Ravenswood Avenue (APN 061281050); 185 Ravenswood Avenue (APN 061281060); 197 Ravenswood Avenue (APN 061281150); 23 Oakwood Boulevard (APN 059153080); 150 Valparaiso Avenue (APN 070390010).
Introduction
The purpose of this memorandum (memo) is to provide a preliminary evaluation to assist the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of the Town of Atherton’s Housing Element Update, regarding 9 subject properties: 999 Ringwood Avenue (APN 061091080); 352 Bay Road (APN 061091070); 318 Bay Road (APN 061091060); 296 Bay Road (APN 061091050); 175 Ravenswood Avenue (APN 061281050); 185 Ravenswood Avenue (APN 061281060); 197 Ravenswood Avenue (APN 061281150); 23 Oakwood Boulevard (APN 059153080); 150 Valparaiso Avenue (APN 070390010).
A brief description of the subject properties, existing structures on site, and a preliminary opinion for the eligibility as a historic resource and listing in the state and local register is also included. The subject properties are located in various areas within the Town of Atherton. Further descriptions are provided in the following section. The conclusion provides recommendations and preliminary findings for the subject properties. A complete Historic Resource Evaluation (HRE) and Archaeological Report may be requested for development proposals associated with the project site to satisfy the CEQA review.
Methodology
The methodological approach used to complete the preliminary evaluation consisted of historical research of the property and the associated persons and events, archived directory research (Appendix IV), and subject property documentation (Appendix III). Further research was conducted using online resources, including archived maps (Appendix II), parcel and aerial maps (Appendix III), and newspaper articles (Appendix V). In addition, the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR), and the Town of Atherton Criteria were reviewed.
Additional notes on the architectural style and features of the structures are recorded. m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
A site visit was completed with the assistance of M-Group’s Assistant Planner, Laylonni Laster, on December 11, 2023, and on January 2, 2024. During the site visit, the subject property’s existing condition was recorded with photographic documentation of the subject property from the public right-of-way (Appendix III). General obstructions for photographic documentation included landscape, fencing, property walls, gates, and parked vehicles. Additional notes on the architectural features of the structure and neighborhood were recorded for the development of the HRE’s site and building descriptions. Archive and library visits were completed on February 23, 2024, by M-Group’s, Associate Planner, Sean Manalo.
Town of Atherton Brief History
The area surrounding present-day Atherton remained largely rural and agricultural in the 1800’s, with the development of a collection of farms and ranches ran by Mexican immigrants to Alta California.
Settler Luis Arguello, was awarded a parcel in 1835, stretching from modern day Menlo Park through Atherton to San Mateo. This cattle ranch was called “Rancho las Pulgas,” and would eventually be settled and developed by new migrants to the region.
During the period around 1850, California experienced increases and changes in trade, population, trade, and development. The California Gold Rush and the admission of California into the Union accelerated the economic demands of the state and made the construction of a transportation network linking the region’s major hubs of commerce a necessity. Implementation of a railroad linking San Francisco and Santa Clara County was completed in 1864, with the construction of the “San Francisco and San Jose Railroad”. Along this route, Southern San Mateo County became a popular destination for San Franciscans looking for places to build summer homes in the sunshine. In 1866, Atherton was known as “Fair Oaks”, and was a flag stop on the California Coast for the Southern Pacific Railroad between San Francisco and San Jose for the convenience of the owners of large estates living north of Menlo Park.
As California approached the end of the gold and silver mining era, Fair Oaks and Menlo Park remained quite rural. With the construction of the historic Flood (Linden Towers) and Selby (Almendral) estates, the area became noted as a place for country homes for San Francisco’s wealthiest businessmen and high-society families. Individuals who made residence in the Fair Oaks community included Louis and Lucie Stern of the Levi Strauss Company, socialite Olive Holbrook and Silas Palmer, inventor Leon Douglass, Thomas Selby of Selby Silver and Lead Smelting Works and Former Mayor of San Francisco, William Cassandra Hills Adams, bank founder Joseph Donohoe, “cattle king “ Henry Miller, heiress Mabel Lloyd Jessup, and the Moulton and Merrill families1 . The legacy of
these individuals and their namesake estates continue to be celebrated for their history and legacy within the Town.
Throughout the beginning of the 20th century, the community of Fair Oaks remained an oasis of large farmlands, orchards, and estate homes in contrast to the rapidly growing surrounding communities.
Edward Eyre and Perry Eyre, prominent members of the community, were at the forefront of trying to incorporate Fair Oaks to maintain its rural identity. In 1923, residents of Menlo Park announced its 1 Town of Atherton, 100 Year Celebration. https://www.ci.atherton.ca.us/665/100---Year-Centennial-Celebration m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
intention to incorporate its lands to include Fair Oaks. During a meeting of the representatives of the two communities, the Fair Oaks property owners maintained their community as a strictly residential area, and decided they would incorporate independently. Both groups rushed to the County courthouse in Redwood City, but the Fair Oaks committee arrived first. They also realized that they could not keep the name “Fair Oaks,” as it was already the name of a town near Sacramento2 . It was
decided to honor Faxon Dean Atherton who had been one of the first property owners in the south peninsula and name the town for him. Atherton was then incorporated on September 12, 1923.
Consistent with the vision of the Town’s earliest residents, Atherton maintains large residential parcels that do not contain commercial uses. In subsequent years, the town would see large land holdings being subdivided into smaller residential parcels. By the 1950’s, over 80 subdivisions would be officially recorded in Atherton, bringing the era of large land estates to a close.
Today, Atherton’s continues to maintain stately homes with refined landscaping and country lanes that began with the early families who built their estates long before the town’s founding. The Town remains largely single-family residential homes and maintains its unique character as a scenic, semirural, thickly-wooded residential area with abundant open space. With close proximity to San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the Town stands as one of the wealthiest and prestigious communities in the United States.
In addition to its built development, Atherton is still “a plain of oaks,” where a variety of tree species including native live oaks, white oaks, bays, redwoods, cedars, pines, and other ornamental trees cover the six square miles of town.3
Refer to Town of Atherton Map (Figure 1) and Subject Property Documentation (Appendix III) for the location of the subject properties. Refer to “Archaeological Record Search and Report of Findings for the Town of Atherton Zoning Code Update, Atherton, San Mateo County, California,” dated February 8, 2024, prepared by Evans & De Shazo, Inc., for additional subject property site history and information.
2 Guillard, Pamela and Lund, Nancy. Under the Oaks – Two Hundred Years in Atherton . San Francisco, CA; Scottwall Associates, 2009. 3 Town of Atherton. History of Atheron. https://www.ci.atherton.ca.us/96/History-of-Atherton m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
Figure 1: Town of Atherton Map.
Source: Bing Maps, 2024.
Town of Atherton General Plan
As described on the Town of Atherton’s General Plan website, the Atherton General Plan was adopted in November 2002, and is intended as a map for the Town to guide the growth and development. The General Plan is a comprehensive document articulating policies and guidelines for developing and preserving the quality of life in Atherton. General Plans typically contain goals, objectives, policies and programs all intended to support the Town's desire to develop in a particular manner and to attain a community vision. An update to the Housing Element, prepared in accordance with State law, was adopted by the City Council on March 18, 2015, with the next State mandated update occurring in 2022. All other elements of the General Plan have not been updated since 2002. Atherton is essentially built out in accordance with the policies stated in the General Plan.4
The City Council held a public hearing on January 15, 2020, at which time it considered the IS/MND and all comments on that document. It also considered the proposed General Plan Update and all of the comments made at the public workshop, the Planning Commission public hearing and the City Council public hearing. At the conclusion of the public hearing the City Council certified the IS/MND and adopted the General Plan Update.5
4 Town of Atherton, General Plan Background Information available at: https://www.ci.atherton.ca.us/208/General-Plan 5 Town of Atherton, General Plan 2019, document dated January 2020, page III INTRO – 5.
Town of Atherton,
Approx.
N
999 Ringwood Ave,
352 Bay Road,
318 Bay Road,
296 Bay Road,
Approx.
175 Ravenswood Ave,
185 Ravenswood Ave,
197 Ravenswood Ave,
Approx.
23 Oakwood Blvd,
Approx.
150 Valparaiso Ave
(Sacred Heart Schools),
Approx.
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Town of Atherton General Plan’s Open Space and Conservation Element & Existing Historic Resources/ Structures
The open space and conservation element of the general plan is included in the 2019 General Plan, pages VIII OSC – 50 to 68, dated January 2020. The Open Space Element contains an inventory and description of existing and proposed open space lands and uses and identifies goals and policies that support open spaces in Atherton. The Conservation portion of this Element describes the Town’s natural and man-made resources; including land, water, ecosystems, cultural and living resources.
The Open Space and Conservation Element seeks to maintain the low-density, residential character of the Town.
The General Plan identifies the following properties as historically significant buildings and structures; the Watkins/Cartan House, Water Tower, Holbrook-Palmer Park, Gen Merrill Carriage House, HolbrookPalmer Park, Sacred Heart Schools Main Building, Menlo School, Stent Family Hall (Douglass Hall aka Payne-Douglass House), Perry Stable (Associated with Australian Racehorse Phar Lap), Caltrain Station, Town Center, and the Town Hall (Council Chambers building).6
The subject properties are not listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historical Resources (CRHR), or the Town of Atherton’s local criteria and are not identified as a historically significant buildings and structures within the General Plan’s Open Space and Conservation Element. The subject properties are also not listed in the published version of the California Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS) Built Environment Resource Directory (BERD) for San Mateo County.7
Figure 2: Open Space and Conservation Map.
Source: Town of Atherton General Plan, 2019.
6 Ibid, page VIII OSC – 64.
7 Built Environment Resource Directory (BERD). Resources by County available at: https://ohp.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30338 150 Valparaiso Ave
(Sacred Heart Schools),
Approx.
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Subject Properties Brief Descriptions
The subject properties include seven single-family residences of a Ranch architectural style, one multidwelling structure of a Spanish Ranch architectural style, and one single-family residence of a SplitLevel architectural style. Refer to Appendix I for the identification of the subject properties by their Assessor Parcel Number (APN), address, lot acres, zoning, structure type, year built, and architectural style. Refer to Appendix III for documentation of the subject properties which includes a parcel map, aerial view, and on-site photographs.
A “Ranch” architectural style, common from 1935 to 1975, is typically identified as a broad one-story structure in which it is built low to the ground, supports a low-pitched roof without dormers, and contains average to wide roof overhangs.8
Four principal subtypes are distinguished by their roof styles and include roofs that are hipped, cross-hipped, side-gable, or cross-gable. Additional design elements include an asymmetrical front façade, a covered front entry under a main roof that is typically off-centered, a garage on a main façade, and a large picture window.
There are a variety of windows associated with the Ranch architectural style due to the standardizations that were made for prefab construction during and post-World War II. Windows varied between traditional short, and picture styles and would commonly be made with steel, aluminum, or wood frames. Traditional windows include for horizontal panes 2/2 or 3/3, jealousies, horizontal panes, 2/2 or 3/3, and horizontal panes, 8/8 or 6/6. Short window styles include casement, sliding, awning, or hopper. Picture windows were configured with a large central pane with sections of multiple lights, as casement with multiple lights, horizontal lights, or ribbons of tall vertical panes that may not open.
With the Ranch architectural style’s asymmetrical front façade, the covered front entry may vary in four different locations. The entry can be either recessed on a flat façade and with coverage with a roof overhang, set into an “L” and recessed with coverage of two overhangs, located in an entry porch underneath a cross gable or cross hip roof, or contain a broad entry porch underneath the main roof form. Additional architectural features include open or boxed eaves, exposed rafters, chimneys, curvilinear door panels, decorated wrought-iron, wall claddings in entry areas, board-and-batten cladding, and window box planters.
“Styled” Ranch architectural styles were also built from 1935 and extended into 1985, and were identified as ranch residences that included one or more historic elements to resemble a Spanish, Colonial Revival, Neo-Classical, French, or Tudor.9
“Spanish Ranch” architectural style is prominent in
California and is identified by its stucco exterior, tiled roof, exposed rafter, round arches, roundarched front entry porch, principal windows, and a courtyard.
A ”Split-Level” architectural style refers to structures that are separated or have split levels with a partial flight of stairs and were designed to take advantage of more space on a smaller footprint. Split levels included common architectural styles visible in contemporary, ranch, and styled ranch 8 McAlester, Virginia S. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York, NY; Alfred A. Knopf, 2013. Ranch, pages 596 – 611. 9 Ibid. Styled Ranch, pages 694 – 704.
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structures.10 The configuration of the interior spaces allowed for multi-floor levels, multi-garage doors, shorter stair lengths, privacy, noise control, interior circulation, and lighting.
Other common landscape features for the single-family residential property sites include a gravel, paved, or concrete driveways, fenced perimeter of hedges, chain-link fence, and/or wooden fence, and minimal vegetation with a lawn, low-lying vegetation, and trees on the properties. The multidwelling structure (Nun Residence at Sacred Hearts School) is located in the Sacred Hearts School campus and therefore has landscape features associated with the school campus such as a main entrance to a circular driveway, an entry ramp, a covered porch area, a surfaced courtyard, and an open lawn area.
The nine subject properties are a good, but not an outstanding, example of its respective architectural style within the context of the style as represented in California or the Town of Atherton. The nine subject properties contain a variation of architectural elements involved in the identification of its architectural styles and generally appear in their original forms with minor alterations such as windows, doors, and roof replacements.
Preliminary Evaluation
Under CEQA resources that meet the criteria of the CRHR are considered historical resources for the purposes of CEQA. The State Office of Historic Preservation has recommended the National Register of Historic Properties Criteria for Evaluation (used below) as a uniform standard for California because they provide a basis for assessing the significance of historical resources at the national, state, and local levels.
As such, they encompass and provide for routine consideration of other applicable state and local criteria.11
From these are derived the guidelines used below, including the Town of Atherton’s Local Criteria (Chapter 8.15 of the Atherton Municipal Code).
Determinations of historical significance require that several factors are considered, including the property’s history (both construction and use); the history and context of the surrounding community; an association with important persons or uses; the number of resources associated with the property; the potential for the resources to be the work of a master architect, builder, craftsman, landscape gardener, or artist; the historical, architectural or landscape influences that have shaped the property’s design and its pattern of use; and alterations that have taken place; and lastly how these changes may have affected the property’s historical integrity.
These issues must be explored thoroughly before a final determination of significance can be established. To be eligible for the California Register, historic resources must possess both historical significance and retain historic integrity. The following are the four significance criteria of the California Register. Upon review of the criteria, if historic significance is identified, then an integrity analysis can be conducted. To be eligible for the California Register, an historical resource must be significant at the local, state, or national level under at least one of the following criteria noted below.
Records indicate the Town of Atherton contains three National Register properties (Holbrook-Palmer Estate, "Elmwood" at 150 Watkins Avenue, Mathews, Arthur C. and Judith, House at 83 Wisteria Way, 10 Ibid. Split-Level, pages 612 – 615.
11 Instructions for Recording Historical Resources, Office of Historic Preservation, March 1995. m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
and Watkins, Commodore James, House at 98 Alejandra Avenue, and contains two California Register of Historic Resources properties (Lindenwood Gates and Brick Wall, and Watkins-Cartan House). The subject properties do not meet the CRHC Criterion and the Town of Atherton’s Local Criteria, and are found not to be significant to the state or local criteria for historic resource eligibility. The subject properties are in various locations in the Town of Atherton (refer to Figure 1), and include properties with architectural styles of Ranch, Spanish Ranch, and Split-Level.
This preliminary evaluation memo provides a brief analysis of the subject properties with the CRHR Criterion and Town of Atherton’s Local Criteria for planning review.
CRHR Criteria
Criterion 1: Event or Patterns of Events
It is associated with events or patterns of 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.
Brief historical research has determined that the subject properties do not qualify under Criterion 1: Event or Patterns of 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. The subject properties include eight single-family residential properties and one multi-dwelling structure (Nun Residence at Sacred Hearts School). The architectural styles include Ranch, Spanish Ranch, and Split-Level and is illustrative of the architectural types and patterns of development of many of the region’s residential neighborhoods.
However, does not rise to a level of significance to justify individual California Register or local eligibility as an individual property. As a result, the dwelling does not qualify individually under California Register Criterion 1: Event or Pattern of Events.
Criterion 2: Important Person(s)
It is associated with the lives of persons important to local, California or national history.
Brief historical research has determined that subject properties, are not associated with any individuals who have had an important role in local, California or national history. The National Register Bulletin “How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation,” provides guidance in applying the criterion for “Important Persons”:
The persons associated with the property must have gained importance within his or her profession or group. … A property is not eligible if its only justification for significance is that it was owned or used by a person who is a member of an identifiable profession, class, or social or ethnic group. It must be shown that the person gained importance within his or her profession or group.
Brief research on the property’s address within Atherton/Menlo Park and San Mateo County Directory (Appendix IV) and with archived local newspaper articles (Appendix V) did not demonstrate significant nor historic backgrounds to qualify the subject dwelling as significantly historic. The directories contained information for five of the nine subject properties (352 Bay Road, 318 Bay Road, 296 Bay Road, 197 Ravenswood Avenue, and 23 m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
Oakwood Boulevard). Seven of the nine property addresses were recorded in archived and local newspaper articles. The articles related to one of the following subjects; a subdivision application, filed suits, local club events, Bay road protests, forums, marriage announcements, obituaries, burglaries, vehicular crashes, sales, and advertisements. The eight single-family residential subject properties have been held under various ownerships as a single-family residence and the one multi-dwelling structure (Nun Residence at Sacred Hearts School) has been maintained by the Sacred Heart Schools. As a result, the subject property does not qualify individually under California Register Criterion 2: Important Person(s).
Criterion 3: Design/Construction
It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region or method of construction, or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values.
Brief research has not identified a significant architect or designer with the subject property. The review of the subject properties' architectural style and architectural features has provided a description of the building’s current state in relation to its design and construction. As previously noted, The subject properties are a good, but not an outstanding, example of its respective architectural style within the context of the style as represented in California or the Town of Atherton. The subject properties contain a variation of architectural elements involved in the identification of its architectural styles and generally appear in their original forms with minor alterations such as windows, doors, and roof replacements. They do not possess unique or significant architectural features. As a result, the subject property does not qualify individually under California Register Criterion 3: Design/Construction.
Criterion 4: Information Potential
It has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information important to the prehistory or history of the local area, California or the nation.
Information related to the prehistory or history of the local area, California or the nation, is not included in the preliminary evaluation of the subject properties. Refer to “Archaeological Record Search and Report of Findings for the Town of Atherton Zoning Code Update, Atherton, San Mateo County, California,” dated February 8, 2024, prepared by Evans & De Shazo, Inc., for additional site history and information.
Town of Atherton Local Criteria
Procedures and processes to register historic buildings, along with activities requiring an alteration permit to a historic building in the Atherton historical register are located in Chapter
8.15 of the Atherton Municipal Code.12 The “Atherton historical register” is the official list of historic buildings within the town and is maintained by town staff (Ord. 652 § 1, 2022).
Pursuant to Chapter 8.15.200, the criteria for designating a historic building are the following:
12 Town of Atherton. Municipal Code Chapter 8.15. https://atherton.municipal.codes/Code/8.15 m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
Criterion A: Precondition to Listing
A building will only be considered for inclusion on the Atherton historical register, if one or more of the following is met:
1. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
2. The building is listed on the California State Historical Landmarks, Points of Interest, and the California Register of Historical Resources.
3. The building is determined to be of local significance by the city council.
The subject properties are currently not listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the California State Historical Landmarks, Points of Interest, or the California Register of Historical Resources. The subject properties have also not been determined to be of local significance by the City Council. As a result, the subject properties do not qualify individually under the Town of Atherton Historical Register Criteria A1, A2, and A3.
Criterion B: Determining Local Significance
The City Council may determine a building is of local significance if it can make any of the following findings with respect to the building:
1. The building is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of the town’s history;
Historical research has determined that the subject properties in the Town of Atherton are not associated with any events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of the town’s history (refer to CRHR, Criteria 1). The subject properties include eight single-family residential properties and one multi-dwelling structure (Nun Residence at Sacred Hearts School). The architectural styles include Ranch, Spanish Ranch, and SplitLevel and is illustrative of the architectural types and patterns of development of many of the region’s residential neighborhoods. However, does not rise to a level of significance to justify local eligibility as an individual property. As a result, the subject structure does not qualify individually under the Town of Atherton Historic Designation Criteria B1.
2. The building is associated with a person that played a significant role in the town’s history; Historical research has determined that the subject properties in the Town of Atherton, are not directly associated with a person that played a significant role in the town’s history (refer to CRHR, Criteria 2). The subject properties include eight single-family residences that are all not associated with a significant person. The multi-dwelling structure (Nun Residence at Sacred Hearts School) is located in the Sacred Hearts School. However, brief research has not identified that the multi-dwelling structure is directly associated with a person who played a significant role in the town’s history. As a result, the subject m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
properties do not qualify individually under the Town of Atherton Historic Designation Criteria B2.
3. The building embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represents 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, that have yielded or may be likely to yield information important in history or prehistory of the town; or
As previously noted in the evaluation of CRHR Criteria 3, brief research has not identified a significant architect or designer with the subject property. The review of the subject properties' architectural style and architectural features has provided a description of the building’s current state in relation to its design and construction. As previously noted, The subject properties are a good, but not an outstanding, example of its respective architectural style within the context of the style as represented in California or the Town of Atherton. The subject properties contain a variation of architectural elements involved in the identification of its architectural styles and generally appear in their original forms with minor alterations such as windows, doors, and roof replacements. They do not possess unique or significant architectural features, embody distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, represent the work of a master, possess high artistic values, or represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction. As a result, the subject structure does not qualify individually under the Town of Atherton Historic Designation Criteria B3.
This memo does not evaluate information related to archaeology for the evaluation of the subject properties to yield or may be likely to yield information important in history or prehistory of the town. As noted in CRHC criteria 4, information related to the prehistory or history of the local area, California or the nation, is not included in the evaluation of the subject properties. Refer to “Archaeological Record Search and Report of Findings for the Town of Atherton Zoning Code Update, Atherton, San Mateo County, California,” dated February 8, 2024, prepared by Evans & De Shazo, Inc., for additional site history and information.
4. The building is listed as a historically significant building in the open space and conservation element of the general plan. (Ord. 652 § 1, 2022)
The subject properties are in various locations in the Town of Atherton and are not listed as a historically significant building in the open space and conservation element of the general plan. It is important to note that one of the nine subject properties, the multidwelling structure (Nun Residence at the Sacred Hearts School), is located within the Sacred Heart Schools campus, which is adjacent to the Menlo Circus Club, a site listed in m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
the Town of Atherton’s Inventory for Open Space Lands. The Menlo Circus Club is a private equestrian center located on Elena Avenue and Park Lane. The Club provides almost 30 acres of open space for outdoor recreation for its members including polo, swimming, tennis and horse shows.
As a result, the nine subject structures do not qualify individually under the Town of Atherton Historic Designation Criteria B4. However, it is recommended that additional review is provided for the subject property that is the multi-dwelling structure (Nun Residence at the Sacred Hearts School) since it is located within the Sacred Heart Schools campus and due to its approximation of the Menlo Circus Club. Refer to the following section for recommendations.
Recommendations
In conclusion to the preliminary evaluation of the subject properties for qualification as a historical resource in accordance with Article 5, §15064.5 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines and the local criteria, one recommendation is provided for the subject structure that is the multi-dwelling structure (Nun Residence at the Sacred Hearts School). The recommendation addresses its location within the Sacred Heart Schools campus and its approximation of the Menlo Circus Club, a site listed in the Town of Atherton’s Inventory for Open Space Lands, that additional review is advised. Other elements such as its use for the Sacred Heart Schools, setting/location within the campus, and distance/visibility from the Menlo Circus Club, may be taken into consideration for the Town of Atherton General Plan’s Open Space and Conservation Element.
Conclusion
The preliminary evaluation has found, including the recommendation noted in the previous section, that the subject structures located in the Town of Atherton, do not possess historical significance, are not a strong example of the Ranch, Spanish-Ranch, and Split-Level architectural styles, were not designed by a master architect or builder, and are not associated with important events or persons.
It is the professional opinion of M-Group that the structure (1) is not individually eligible for the California Register of Historical Resources, (2) does not qualify individually as a historical resource under CEQA Guidelines §15064.5(a)(3), and (3) is not eligible for individual historic designation under Atherton Municipal Code, Chapter 8.15.200, Criteria for designating a historic building. m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
Appendix I – Subject Properties, Multi-Family Residential Opportunity Sites Assessor Parcel Number (APN) Address Lot Acres Zoning Structure Year Built Architectural Style 061091080 999 Ringwood Avenue 0.90 R-1A Single-family residence ca. 1955 Ranch
(ca. 1935-1975)
061091070 352 Bay Road 0.92 R-1A Single-family residence ca. 1956 Ranch
(ca. 1935-1975)
061091060 318 Bay Road 0.94 R-1A Single-family residence ca. 1955 Ranch
(ca. 1935-1975)
061091050 296 Bay Road 0.93 R-1A Single-family residence 1957 Split-Level
(ca. 1935-1975)
061281050 175 Ravenswood Avenue 1.1 R-1A Single-family residence 1950 Ranch
(ca. 1935-1975)
061281060 185 Ravenswood Avenue 1.1 R-1A Single-family residence 1950 Ranch
(ca. 1935-1975)
061281150 197 Ravenswood Avenue 1 R-1A Single-family residence 1954 Ranch
(ca. 1935-1975)
059153080 23 Oakwood Boulevard 1.53 R-1A Single-family residence ca. 1953 Ranch
(ca. 1935-1975)
070390010 150 Valparaiso Avenue 61.066 PFS
Nun Residence at Sacred Hearts
School, multi-dwelling structure ca. 1952
Spanish Ranch
(ca. 1935-1985)
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Appendix II – Maps
USGS Map, Fair Oaks/Menlo Park, 1897.
USGS Map, Town of Atherton/Menlo Park, 1948.
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Appendix III – Subject Property Documentation
County Map and Aerial View are not to scale. On-site documentation, from the public right-of-way, was completed on December 11, 2023 (except as otherwise noted).
SUBJECT PROPERTY: 999 RINGWOOD AVENUE
County Map View from Bay Road, facing southwest
Aerial View View from Ringwood Avenue, facing northwest m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
SUBJECT PROPERTY: 352 BAY ROAD
County Map View from Bay Road, facing southwest
Aerial View View from Bay Road, facing west
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SUBJECT PROPERTY: 318 BAY ROAD
County Map View from Bay Road, facing southwest
Aerial View View from Bay Road, facing southwest
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SUBJECT PROPERTY: 296 BAY ROAD
County Map View from Bay Road, facing southwest
Aerial View View from Bay Road, facing west
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SUBJECT PROPERTY: 175 RAVENSWOOD AVENUE
County Map View from Ravenswood Avenue, facing north
Aerial View View from Ravenswood Avenue, facing north
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SUBJECT PROPERTY: 185 RAVENSWOOD AVENUE
County Map View from Ravenswood Avenue, facing north
Aerial View View from Ravenswood Avenue, facing north
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SUBJECT PROPERTY: 197 RAVENSWOOD AVENUE
County Map View from Ravenswood, facing northwest
Aerial View View from Ravenswood Avenue, facing north
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SUBJECT PROPERTY: 23 OAKWOOD BOULEVARD
County Map View from Oakwood Boulevard, facing north
Aerial View View from Oakwood Boulevard, facing northeast m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
On-site documentation, from the public right-of-way, for 150 Valparaiso Avenue was completed on January 2, 2024.
SUBJECT PROPERTY: 150 VALPARAISO AVENUE – NUN RESIDENCY BUILDING County Map View from driveway.
Aerial View View of interior courtyard.
m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
Appendix IV – Atherton/Menlo Park and San Mateo County Directory Source: Polk’s Atherton/Menlo Park City Directory – R.L. Polk & Co., Publishers, San Francisco and Pacific Telephone’s San Mateo County Phone Directory (except as otherwise noted)
YEAR
SUBJECT PROPERTY:
197 RAVENSWOOD AVENUE - 1954
1955 Polk’s Redwood City Directory Milton R. Buck (Helen A), h197 Ravenswood Ave., Atherton
1956 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
Milton R. Buck, h197 Ravenswood Ave., Atherton,
DA 4-4974
1957 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
Milton R. Buck, h197 Ravenswood Ave., Atherton,
DA 4-4974
1958 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
Helen A. Buck, h197 Ravenswood Ave., Atherton,
DA 4-4974
1959 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
Helen A. Buck, h197 Ravenswood Ave., Atherton,
DA 4-4974
1961 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
Helen A. Buck, h197 Ravenswood Ave., Atherton,
DA 4-4974
1961 Polk’s Atherton/Menlo Park City Directory Milton R. Buck (Helen A), Treasure Island Ceramic Studio, h 197 Ravenswood Ave., Atherton
Wallace R. Buck, r 197 Ravenswood Ave.,
Atherton
1962 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
Helen A. Buck, h197 Ravenswood Ave., Atherton,
DA 4-4974
m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
YEAR SUBJECT PROPERTY:
23 OAKWOOD BLVD – ca. 1953
1953 Polk’s Redwood City Directory EC Olson, r 23 Oakwood Blvd., Atherton John E. Olson, h23 Oakwood Blvd., Atherton
1953 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County
Phone Directory
John E. Olson, h23 Oakwood Blvd., Atherton,
EM 6-0227
1954 Polk’s Redwood City Directory John E. Olson, h23 Oakwood Blvd., Atherton 1954 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County
Phone Directory
John E. Olson, h23 Oakwood Blvd., Atherton,
EM 6-0227
1955 Polk’s Redwood City Directory John E. Olson, h23 Oakwood Blvd., Atherton 1956 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County
Phone Directory
John E. Olson, h23 Oakwood Blvd., Atherton,
EM 6-0227
1957 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County
Phone Directory
John E. Olson, h23 Oakwood Blvd., Atherton,
EM 6-0227
1958 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County
Phone Directory
John E. Olson, h23 Oakwood Blvd., Atherton,
EM 6-0227
1959 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County
Phone Directory
John E. Olson, h23 Oakwood Blvd., Atherton,
EM 6-0227
1961 Polk’s Atherton/Menlo Park City Directory Alvin Arata (Evelyn), r.23 Oakwood Blvd., Atherton
1961 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County
Phone Directory
Alvin Arata (Evelyn), r23 Oakwood Blvd.,
Atherton, EM 6-2952
1962 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County
Phone Directory
Alvin Arata (Evelyn), r23 Oakwood Blvd.,
Atherton, EM 6-2952
1963 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County
Phone Directory
Alvin Arata (Evelyn), r23 Oakwood Blvd.,
Atherton, EM 6-2952
1964 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County
Phone Directory
Alvin Arata (Evelyn), r23 Oakwood Blvd.,
Atherton, EM 6-2952
1965 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County
Phone Directory
A.Arata, r23 Oakwood Blvd., Atherton, 366-2952
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YEAR
SUBJECT PROPERTY:
296 BAY ROAD - 1957
1961 Polk’s Atherton/Menlo Park City Directory Phillip O’Donnell (Beatrice B), Member of the Planning Commission h.296 Bay Rd., Atherton
1961 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
P. O’Donnell, h.296 Bay Rd., Atherton
DA 5-2774
1962 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
P. O’Donnell, h.296 Bay Rd., Atherton
DA 5-2774
1963 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
P. O’Donnell, h.296 Bay Rd., Atherton
325-2774
1964 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
P. O’Donnell, h.296 Bay Rd., Atherton
325-2774
1965 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
P. O’Donnell, h.296 Bay Rd., Atherton
325-2774
YEAR
SUBJECT PROPERTY:
318 BAY ROAD – ca. 1955
1961 Polk’s Atherton/Menlo Park City Directory Otto Lang, h 318 Bay Rd., Atherton 1961 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
O. Lang, h 318 Bay Rd., Atherton
DA 2-9710
1962 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
O. Lang, h 318 Bay Rd., Atherton
DA 2-9710
1963 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
O. Lang, h 318 Bay Rd., Atherton
322-9710
1964 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
O. Lang, h 318 Bay Rd., Atherton
322-9710
1965 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
O. Lang, h 318 Bay Rd., Atherton
322-9710
m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
YEAR
SUBJECT PROPERTY:
352 BAY ROAD – ca. 1958
1959 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
Carol Maas, h 352 Bay Rd., Atherton
DA 6-2407
1961 Polk’s Atherton/Menlo Park City Directory Carol Maas, h 352 Bay Rd., Atherton Mary J. Maas, r 352 Bay Rd., Atherton
1961 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
Carol Maas, h 352 Bay Rd., Atherton
DA 6-2407
1962 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
Carol Maas, h 352 Bay Rd., Atherton
DA 6-2407
1963 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
Carol Maas, h 352 Bay Rd., Atherton
376-2407
1964 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
Carol Maas, h 352 Bay Rd., Atherton
376-2407
1965 Pacific Telephone, San Mateo County Phone
Directory
Carol Maas, h 352 Bay Rd., Atherton
376-2407
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Appendix V – Newspaper Articles
Source: Newspaper.com
197 Ravenswood Avenue
August 10, 1960
November 18, 1970
October 29, 1956.
October 14, 1970
m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
318 Bay Road
May 7, 1962
June 7, 1962
July 4, 1964
m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
999 Ringwood Avenue
296 Bay Road
December 21, 1954
August 19, 1955
Aug 26, 1955
July 9, 1955 July 7, 1971
m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
June 24, 1966
January 10, 1968
m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
175 Ravenswood Avenue
November 15, 1952
May 22, 1953
May 26, 1953
October 12, 1955
May 10, 1956
m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
352 Bay Road
March 30, 1967
October 8, 1959
November 14, 1958
April 24, 1962
February 3, 1964
May 8, 1969
m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
23 Oakwood Blvd.
April 4, 1953
November 5, 1953 April 3, 1954
June 18, 1955
September 17, 1963
m-group.us campbell santa rosa berkeley
150 Valparaiso Avenue (Sacred Hearts School)
October 18, 1956
May 2, 1970
April 20, 1973
June 6, 1973
October 17, 1973
February 16, 1974
April 23, 1975