Casa Peralta
Past, Present, and Future
October 2026 Update to the May 8, 2025 - Facilities & Transportation Meeting 2 Previous Council & Council Committee Actions
May 8, 2025
Facilities & Transportation Committee directs staff to acquire an updated assessment and estimate to restore the Casa Peralta with a scope that emphasizes thoroughness and restoration price accuracy.
July 20, 2026
City Council considers the assessment proposal price and directs staff to send topic back to Facilities & Transportation Committee for consideration of another course of action that aligns with the City budget.
October 8, 2026
Facilities & Transportation Committee to work toward a decision.
October 2026 Update to the May 8, 2025 - Facilities & Transportation Meeting Peralta Family Significance
3 In 1820, Luís María Peralta received a land grant by the Spanish Crown for Rancho San Antonio (ranging from the San Leandro Creek, North to the current-day City of El Cerrito).
In 1837 and 1842, Jose Joaquin Estudillo received land by the Governor for Rancho San Leandro (ranging from San Leandro Creek, South to San Lorenzo Creek.
In 1901, Casa Peralta was built by Peralta descendants on former Estudillo land South of San Leandro Creek.
Two Families were granted land that later became San Leandro.
October 2026 Update to the May 8, 2025 - Facilities & Transportation Meeting 4 Bedroom, 2 Bath, Historic
Home with a Kitchen, Dining
Room, and 4 Living areas.
2 floors.
Semi-connected Tower -
1 Bedroom, 1 Bath Apartment.
Walled in grounds of 32,550 sqft,
with nonfunctional fountains.
What is Casa Peralta
4 October 2026 Update to the May 8, 2025 - Facilities & Transportation Meeting Casa Peralta History
5 1901
Constructed in
Colonial Revival style
1927
Renovated into
Spanish Revival style
1938
Peralta's sold
the property
1938-
1969
Operated as rest
home/sanitarium
1969
Brooks family
purchased to save
from demolition
1971
Donated to
the City
October 2026 Update to the May 8, 2025 - Facilities & Transportation Meeting Casa Peralta Under City Ownership
6 Tours cease entirely
Pandemic & safety
Limited grounds use
2020
Docent tours end
School tours limited
Seismic/liability concerns
2016
SLIA leases Tower
as caretakers
2015
History Museum opens
Casa becomes an ancillary
historical park
2006
Acts as the History Museum
School & Docent Tours
Casa Grounds use
1990s safety restricts use
1971
October 2026 Update to the May 8, 2025 - Facilities & Transportation Meeting 1971 Gift Grant Deed - Stipulations Summarized
7 1.It will be operated and maintained by the City of San Leandro as a community cultural, recreational, and historical center available for use by resident groups on a reservation basis and for general community use by City recognized local organizations.
2.The City shall maintain it in a manner suitable for the above stated purposes in at least as good condition as presently exists.
3.If the City cannot reconstruct it to present condition in the event of damage or destruction by natural causes (earthquake, fire, flood, etc.), the City will retain, maintain, and operate it as a park.
4.Priority will be given for public use to youth and senior citizens groups, and areas shall be maintained for displays and exhibits for the public understanding of San Leandro’s historical heritage.
5.The property shall not be operated or maintained for any commercial or business purpose except for commercial activities and fee charges that support it operating for cultural, recreational, and/or historical purposes and provided all revenue is used solely by the City for maintenance and operation.
6.If the property is not used in accordance with these conditions, the estate shall revert to the grantors and their heirs and assigns.
Context
October 2026 Update to the May 8, 2025 - Facilities & Transportation Meeting Context
8 1982 National Register of Historic Places and State Historic Resources Inventory Few requirements exist regarding the property because:
Property Tax Reduction (Mills Act) does not apply to City owned property No state or federal funding is provided for the Casa Peralta Limitations:
Changes are subject to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review.
State Historic Building Code must be considered by the Chief Building Official.
The City is not outright prevented from taking action on the site, but must follow the appropriate approval process dependent upon the action taken.
Historical Registries
October 2026 Update to the May 8, 2025 - Facilities & Transportation Meeting Context
9 Little Brown Church (owned by the Historical Society) is on City owned land Property abuts the San Leandro History Museum
San Leandro Improvement Association (SLIA) is a tenant of the property Dahlia Society uses some of the grounds as growing beds for their flowers We are sensitive to and recognize emotions are attached to the property and history Group Connections
October 2026 Update to the May 8, 2025 - Facilities & Transportation Meeting Context
10 1985 City of San Leandro Casa Peralta Policy Statement Outlines who’s responsible for oversight & maintenance.
Lists community groups (some on the previous slide) who have interest in it.
How donations are to be handled.
It was generated because the City wasn’t maintaining the house. 1989 Earthquake damage.
1995 Seismic Evaluation by EQE International consultants. 1995-1996 Repairs were made to prevent collapse to the building codes of that time. 2016 Needs Assessment Report by Architectural Resources Group (ARG) consultants. 2015-2019 $3.6M allocated, but in 2021 $2.1M was redirected to fund other CIP.
Funding and Maintenance Struggles
October 2026 Update to the May 8, 2025 - Facilities & Transportation Meeting 11 Changes to the property since 2016 and building code alignment.
Unreinforced brick foundation settling
Rot and deterioration have worsened
weakening seismic lateral stability
mold/asbestos/lead abatement
railings missing or unsafe
windows falling from their panes
stucco and siding separation allowing water infiltration Iceberg effect
2016 Architectural Resources Group (ARG)
Casa Peralta Needs Assessment
Building Condition
October 2026 Update to the May 8, 2025 - Facilities & Transportation Meeting M
ay2025CasaPeraltayellowtagged. Only
selectiveauthorizedCitypersonnel allowed inside. August 11, 2026 the Casa Peralta house and grounds to the southwest were red tagged. Facility deterioration impacting safety Windows falling from their sills Banisters and railings falling from the 2nd floor. Trip hazards on the grounds and in the no n-
functioningfountain. 1
2 2025YellowTaggedand2026RedTagged
BuildingCondition
October2026UpdatetotheMay8,2025-Facilities&TransportationMeeting September 22, 2026 safety fencing was placed around the perimeter of the house and extended to cover the southwest corner of the grounds to include the non-functional fountain.
Protect the public and staff from falling debris and trip hazards.
Deter people from seeking refuge in the red-tagged house, as happened in June 2026.
13 2026 Red Tagged and Fencing
Building Condition
October 2026 Update to the May 8, 2025 - Facilities & Transportation Meeting Costs
14 Does not include soft costs (project management costs, inspection and permit costs, contingency, etc.), Assistant PW Director estimated them to be as high as $5M.
Even if few improvements are selected, costs could increase with reduced economy of scale.
These costs do not account for building code or facility changes since 2016.
Construction costs have seen explosive growth since the 2016 Needs Assessment. 2016 ARG Needs Assessment restoration estimate $5,745,333* Using the California Construction Cost Index, Rider Levett Bucknall, and the escalation factor in the 2016 Needs Assessment, all indices come to ~$10M by the time of construction.
*Note: Upon a detailed look at ARG’s cost estimate, their detail didn’t match the summary cost of $5,616,017, so for accuracy we went with the detailed total above.
July 2026 update
October 2026 Update to the May 8, 2025 - Facilities & Transportation Meeting Casa Peralta CIP Breakdown
15 ~$1.4M was in the account prior to:
Staff time to conduct the RFP
Unavoidable safety/security repairs
Safety fencing installation
~$1.3M is currently in a CIP account for the Casa Peralta October 2026 Update to the May 8, 2025 - Facilities & Transportation Meeting Casa Peralta Property
16 If the City cannot restore the
property, the first step must be
to offer the entire property back
to the Brooks family.
October 2026 Update to the May 8, 2025 - Facilities & Transportation Meeting Options Budgetary Impact Considerations
1. Renovate it.
Spend $10M-$15M more than budgeted.
Funding/Donor?
Maintaining it = $112,000 annually
Opportunity Cost
Next step for the below options is to offer the Casa Peralta property back to the Brooks family decendant
2. Adaptive Reuse - Example: Historical Dahlia
Botanical Garden Park. Parks Master Plan calls
for downtown green space. Preserve elements,
CEQA preservation + documentary/VR.
$3M might already exists from park in-lieu fees to
create it.
Gift Grant Deed
National Register of Historic Places
State Historic Resources Inventory
Rental Space/Economic Benefit
3. Public/Private Partnership - Example: Monterey
Cooper-Molera Adobe model with preservation
and private developer investment &
bakery/restaurant tenant(s) + event space. Cost is dependent on Private developer partnership, naming rights potential, and donations.
If the Family doesn’t want it, the Gift Grant Deed is
amended or rescinded.
Opens the door for other uses
Rental Space/Economic Benefit
4. Relinquish Ownership. Potentially repurpose remaining CIP budget ~$1.3M.
If the Family doesn’t want it, the Gift Grant Deed is
amended or rescinded.
Opens the door for other uses/owners
Annual Maintenance costs eliminated
17 October 2026 Update to the May 8, 2025 - Facilities & Transportation Meeting