[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6526351,"mediaKeyId","3798630-a155f115c39f6118d0867445d3706967","parentId",3798630,"title","Palo Alto HRB recommends 431 Kipling Street rehabilitation meets preservation standards","audioSeconds",893,"startMs",1957000,"endMs",2850000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3798630-a155f115c39f6118d0867445d3706967&start=1957&end=2850","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3798630-a155f115c39f6118d0867445d3706967/thumbnail_1957000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6526351/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Palo-Alto-HRB-recommends-431-Kipling-Street-rehabilitation-meets-preservation-standards","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526351-ddfa6a8804f380e6b44e627a3a221cbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180745&Signature=PAF4W5s9AobY1ffozXPEyMeHNClJrQdoB-BEgPB0xkrmBiQoatCg-XQydeugaEc~3HlFQazkffQbnnFlrZbtbVhE0YR5SyLDq5N6YqqLiXyvVW9BGIG1-ffv~PWj-7--tlFNYiYEdSL4DMQVRJXs0VMSoW4eDd5Pj7DV5~eCQJQdf-qfQMQJHmOfiKJcuXeBfDsQLlFcHNY8ypn1VcYxThwTQv6Gha4QBruVng24RF~gTNnQRJ76JlL1SHkp~~gRMpix6Gfk0c6QUE-gx4nGULqOdZxb--mq0EdueyekIlC5kBepuLldUpEkEcoqSg7WKvZ-ZAg6x2YncWgLOWtgXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Palo Alto","date","2025-06-13T04:15:53Z","article","At its June meeting, the Palo Alto Historic Resources Board unanimously recommended that the proposed rehabilitation at 431 Kipling Street conform to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and supported the property's request for a 2,500-square-foot floor-area bonus through the city’s transfer-of-development-rights (TDR) program.

The project affects a Category 2 historic resource built about 1901 by George Mosher and located in the Downtown North neighborhood. Staff told the board that Page & Turnbull produced a compliance memorandum dated May 12 finding the proposed work consistent with the Secretary standards; staff concurred and asked the board to recommend approval to the director of planning and development services.

Planner Steven Switzer summarized the file history: original construction circa 1901, documentation of a rear addition in 1919, a commercial conversion of the lower unit in 1938, and a Category 2 upgrade recommended by the HRB in June 2024 and confirmed by the council in September 2024. The applicant requested the maximum floor-area bonus allowable under municipal code (2,500 square feet) because that exceeds 25% of the existing building area for this property.

Architect Ken Hayes and the project team described proposed work similar in scope to the nearby 411 Kipling Street project: replacement of nonhistoric front stairs with new railings and planters, creation of an accessible path and a rear wheelchair lift, a new accessible interior restroom, roof replacement, repainting and restoration of siding, trim and windows, and a rear deck reconfiguration to serve an existing dining area. Hayes noted Page & Turnbull reviewed the proposal and found it compliant with the Secretary standards.

Board members asked questions about the height of the structure above grade and whether raising the grade in the rear was considered for accessibility; the applicant replied that raising grade was not considered because of site constraints, an existing garage and potential stormwater/drainage implications. One public commenter identified as John Shank of Deutz Brothers thanked the board and the project team for preserving downtown historic fabric.

A motion that the HRB find the proposal for 431 Kipling Street compliant with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation was approved by unanimous voice vote. Staff will forward the recommendation to the director of planning and development services for final action and permit processing.

Next steps: applicant to continue permit processing; staff to transmit HRB recommendation to the director per standard procedure.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Historic Resources Board Meeting - June 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Historic Resources Board unanimously found that proposed rehabilitation work at 431 Kipling Street conforms to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and supported the owner's request for a 2,500-square-foot floor-area bonus under the city's TDR program.","taxTitle","Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California","taxId",3867,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6526354,"Palo Alto HRB recommends 411 Kipling Street rehabilitation meets federal preservation standards",991,967000,1958000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3798630-a155f115c39f6118d0867445d3706967&start=967&end=1958","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3798630-a155f115c39f6118d0867445d3706967/thumbnail_967000.jpg","/articles/6526354/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Palo-Alto-HRB-recommends-411-Kipling-Street-rehabilitation-meets-federal-preservation-standards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526354-18807ba845faa33773e88bf5affdd9a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771180745&Signature=NPXXRiWwojDlglRaIBq~pmRquZ~J5Zc8zugzENCGwrqdeXxbY2HL4ogOx64T9dmWjhnvSrlHBID9odwl8BPkJHpM39-gDdyS3UtI-6GetcWKqrmuSFQX3M6tj7uV9red2Sei02yBEqDBpjpiyBWMg-ngFV3n7CZzcr--GcyBigMhX~pxn2TF4ASBd01aKg1MFwnzCV3UeJSI0rtdodWmMjzd2OFRf5WqRfRObvYBSyUAY0KmdNWHmrnoNbeVlkNvtJIqQFHD94Id2EnjFJAgFO12ovZhURNFyMMNJnJZpEy8l1Pp9Uv5NiluJs~kiRcmBoy~8VzLF-cufMcyVU-ZQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its June meeting, the Palo Alto Historic Resources Board unanimously recommended that the proposed rehabilitation at 411 Kipling Street conform to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and supported the property's request for a 2,500-square-foot bonus floor area under the city's transfer-of-development-rights (TDR) program.

The recommendation matters because the property — identified as a Category 2 historic resource on the city inventory — is seeking incentivized rehabilitation that would allow the owner to transfer 2,500 square feet of development rights off-site. Staff said the project includes accessibility upgrades and rehabilitation work intended to preserve character-defining features while improving usability.

City planner Steven Switzer explained that the building was constructed about 1902 by George Mosher and noted the structure’s Category 2 designation, which the board upgraded in April 2024 and the City Council confirmed in September 2024. Switzer said Page & Turnbull produced a compliance memorandum dated May 12 finding the proposed interventions consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards; staff concurred and recommended the board forward a recommendation to the director of planning and development services.

Applicant Ken Hayes of Hayes Group Architects described the scope: removal of a nonhistoric rear deck and replacement with a new deck and accessible path, a wheelchair lift at the rear entrance, replacement of nonhistoric front stairs and railings, restoration work on siding, cornices and trim, and new windows in the rear. Hayes said the project will “differentiate new work so that it's distinct and separate from the historic.” Switzer confirmed the municipal code allows a floor-area bonus of 2,500 square feet or 25% of the existing building, whichever is greater, and that the applicant is requesting the 2,500-square-foot maximum.

During the discussion board members generally voiced support for preserving the structure rather than demolition and asked a few clarifying questions about window types and whether the floor-area bonus would be used on-site; Hayes replied that the bonus floor area would be available for transfer off-site. There was no public comment on this agenda item.

A board member moved that the HRB find the proposed project at 411 Kipling Street complies with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. The motion was approved by voice vote; the board recorded a unanimous vote in favor. The board’s recommendation will be forwarded to the director of planning and development services for a final determination.

Next steps: staff will transmit the board’s recommendation and the applicant will proceed with permit processing and construction planning consistent with the Secretary standards and the city’s TDR provisions.","The Historic Resources Board unanimously recommended that proposed rehabilitation work at 411 Kipling Street comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and supported a 2,500-square-foot floor-area bonus under the city's transfer-of-development-rights program.","actionData","errors"]

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Palo Alto HRB recommends 431 Kipling Street rehabilitation meets preservation standards

Palo Alto HRB recommends 411 Kipling Street rehabilitation meets federal preservation standards