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Committee reviews nominations to register two San Lorenzo homes as Alameda County landmarks
Summary
County planners briefed supervisors on nominations to place two privately owned San Lorenzo homes on the Alameda County Register of Historic Resources; residents largely supported the designations while supervisors asked staff to add context about developer David Bohannon's history of racial covenants and to clarify financial implications of Mills Act contracts.
Dominic Lucchese, a planner with the Community Development Agency, told the Unincorporated Services Committee the department received owner‑initiated applications in December 2024 and that the Parks, Recreation and Historical Commission voted unanimously on Feb. 6 to nominate 16026 Paseo Del Campo and 225 Villanares for listing on the Alameda County Register of Historic Resources.
"These properties are located at 16026 Paseo Del Campo and 225 Villanares in San Lorenzo," Lucchese said, outlining the HPO nomination process and the protections and review triggers that apply to listed properties.
The staff report, based on professional historic resource evaluations, concluded each house meets multiple criteria in section 17.62.060 of the Historic Preservation Ordinance for association with the development of San Lorenzo Village and for embodying postwar tract‑house architecture tied to developer David Bohannon.
Supervisor Jan and others urged staff not to omit uncomfortable history. "I think there usually is a resolution that intentionally acknowledge[s] some of the racial discrimination issues," one supervisor said, urging that Board materials include Bohannon's association with racial covenants and community impacts.
Homeowner Emmanuel Robinson, who nominated the houses, said he has spent more than a decade restoring them and that the San Lorenzo Village Homeowners Association removed discriminatory language from its CC&Rs after a 2012 court process. "I love San Lorenzo," Robinson said, describing the properties' architectural integrity and original street trees.
More than a dozen residents and local preservation professionals called in or spoke in person during public comment. A history teacher and students, longtime residents and a California architectural preservationist described the homes as intact examples of mid‑century development and urged listing to preserve community character.
Staff told supervisors that owner consent is required under the HPO, that property owners may apply for Mills Act contracts to receive tax relief in exchange for preservation, and that the county assessor determines any tax effects. Lucchese said only one Mills Act contract currently exists in unincorporated Alameda County, making countywide fiscal impacts difficult to predict.
The item was informational only. Staff will take committee comments, update the presentation and historical context, and return the nominations to the Transportation and Planning Committee before the full Board of Supervisors considers final approval on April 10.
What happens next: the committee recorded its comments and directed staff to include the historical context and public concerns in materials for subsequent hearings.
