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Belvedere sets strict path to undo historic home designation

Tax-break loss sparks debate over fairness and preservation.

Tyler Callister
By TYLER CALLISTER · 1 min read

Belvedere residents who own historic homes can now request the designation be removed — but in most cases, they’ll have to win approval from two city boards and pay a fee.

The City Council voted 4-0 on Sept. 8, with member Peter Mark absent, to add a new chapter to the city’s municipal code creating a process to decertify historic homes. Councilmembers agreed they generally wanted that process to be a strict one, given the importance the city has placed on protecting historic and architecturally significant homes.

“From my perspective, the historic homes help make Belvedere what it is,” said Mayor Jane Cooper. “We’re all very proud of the homes and how they add to the community and the city and the history involved with them. And people certainly appreciate them and cherish them.”

The council will conduct a second, required reading and vote on the ordinance at its Oct. 13 meeting.

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A version of this story appeared in the Sept. 17, 2025, print edition of The Ark. See something wrong? Request a correction.
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