Belvedere weighs policy to reverse historic home designations

The ‘Hansel and Gretel House’ at 246 Beach Road in Belvedere features storybook architecture designed by Jack Heidelberg in the mid-to-late 1930s. The City Council approved historic designation for the 1,935-square-foot cottage on Aug. 14, 2023, making it Belvedere’s 28th historic property. Owner Gal Bar-Or had intended to join the city’s Mills Act program for a property-tax reduction, but the council ended the program before the home could be considered, and now Bar-Or wants to rescind the historic status. (via city of Belvedere 2023)

Belvedere will consider allowing owners of historic homes to request removal of the designation, though city councilmembers disagree on how easy it should be for residents to leave the program.

At its Aug. 11 meeting, the council directed member Kevin Burke to work with Planning and Building Director Rebecca Markwick on drafting a policy for reversing historic designation. The program is intended to recognize and protect historically, architecturally or culturally significant homes on the island but also restricts how such homes can be remodeled or modified.

As part of the discussion, Burke, Mayor Jane Cooper and Councilmember Pat Carapiet said the burden should be on the homeowner to prove why a home should no longer be considered historic. Councilmember Sally Wilkinson advocated for allowing homeowners who no longer want to be in the program an easy, ministerial exit, citing a desire not to burden staff with unnecessary work.

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