The Ark
SUBSCRIBE
The Ark
SUBSCRIBE
SECTIONS
TiburonBelvedereStrawberryStateElection 2026El NiñoColumnsBusinessSchoolsSportsEntertainmentCalendarObituariesPublic NoticesAround TownVisit
SUBMIT
Letter to the editorSend a news tipCalendar eventPaid obituarySports scoreMilestone or achievementBiz Buzz announcementChalkboard announcementEngagement or weddingBirth announcementPet remembranceGenerosity blurbCorrection request
ADVERTISE
Advertising guidePublic notices & legal adsClassified adsServices guide
EVENTS
Tiburon Peninsula eventsRegional community calendarSubmit a calendar eventLibrary calendarChamber calendar
AROUND TOWN
Ferries, meetings and eventsEmergency preparednessPublic meetingsTiburon Peninsula eventsGolden Gate Ferry scheduleAngel Island Ferry scheduleRoute 219 scheduleTown of TiburonCity of BelvedereBelvedere’s public lanesReed Union School DistrictBelvedere-Tiburon LibraryThe RanchStrawberry Recreation DistrictTiburon Peninsula Chamber of CommerceBelvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society
ACCOUNT
SubscribeLifetime subscriptionActivate your accessDigital replicaUpdate contact infoSubscriber helpNewsletter signupDonate

Belvedere weighs policy to reverse historic home designations

Belvedere may let historic-home owners remove designation after losing tax breaks, but council splits on whether exits should be easy or rigorous.

VIA CITY OF BELVEDERE 2023The ‘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.
Tyler Callister
By TYLER CALLISTER · 1 min read

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.

Read the complete story in our e-edition, or SUBSCRIBE NOW for home delivery and access to the digital replica.

Comment on this article on Nextdoor.

A version of this story appeared in the Aug. 20, 2025, print edition of The Ark. See something wrong? Request a correction.
Add The Ark to Google Preferred Sources
Recent Stories
Belvedere parks panel makes Cliff Lane path to the shore its 2027 focus Tiburon crews box in downtown drains to keep tidewater off streets Belvedere painter Gordon Studer among 8 peninsula artists at ICB’s Big Open A former Wall Street banker finds her pace in Tiburon Tiburon dances in the light at fifth annual Diwali celebration
In print every Wednesday
Front page of The Ark, Wednesday, November 11 Nov. 11, 2026 E-EDITION
The Ark in your inbox

Local news from Tiburon, Belvedere and Strawberry, delivered by email.

Support The Ark’s commitment to high-impact community journalism.

The Ark, named the nation's best small community weekly for 2026, is dedicated to delivering investigative, accountability journalism with a mission to increase civic engagement and participation by providing the knowledge that can help sculpt the community and change lives. Your support makes this possible.

SUBSCRIBE Make a contribution