Has the city neglected its historic buildings? Has the city neglected its historic buildings? (October 20, 2004)

'As is' center of allegations between nonprofit, city on state of Roth Building

by Bill D'Agostino

The city's alleged neglect of two historic Palo Alto buildings could hike up the cost to already expensive restoration projects.

The nonprofit interested in creating the first city history museum alleges the city failed to properly protect the historic Roth Building, the planned future home of the museum, from additional damage during recent years. Who will bear the responsibility for those repairs to the building has become a touchy issue and a central negotiation point between the city and nonprofit.

"How Public Works took care of it was less than satisfactory," noted city historian and history museum committee member Steve Staiger.

A similar claim of neglect also exists about another historic building whose fate is currently up in the air -- the Sea Scout Base in the Baylands. Ironically, pre-eminent local architect Birge Clark designed both elaborate structures.

"It's a loss to all of us as taxpayers when some damage occurs," said Beth Bunnenberg, a museum committee member who also sits on the city's Historic Review Board.

The Sea Scout base, a white building with blue trim in the shape of a ship, was donated to the city in 1941. The Sea Scouts used the site for their headquarters but it has been vacant since the city closed the Palo Alto Harbor in the 1980s. Since then, the building has suffered from vandalism and water damage.

The Spanish Colonial Revival-style Roth Building on Homer Avenue was constructed in 1932. The city purchased the building in 2000 for $2 million, hoping a nonprofit would take it over. The history museum was the only nonprofit to apply for the building's lease last year.

Since signing the lease, a city contractor reportedly damaged historic sections of the Roth Building when its construction crew knocked down its "wings," a newer addition that originally extended from the structure's backside. The contractor in question, SummerHill Homes, is building numerous townhouses in the vicinity.

Public Works Director Glenn Roberts, whose department oversaw the demolition, did not return a call for comment by the Weekly's deadline.

Years earlier, damage was also done to a historic section of the Roth Building when the fire department held a training session in the building. Back then, the city contemplated tearing it down due to the expense of maintaining the structure. Interim Fire Chief Judy Jewell said the mistake was acknowledged at the time, and no further training in the building was ever held.

The history museum's founders are currently raising $6.5 million to retrofit the building and create the museum. The project coordinator of the history museum, Karen Holman, was diplomatic about the state of the Roth Building.

"Other than outright vandalism, I can't think of anything harder on a building than standing empty," Holman said.

The history museum's organizers might ask the City Council for some sort of remuneration to repair damages to the Roth Building's windows, doors and doorjambs, although neither side would say how that might be accomplished. The group is right now estimating the value and extent of the damage.

When the City Council preliminarily awarded the lease for the Roth Building to the history museum earlier this year, the museum was supposed to get it "as is," Real Estate Manager Bill Fellman noted.

"We said the city wouldn't spend any money," he said. Under the preliminary agreement, the museum's nonprofit would pay only $1 a year for 30 years for the Roth Building, and would agree to keep it up to code.

Now the two sides are hashing out the Clintonian quandary of the meaning of "as is." The talks are reportedly amicable, and committee members credited Fellman for recognizing the need to properly care for the building. The final agreement is scheduled to come before the City Council later in the year.

On Wednesday morning, the city's Historic Resources Board will take a tour of the 17,000-square-foot building to assess the damage. It originally housed the Palo Alto Clinic.

The building is also notable for the racy murals on its walls by Victor Arnautoff, who was a disciple of Diego Rivera. Those are reportedly in good condition.

Last week, the City Council gave another nonprofit -- Environmental Volunteers, which teaches schoolchildren about the natural world -- six months to investigate the state of the Sea Scout building, to see if its leaders are interested in restoring the site.

For the group, the cost of repairing its long-standing issues -- made somewhat worse by the apparent neglect -- is paramount. The majority of the cost, estimated around $1 million, comes from a need to move the building and construct a new foundation.

If the group passes on the offer, the city may be forced to demolish the building.

The council last week also rejected an offer from Sea Scout leaders to retake the structure for its headquarters. Fellman argued the group, which now sails out of the Port of Redwood City, had never adequately found a way to pay for the needed repairs.
Staff Writer Bill D'Agostino can be e-mailed at bdagostino@paweekly.com.

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