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-fr 345 EPILOGUE Only one day a year is the moon centered over Mt. Tamalpais... but you can celebrate living in Larkspur every day of the year. 14.1: Moon over Mt. Tamalpais, timeless, Over the years man has been lured to Larkspur because of the creek, the tall redwoods, and hillside views. Homes were built creating distinctive neighborhoods in its canyons, along its creek banks and on its slopes with views of Mt. Tamalpais. The downtown began as a cluster of Native American villages that were replaced by lumber mills, livery stables, and shipping docks and evolved over the years first to ranch lands and hillside vineyards then to local hardware and grocery stores. In 2008, the city's Centennial Year, the butchers, bakers, and bars have been replaced by bistros, boutiques, and baby shops. Yet Larkspur has preserved its historic essence. The basic elements of the town are positioned at the junction of Magnolia Avenue and King Street - a residential home, a commercial building, a church and a city hall and library. The false front store facades, the Mission Revival style church and city hall, the early Queen Anne Victorians and the Blue Rock Inn all evoke the essence of the city's past and present a capsule history of the town in its two block downtown. On its 100th birthday Larkspur's downtown still retained the flavor its bawdy past. Old buildings have been gussied up and even the Silver Peso has been painted. Although development has filled most of the vacant land, far-sighted citizens purchased open space, required marsh dedication and took strong stands on heritage tree preservation. What hasn't changed is Larkspurians' love for their community. The active involvement of concerned residents in proposed changes to the areas they care about so deeply still provides protection that ensures Larkspur's special qualities will be looked on with pride for years to come. Although descendants of the reported 375-pound bear hunted by early loggers no longer roam the canyon slopes, deer, raccoons, squirrels, and laurels, madrones, oaks, and wild flowers abound. The city still lures people to its creeks, its heritage oaks, and its majestic redwoods that inspire a special, quiet aura, dwarfing human intrusions. Views of Corte Madera Creek, Mt. Tamalpais, Big and Little King Mountains, and Northridge are coveted. As it enters its second century Larkspur remembers its colorful past while making room for present-day challenges and opportunities. In the words engraved on the Centennial plaque before City Hall, Larkspur is a city that preserves and honors its history and small­ town character. This book is a tribute to that spirit. 14.2: Baby strollers, bikers, and diners have replaced grocery and hardware store shoppers, 2008. 346 4 f Appendix A: PRESERVING LARKSPUR’S PAST how Citizen Volunteers Helped Save a City’s Heritage "Much of Larkspur’s charm and character come from its rich architectural heritage. Its historic resources are irreplaceable assets that contribute to the special and unique character of the city and are a source of identity and pride for its residents— Larkspur General Plan, 1990-2010 Larkspur's rich historic character exists today The committee succeeded in 1982 in having "Old because for 40 years citizen volunteers have played Downtown" Larkspur recognized as a Historic a key role in recording, honoring, and preserving the District in the National Register of Historic Places. city's colorful past. Placement in the register provides incentives and benefits to property owners of historic buildings It all began at the end of 1970, when 250 citizens and enhances a community's ability to preserve attended the first Larkspur Town Meeting and made them. Historic plaques can be seen on buildings in several recommendations, including the creation of the district, listing characteristics that give them an "aesthetic" volunteer committee to deal with the special status. Other historic Larkspur structures in renovation and beautification of what was called the National Register of Historic Places include the "the shabby downtown with empty storefronts." 1888 Dolliver House on Madrone Avenue, the 1927 Larkspur residents Nancy Curley and Helen Alexander Avenue Bridge, and the 1891 Remillard Heitkamp volunteered. Brick Kiln on East Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, which "All we were going to do was take the poorly was also declared a State Historical Landmark. framed old photos in City Hall down from the In 1978 the City Council adopted the Heritage walls, write captions, reframe them, and find more Preservation Ordinance and at the same time created photos in the library," said Curley. "But we couldn't the Larkspur Heritage Preservation Board, an official find more photos." Fireman Doug Archer came arm of the city, to oversee the elements of the new to the rescue with negatives from the Larkspur ordinance. Members of the old heritage committee Fire Department's collection and the city's photo continued to work on, and with, the new board. archives began. In recognition of the downtown's historic When Heitkamp tried to write the captions, she importance, its zoning emphasizes historic could find little documentation of Larkspur's preservation, providing planning tools needed to history. So she went to the person in town who ensure that new and remodeled buildings reflect knew more about Larkspur than anyone - Helen the area's historic character. "We treasure our C. Wilson, longtime librarian and city clerk - and downtown," said Larkspur city councilmember Joan began recording the city's history. Lundstrom, who initiated and chaired the Larkspur Curley and Heitkamp were joined by a group of Town Meetings in the 1970s and helped spark volunteers, and the Larkspur Heritage Committee Larkspur's interest in its history. was formed. The committee set about interviewing Over 77 homes with special qualities that have longtime residents, collecting and copying historic contributed to Larkspur's essential character are photos, and publishing walking tour brochures recognized on the city's Historic Resources Inventory, of historic locations, culminating in 1979 with initially approved by the Larkspur City Council in publication of the first edition of this book. A second 1979 and updated in early 2009 following a series of edition followed in 1991. public hearings held by the board. Such recognition But the committee members wanted to do more than provides benefits to homeowners and preserves the research Larkspur's history. They moved to provide exterior of homes that the public views. official protection for the city's historic resources The work of the board is reflected in the city's by drafting a historic preservation ordinance for official mission statement: "The City of Larkspur consideration (and ultimate adoption) by the is committed to providing the best possible city council and creating an inventory of historic service to the community, preserving the City's buildings, homes and sites that would become unique historic character, and maintaining its total Larkspur's official historic resources inventory. environmental balance." -A- 347 Larkspur Heritage Preservation Board A HISTORIC TOWN MEETING The Larkspur Heritage Preservation Board was established by In 1970, Larkspur citizens looked ordinance in 1987. It currently consists of volunteer members of around at some disturbing trends: the community, a member of the Planning Commission, and a Apartments were walling off Corte member of the Planning Department. Members are appointed by *** the City Council and serve a term of four years. It is an advisory Madera Creek and a high-rise rose committee to the Planning Commission and its powers include atop a hill; review of building applications for homes and structures on the All hillsides were proposed for Larkspur Historic Resources Inventory, recognition of outstanding development, with the population preservation work on historic structures, and periodic compilation expected to almost double in of resources to be added to or deleted from the inventory. 15 years; The following standards must be met for the Board to recommend approval of applications: *** Historic downtown buildings • The proposed work will be compatible with the exterior were falling into disrepair, with architectural character of the historic resource and neighboring competition from shopping centers historic resources. looming. • The proposed work will maintain the integrity of the historic resource. Newcomers Joan Lundstrom and Helen • The proposed work will not significantly diminish public view Heitkamp decided to take a page from of the historic resource. New England history and organize • The proposed work will not adversely affect the historic, a Town Meeting to make the public architectural, or aesthetic character of the neighborhood. aware of all the proposed changes and their implications for Larkspur's Historic Preservation: Benefits and incentives small-town character. The two women In addition to the emotional link to the past and the prestige that recruited a committee of 50 citizens historic resources provide, there are practical benefits to an historic to plan a public meeting where such designation as well as incentives offered by the City of Larkspur: issues as coping with population • 2009 Historic Resources Inventory identifies buildings with increases, saving open space, and historic significance. Early awareness of the historic significance improving the appearance of downtown of a property will assist property owners in preparing appropriate remodeling plans. could be explored. • Awards Program for Historic Restoration/Renovation honors Public support seemed evident when notable historic renovation of both residential and commercial 250 citizens showed up on Nov. 21, properties. 1970 and adopted a set of 15 resolutions • Greater flexibility for variances and exceptions to zoning regulations helps preserve existing historic residences and profiling concerns on residential and allows for appropriate additions. commercial development, preservation • Application of the Historic Building Code* allows more of open space, and creation of hiking flexibility in meeting building standards, provided there is no and biking pathways.

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