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San Mateo Historic Context Statement

This Historic Context Statement provides a comprehensive overview of the City of San Mateo’s development from prehistory to the present. It identifies key themes, periods, and property types that define the city’s built environment. It is intended to serve as a planning document to guide and inform the identification and treatment of historic resources.
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Steve Miller Apr 25 2026 at 5:12PM on page 214

Question
Where is owner consent for properties to be considered as contributing to a historic district addressed? The City Council clearly stated that consent from owners is required.

Steve Miller Apr 25 2026 at 5:10PM on page 214

Suggestion
Again, individual properties that do not meet integrity criteria would be considered non-contributing properties. Given the prevalence of homes from this period, virtually every home would be considered contributing to a historic district under these criteria.

Steve Miller Apr 25 2026 at 5:08PM on page 214

Suggestion
I would add "and historic significance" to this statement. Virtually every property built during this period would be eligible to be historic using these criteria for modern constructed homes.

Steve Miller Apr 25 2026 at 5:06PM on page 204

Suggestion
I disagree with this statement. Contributing properties to a historic district have a requirement to meet integrity thresholds. If they do not meet these criteria, they would be considered non-contributing properties.

Steve Miller Apr 25 2026 at 5:05PM on page 203

Suggestion
This is a subjective comment about what residential properties "should" maintain over time. As a minimum, this statement needs a qualifier that it only applies to properties that are considered eligible for listing.

Aaron Apr 24 2026 at 9:39AM on page 32

Suggestion
Appears to be referencing the wrong Figure/drawing.

Frank Elliott Apr 14 2026 at 11:23AM on page 69

The Baywood Park Company went bankrupt approximately 1935, and the style of homes changed from primarily revival styles, to eclectic and ranch. By 1939, nearly 80% of the infill was ranch. Whether this was the BK, or the change in taste post depression... hard to say. However, by comparison, St. Frances Wood which was built out during the same period remained mostly revival type, until the end of its period of significance.

If more information is needed about the BK, I can furnish copies of the filings. I believe after the Park company dissolved, the rest of the Parrott estate was sold off in pieces, and different developers finished off different portions of the estate.

Frank Elliott Apr 14 2026 at 10:58AM on page 25

This number does not make sense, give more context.

Adam Klafter Apr 8 2026 at 2:02AM on page 87

Suggestion
Bayshore Highway was four lanes only until the 1940s, not six.

"...one of the most dangerous roads in the country." A frequent nickname for the road was "Bloody Bayshore."

Adam Klafter Apr 8 2026 at 1:53AM on page 86

Suggestion
The last service on 40 Line was January 15-16, 1949.

Adam Klafter Apr 8 2026 at 1:48AM on page 86

Suggestion
Within San Mateo city limits, after exiting downtown the north-running interurban tracks ran up Ellsworth Ave to Poplar to San Mateo Drive, becoming California Drive, before entering a dedicated right-of-way adjacent to the railroad just north of the Burlingame Station.

Adam Klafter Apr 8 2026 at 1:32AM on page 82

Suggestion
San Mateo High School not extant; demolished and rebuilt 2005.

Adam Klafter Apr 8 2026 at 1:28AM on page 79

Suggestion
Irving F. Morrow (typo)

In addition: Irving Morrow collaborated with his wife, Gertrude Comfort Morrow (also a licensed architect) on architectural work between the years 1925 and 1940. It is reasonable to presume that Gertrude may have been involved in the design of the San Mateo Theater.

Adam Klafter Apr 8 2026 at 12:58AM on page 74

St. Cyr Estate, formerly the Howard Estate but AKA the Bowie Estate and also owned in between by Eugene De Sabla Jr. "El Cerrito."

Adam Klafter Apr 7 2026 at 11:53PM on page 72

Suggestion
Figure 38 - 135 Avila Road

Miriam Apr 7 2026 at 11:45PM on page 59

I think "propriety" should be "proprietor."

Adam Klafter Apr 7 2026 at 11:37PM on page 68

Suggestion
The Parrott Estate was originally annexed by the town of Hillsborough in 1910, before being de-annexed and joined with San Mateo in 1927, as noted.

Adam Klafter Apr 7 2026 at 11:30PM on page 62

Suggestion
518 Hurlingham also identified as Julia Morgan by researcher Sara Boutelle.

425 Edgewood Road, not Drive?

Adam Klafter Apr 7 2026 at 11:05PM on page 45

Possible rephrase: "Antoine Borel donated a downtown lot for the construction of Library Hall, which had entrances on both Main and B Streets. The building featured a meeting hall, reading room and club rooms."

Possibly also worth noting that the true front entrance of Library Hall faced towards Main Street and the train station/plaza where the Cinemark now sits. In the second incarnation of Library Hall, the building remained primarily oriented towards the plaza, and the engine company opened onto B Street.

Adam Klafter Apr 7 2026 at 10:52PM on page 45

"The building replaced..." Library Hall replaced Wisnom Hall?

Adam Klafter Apr 7 2026 at 8:10PM on page 42

"Avenues" vs "Streets" should be correctly identified. Avenues in the downtown are numbered, Streets were lettered. 2nd, 5th, etc, are Avenues not Streets.

Adam Klafter Apr 7 2026 at 7:46PM on page 38

Suggestion
James Byrnes House at 713 First Avenue, not First Street.

Adam Klafter Apr 7 2026 at 7:41PM on page 35

Suggestion
El Cerrito was adjacent to the hill which gave it its name, not on it.

The Howard home which later became the first Burlingame town hall was moved in 1910, but the name of the estate, "El Cerrito" did not transfer with it, and continued to be used for the later home on the site built by Eugene De Sabla. Would suggest perhaps saying instead "The original Howard home was moved..."

Adam Klafter Apr 7 2026 at 7:03PM on page 35

Typo- "this" should be "his"

Adam Klafter Apr 7 2026 at 7:00PM on page 33

Suggestion
The name of William Howard's business partner is spelled with a U in the first sentence and an E in the second; I do not know which is correct (Mullus/Mellus).

Adam Klafter Apr 7 2026 at 6:57PM on page 33

Suggestion
There are three instances across the document where San Francisco has been misspelled as "San Francico".
During the Mexican period, the pueblo which would later become San Francisco was known by the name Yerba Buena.
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