Glazenwood will be historic district again

The city has undergone a multi-year effort to strengthen its historic districting policies after a controversial renovation project was proposed in the Baywood neighborhood. Part of that has entailed robust study on the process the city will undergo to label districts and structures as historic. When a district is considered historic, significant alterations and renovations must be approved by a reviewing body to ensure the changes adhere to the original architectural standards.

Around 2024, however, after conducting more research and engaging with residents, the city realized there weren’t any records or documentation proving the Glazenwood designation had actually occurred — making downtown the only official historic district.

The residential neighborhood of Glazenwood is a unique early 1920s development of Spanish Colonial Revival homes near the grounds of the old Peninsula Hotel, the former Hayward Mansion, in Hayward Park just south of Central Park. A 1989 historic survey found the district met the criteria and was thus eligible, and a 2009-10 General Plan made reference to it, but those don’t solidify the designation.

“It was identified by the city in 2024, and more recently, the neighborhood became more acutely aware of it,” said Community Development Director Zach Dahl. “When we were updating our General Plan 2040, we were doing research and we found the designation resolution for the downtown district, but we couldn’t for the Glazenwood district.”

The realization concerned many residents, as San Mateo moves forward with an updated historic directing policy that would require time-consuming reviews and a majority of owner consent.

“Changing how Glazenwood is treated creates the risk of incremental and irreversible change to this historic district over time,” Doug D'Anna said during a recent City Council meeting. “For 15 years, across two General Plans, Glazenwood has been identified, mapped and described as a historic district.”

Another resident, Courtney Krause, said during the meeting that she was under the impression the neighborhood was historically designated when she purchased the property.

“I bought my house in 2021 with the reasonable expectation that Glazenwood was a legal historic district,” Krause said. “Without this correction, the accuracy of all information provided by the city is called into doubt.”

Dahl said that while the city has operated under the assumption it was officially designated, its local policy has enabled city review of modification requests similarly for both officially designated structures and those deemed eligible.

“Our reviews functionally didn’t change,” Dahl said.