Editor,
I was disappointed in article, “San Mateo to create historic designation” about San Mateo’s proposed historic preservation ordinance in the Daily Journal Jan. 30 because it did not cover the Glazenwood neighborhood’s testimony at the City Council work session.
Glazenwood has been formally recognized as a historic district since the 1990s — alongside downtown — in the city’s General Plan and on the California Register. The vast majority of Glazenwood residents support this designation, yet our district remains unaddressed by the historic preservation ordinance. We provided public testimony about this unresolved status and the real consequences this ordinance could have on our community. We are asking for clarity and transparency before any final vote.
Downtown has design guidelines, a codified Secretary’s Standards review process, and an active ordinance framework. Glazenwood has been a designated district for over 30 years with none of that infrastructure. The gap isn’t a policy choice; it is an oversight that became visible when the 2040 plan reorganized how historic resources are discussed.
The city’s 2040 plan commits to addressing historic preservation holistically. We support expanding preservation citywide. But Glazenwood’s three decades of established status should not be left in limbo while that longer process unfolds. The ordinance update should start by formally recognizing Glazenwood as a local historic district under the same framework that applies to downtown.
Thomas Braham
San Mateo
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