Historic roof replacement at 834 Main Street (Mills Act property)
Santa Clara
Summary
A century-old clay tile roof on a historic home is failing after years of leaks. The commission had to weigh preserving character-defining tiles against saving the house from water damage, since roofers say the cemented tiles can't be saved.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 1
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Sep 3, 2026.
Impact analysis
The homeowner pays out of pocket for the roof and a second Secretary of Interior report; a Mills Act property gets property-tax benefits in exchange for preservation.
The homeowner gets a weathertight, character-matched roof before the rainy season.
Preservation purists lose the original tiles, though the replacement closely matches the historic style.
Mentions & discussions (1)
Related development
575 Franklin Street Residences
Adds two homes and faculty housing to a derelict lot; commissioners split on whether the new two-story massing near the historic site and unlisted older neighbors is appropriate.
Lincoln Street Historic Alteration
Adds usable kitchen and bath space upstairs with minimal street visibility; secondary additions on non-historic portions.
834 Main Street Reroofing
The house stays weathertight and looks nearly identical from the street; the original tiles are lost.
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