City of Sonoma Historic Resource Workshop

The City of Sonoma is proud to sponsor the development of a Citywide Historic Context Statement and Survey. A Historic Context Statement is a specialized historic study that focuses on the physical development of the city. It identifies significant themes, patterns, and property types, so that interested parties can recognize the forces that shaped the city’s history and built environment over time. This provides a framework and tool to assist homeowners, architects, City staff, and city review bodies understand the process for identifying, evaluating, and treating historic resources. The survey portion of the project will focus on properties that are at least 45 years old, which have the potential to be historic resources.

You are invited join us for a Community Workshop to learn more about this exciting project, and to contribute by sharing your knowledge about places, communities, events, and themes that are important to the history and physical development of Sonoma. At future workshops, you will have an opportunity to review and comment on the draft Historic Context Statement and Survey Report before they are considered for adoption by the City.

The Community Workshop will be held at the following time and place:

Date: Wednesday, April 22

Time: 6pm-8pm

Location: Vintage House, 264 1st St E, Sonoma, CA 95476

Jennifer Gates, Community Development Director jgates@sonomacity.org

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 What is a Historic Context Statement?

A Historic Context Statement (HCS) is a specialized historic study that focuses on how the built environment of an area – its buildings, structures, landscapes, and infrastructure – developed over time. An HCS identifies significant themes, patterns, and property types to provide a framework for identifying which properties are historically significant.

What is the purpose of Sonoma’s Historic Context Statement?

Sonoma’s HCS will inform future historic significance evaluations and City planning decisions. The HCS may help property owners, members of the community, architects, and historic resources planning consultants recognize and consider protection of historic properties. It will also provide the background information for an upcoming survey of properties that are potentially eligible for historic designation.

What is a historic resources survey?

A historic resources survey is a systematic study of buildings, sites, landscapes, and other features within a particular area, in this case, the City of Sonoma, to identify historically significant places. A survey can identify individual resources, as well as historic districts. The last Historic Resource Survey in Sonoma was completed in 1989, so the 2025 update will look at places which have become 50 years of age since then. It will also update the findings of the 1989 survey to consider changes to previously identified historic resources, including the city’s historic districts.

Can the Historic Context Statement tell me the history of my property?

The HCS will not include specific construction dates or historical information for most individual properties. However, by reading about the various property types and architectural styles that are associated with different periods of development in Sonoma, you may be able to make an educated guess about when your property was built and learn more about that time period.

When will the Historic Context Statement be ready?

The first draft of the Historic Context Statement is currently being written, and will be ready for public review and comment before Fall 2026.

When will the historic resource survey start?

The “reconnaissance” and “intensive” surveys will be completed in Summer 2026, and our findings will be ready for public review and comment before Spring 2027. We will have another community meeting to discuss the survey findings and what they mean for property owners.

How can I contribute?

We welcome your input on the significant places in Sonoma, like buildings, neighborhoods, landscapes, and businesses, as well as important events, communities, and historic themes. Share your input and ask any questions you have at this community meeting, or in an email to Jennifer Gates JGates@sonomacity.org.