San Rafael group seeks surplus land for community center

Santa Venetia residents are rallying to save surplus school district property from private development and preserve it as an arts and community center.

The campaign, run through the Santa Venetia Community Center, comes as San Rafael City Schools prepares to open public bids this month on the 9.8-acre MacPhail property at 1565 Vendola Drive.

“With public bidding now open to private developers and investors, neighbors are urgently rallying support to keep this rare 10-acre bayfront parcel in community hands and prevent high-density development and dangerous erosion along the Santa Venetia open marsh,” said Robin Leigh Kessler, a co-founder of the community center.

Kessler said the group has already secured $4 million through the local Pazala Family Foundation and other donors. The group must raise $2 million to submit a bid by the Jan. 23 deadline, she said. The minimum bid is $6 million.

If the campaign is successful in raising the money, it will submit a plan to build Santa Venetia Commons, a “vibrant community hub dedicated to arts, culture, youth and senior programs, environmental stewardship and neighborhood events,” Kessler said.

Bob Marcucci, deputy superintendent of business services for San Rafael City Schools, declined to comment on the potential Santa Venetia center bid or any other bids, which are all confidential until the Jan. 27 bid opening.

“Any information that the district can provide related to surplus properties will be what is posted on the district website,” Marcucci said. Information is online at shorturl.at/pQhEB.

The district will hold a public tour of the property at 1 p.m. Friday, according to the district website.

The property is the former the site of a school that closed in the 1970s because of declining enrollment. The property was declared surplus in 1979, leased out and then sold in 1993, but the buyer defaulted. It was returned to the district in 2004 and declared surplus again in 2007, and then again in 2024.

In the years since the site was returned to the district, its fate has been discussed often but not seriously acted on until now.

In March 2024, the district announced that several district surplus properties, including MacPhail, were available for sale. Sixteen bids came back for various sites by the deadline.

The district has lease agreements with two nonprofit bidders at the Old Gallinas School site: Gallinas Valley Little League and the WildCare animal clinic. There was no such luck at the MacPhail property, however.

In September, the district said it had spent 18 months in negotiations with prospective nonprofit or priority bidders for MacPhail, but failed to reach a deal, forcing an open market sale.

Residents have said the property has fallen into neglect and become the target of vandalism and dumping.

“For Santa Venetia residents, the stakes are high,” Kessler said. “The opening of the process to private developers and investors raises fears of dense housing or intensive development on one of the last large, relatively pristine parcels on the Santa Venetia open marsh.”

The plans for Santa Venetia Commons would preserve the property’s use as an informal park for exercise, dog walking, softball, tai chi, kite flying and picnicking, Kessler said.

In addition, the proposed center would feature artist studios, music performances, cultural programs, yoga classes, movie nights, nature walks, youth programs, seniors programs and a garden and picnic plaza, Kessler said.

Solar shade structures would be planned to help with electricity generation. A museum and interpretive program for Coast Miwok heritage also is envisioned.

In addition to the Santa Venetia Marsh Preserve, the site borders Las Gallinas Creek and San Pablo Bay. It includes open space, freshwater wetland ponds, diverse wildlife and views.

“We are in the final sprint to raise an additional $2 million by Jan. 23, when bids are due,” said Crystal Yezman, another center co-founder. “If you have ever wanted to see something wonderful for the community on this beautiful 10-acre parcel, this is your moment to act.”

More details are at svcommons.org.