Los Altos Historic Preservation Award

The intent of the Los Altos Historic Preservation Award is to recognize individuals, groups, organizations or projects that exemplify the spirit of historic preservation in the City of Los Altos. The award will be in the form of a Mayor’s Proclamation presented to the recipient by the City Council. Nominees must demonstrate a dedication to historic preservation in the City of Los Altos as outlined below. The purpose of the award is to encourage public knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the City’s past, and foster civic and neighborhood pride and a sense of identity based upon the recognition and use of the City’s historic resources.

Past Award Recipients

2012: Don MacDonald
2013: Marion Grimm (Honored posthumously)
2014: Margaret Thompson
2015: Bob Grimm
2016: Valorie Cook Carpenter
2017: Pinky Whelan
2018: 10 Yerba Buena Avenue
2019: Nan Geschke
2020: Jane Reed
2021: 1365 Grant Road
2022: Anne Roberts and Dick Liewer
2023: Los Altos Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution for the Early Settlers of Los Altos/Mountain View

Nomination

Nominations may be made by submitting a nomination letter outlining how the nominee meets the below listed criteria to the Historical Commission. Nominations may be made by any member of the public, including self-nomination.

In order to officially submit a nomination for the 2024 Historic Preservation Award, please submit a nomination form (link is below) and a copy of all necessary documentation to the Historical Commission staff liaison, Sean Gallegos. Materials may be submitted to sgallegos@losaltosca.gov or hand delivered or mailed to City Hall, 1 North San Antonio Road, Los Altos, CA 94022. All nominations must be submitted by Friday, March 22, 2024 at 5:00 pm. 

At the Monday, April 15, 2024 Historical Commission meeting, the Commission will evaluate all nominations using the evaluation criteria listed below. After taking oral testimony from members of the public and considering the written evidence, the Historical Commission may vote on a recipient of the Historic Preservation Award. If the Commission identifies an award recipient, it will forward the award nomination to the City Council along with evidence to support the nomination. The written recommendation may be submitted directly to the City Council for consideration at its next regular meeting. The City Council may recognize the Historic Preservation Award recipient with a proclamation by the Mayor at a future Council meeting.

The Historical Commission may choose not to nominate an award recipient if the submitted nominations do not merit an award based on the below listed criteria. Nominees who do not receive the award may be resubmitted for consideration in subsequent years.

Evaluation Criteria

  • Demonstration of pioneering or innovative efforts in historic preservation or education.
  • ​Conformance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Rehabilitation.
  • Public Benefit received (educational, beautification, advocacy, etc.).
  • Impact on the City of Los Altos.

Historic Preservation Award Forms