Halsey House Renovation/Replacement

The 3,400 sf single-story Halsey House was constructed in 1923. It is built on a concrete foundation, with wood framing and a clay tile roof. The facility was most recently used as a nature center where educational and recreational programs were conducted for groups of 25-30 people, primarily children under 18 years old. This project will conduct a feasibility study to determine the costs and benefits of renovating for re-use or demolishing and replacing Halsey House with a purpose-designed facility. The Halsey House Nature Center at Redwood Grove has been closed since 2008 as a result of health and safety code concerns.

An evaluation of the current facility, accessibility, site conditions, and suitability for renovation was needed so an informed decision can be made by the Los Altos City Council to select among priced alternatives to renovate or demolish and construct. The renovation options for adaptive re-use shall consider stabilizing the current structure to arrest further deterioration due to the building’s vacancy. Friends of Historic Redwood Grove raised private monies to fund the assessment.

The assessment was completed and the findings were presented to City Council at the December 8, 2015 meeting; Council requested further evaluation be conducted. This evaluation is ongoing and the scope of the project is pending Council direction.