# LIVE COVERAGE Historic Resources Board Meeting of November 2, 2026

The City of Salinas Historic Resources Board meeting on November 2, 2026, included updates on the planned Republic Cafe museum and cultural center in Chinatown. The city has purchased the property at 3739 Soledad Street, with the project plan calling for bringing the building up to code and ACES developing and operating the museum. The city engaged architecture firm TEF for exterior design work, while ACES engaged Romano and Minh for interior design consulting; fundraising, design development, and eventual construction contracting remain ahead, with a five-year target for having funding and plans in place. The presenter also referenced an earlier HUD grant of $600,000 and roof work estimated at $200,000–$250,000, while noting that asbestos discovery curtailed available funding. No new contract award, spending authorization, or procurement vote was reported. Plaque material estimates of approximately $100 for wood, $200 for aluminum, and $400 for bronze were unverified preliminary figures, not vendor quotes.

The board discussed developing a formal ordinance and criteria for historic plaques, including city-logo approval, eligible properties, design, and materials; members planned further review before returning to the topic in December. Staff said the Historic Resources Board currently reviews projects only on officially designated historic properties, while properties on the 1989 survey receive advisory staff comments. The board asked staff to provide the list of designated properties and discussed whether the city’s ordinance and permit process should better support historic preservation review. The Page & Turnbull historic resources survey draft and public review were delayed to early 2027. The board approved revised October minutes and the 2027 meeting schedule; neither vote involved spending.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** November 02, 2026

### Sources
- [LIVE COVERAGE Historic Resources Board Meeting of November 2, 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_w_CB-38oY) - thesalinaschannel