The latest next chapter for the 127-acre former Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Strawberry – believed to be the largest single piece of property held by one owner in Southern Marin – appears to have arrived, with plenty of tension surrounding the past and would-be future of the property. Developer North Coast Land Holdings proposed redeveloping the former Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary campus adjacent to Mill Valley in 2020 and has been working on the plan since. North Coast wants to build 337 residential units, including replacements for existing units, on the 100-acre site as well as renovate the existing campus.
HERE’S THE STORY ON THE PROPOSED HOUSING.
Longtime former Mill Valley Mayor Dick Spotswood and a political writer for the Marin Independent Journal, has also weighed in.
Strawberry is facing change. “That fear of change is vocal when it comes to new housing,” Spotswood wrote. “It’s often prompted both by poor design and associated traffic impacts. The first failing can be countered by excellence in architecture. The second, traffic, may just be inevitable. The latest proposal includes well-chosen components that, as a whole, will be beneficial for Southern Marin and adjacent neighbors. The good news is that “more than 70% of the site will be preserved as open space and athletic fields.”
“Possible uses include a new residential care facility with up to 100 independent and 50 assisted living and memory care apartments for senior citizens,” Spotwood writes. “Elder care is a pressing need since Marin has one of the oldest populations among California’s 58 counties. There’ll also be 336 single- and multi-family residential units. Strawberry-Tiburon residents will appreciate a new preschool and public fitness center.”
It’s fair to argue about the number of residences that will be reserved for below market-rate housing. Since that category is Marin’s greatest housing need, that may be a topic of negotiations with county planners. As Strawberry is unincorporated, final permitting decisions are made by the Marin County Board of Supervisors, with Southern Marin Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters playing a major role.
“One dilemma that will not evaporate with any use of the old seminary is traffic,” Spotswood writes. “t’s inevitable. It’s just the nature of change and more housing. While beneficial, additional public transit or increased cycling will realistically do little to decrease the traffic impact. Which brings us to design. There is very little that was architecturally special about the old seminary. This presents a terrific opportunity for county planners to demand that North Coast Land Holdings present new structures that reflect excellence. As the writer Will Durant says, “Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution.”
As the IJ reports, A current tenant, Olivet University, a private Christian school, has 100 students. It will remain. Under the county’s current use permit, it may expand its student body to 1,000. That goal may take decades to achieve.
“Strawberry is a golden opportunity for the county to approve this project only if its design and compatibility with the land achieves excellence,” Spotswood writes. “There’s plenty of time before the site’s plan is finalized. Now is the time to do it right.”
The 411: The Seminary at Strawberry is located at 201 Seminary Drive.