Approval recorded by the city; see the dated update below.
Benicia's City Council voted 3–2 on September 1 to award a $192,559.65 contract to Creative Property Renewal of Stockton for exterior preservation of the historic Southern Pacific Railroad Depot at 90 First Street, according to council minutes. The work includes reroofing, siding and trim repair, gutter replacement, window glazing, sign repair and repainting in historically appropriate colors, paid for with money from a 2019 settlement with port operator Amports. The city issued the building permit September 21. A September 15 staff report said construction was expected to begin in early October and take 45 working days; we have not confirmed that work has started.
How we know (4 sources)
Dated source evidence; the project may have changed since then. An approval does not establish construction or an opening.
Summary
The September 15, 2026 staff report says the project is funded from the S.P. Depot capital fund created from a 2019 $800,000 Amports settlement, that construction is anticipated to begin in early October 2026 with a 45-working-day contract, and recommends a construction-management task order with Unico Engineering not to exceed $90,500.
Staff Report - Award of Task Order Railroad Depot Project (City Council, September 15, 2026, item 14.H)City of Benicia · Executive summary; Budget information; Background
Evidence dated: Sep 15, 2026 · Source checked: Oct 12, 2026
Start date is a forecast. The September 15 task-order outcome is not yet in posted minutes, so it is omitted from the summary.
Development status
September 1, 2026 council minutes record Resolution 26-89 awarding the depot construction contract to Creative Property Renewal, Inc. of Stockton for $192,559.65, adopted 3–2 (Ayes: Largaespada, Macenski, Young; Noes: Birdseye, Scott). Council removed the construction-management award and asked staff to return with proposals.
City Council minutes, September 1, 2026, item 14.DCity of Benicia · Item 14.D; roll call
Evidence dated: Sep 1, 2026 · Source checked: Oct 12, 2026
Minutes PDF carries a DRAFT watermark (scheduled for approval September 15). Collected by benicia-meetings.
Summary
Building permit B-26-253 at 90 First Street, submitted August 18, 2026 and issued September 21, 2026, for historically accurate exterior maintenance of the Benicia Southern Pacific Railroad Passenger Depot: reroofing, fascia/trim repair, gutters, window glazing, sign repair, siding repair and repainting.
September Issued Building Permits ReportCity of Benicia · Record # B-26-253
Evidence dated: Sep 21, 2026 · Source checked: Oct 12, 2026
Authorization only; not proof of work start. Row read from the rendered PDF page; the text layer misaligns columns, so values were checked visually.
Summary
September 1, 2026 council minutes record Resolution 26-89 awarding the depot construction contract to Creative Property Renewal, Inc. of Stockton for $192,559.65, adopted 3–2 (Ayes: Largaespada, Macenski, Young; Noes: Birdseye, Scott). Council removed the construction-management award and asked staff to return with proposals.
City Council minutes, September 1, 2026, item 14.DCity of Benicia · Item 14.D; roll call
Evidence dated: Sep 1, 2026 · Source checked: Oct 12, 2026
Minutes PDF carries a DRAFT watermark (scheduled for approval September 15). Collected by benicia-meetings.
