Mill Valley looks to rehabilitate roof of historic mill

A historic structure in one of Mill Valley’s parks is slated to get a new roof.

The Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed plans to restore the roof of the Reed Mill in Old Mill Park at its meeting on Wednesday night. The roof and several joints of the structure are failing and need to be repaired.

“If you look under it from the inside, you can see daylight throughout it, and there’s some places vegetation is starting to grow and get hold, and it’s an untreated wood single roof, so it has a fairly short lifespan,” said Mark Neumann, the city’s deputy director of operations and utilities.

The creekside mill in Cascade Canyon was one of the first built in the Bay Area, according to the Mill Valley Historical Society. Erected around 1835 by John Reed, it is one of the oldest standing mills in California.

Neumann said the old mill is a “wonderful, beloved and well used” space. He said it was reconstructed in 1991 by a San Francisco contractor and a historical architectural firm. More maintenance was performed in the 2000s, mainly roof repair work and the application of an all-in-one wood preservative, fungicide and insecticide.

While the roof is still intact in most spots, it has failed in others, according to a city staff report. Additionally, some areas are showing signs of dry rot, and another round of wood preservative is needed in those areas. Neumann said the new wood preservative is a more modern, gel version that is less prone to runoff.

The plans drawn up in 1991 will be used to do the repair work. The city has found a vendor that can provide redwood barn shake shingles consistent with the period, Neumann said.

“The roof has reached the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced,” the staff report states.

Vanessa Justice, the chair of the commission, endorsed the project. Justice said the park is a Mill Valley jewel and the historic structure enhances the park.

“I think it reflects the commitment to honoring our history and also showing respect to beloved town destinations,” Justice said. “I love that we’re committed to the past and the future, that we understand the importance of historical structures and that we are making sure to continue to honor those when appropriate and when the community finds that it’s important.”

The project is funded by $30,000 from the city’s recreation department, $30,000 from the nonprofit Mill Valley Friends of Parks and Recreation and $30,000 from the steering committee of the city’s 125th anniversary celebration. Neumann said that, based on estimates, the funds will cover the project’s cost.

Work is expected to begin in June and be completed by August, ahead of the anniversary celebration. The city plans to install a temporary fence around the project during construction.