Revitalizing Sausalito: Why Supporting a New Restaurant & Small Hotel on Bridgeway is Smart
At Positive People, we believe in smart economic growth as a way to enhance our city’s infrastructure and quality of life—without raising taxes. A thriving local economy generates the revenue needed to fund essential city services, infrastructure improvements, and community projects that benefit everyone.
The Power of a Strong Local Economy
Did you know?
📌 Business sales and hotel occupancy taxes contribute 44% of Sausalito’s city budget, while property taxes make up just 25%.
📌 Our hotels alone generate over $2 million annually for the city through a 14% hotel occupancy tax.
Supporting a vibrant business environment is critical to keeping our community strong, ensuring Sausalito remains a beautiful, livable, and financially sustainable city.
That’s why we’re rallying behind the proposed restaurant and boutique hotel at 715 Bridgeway (the historic Wells Fargo building)—an opportunity to breathe new life into a long-vacant property while strengthening our local economy.
A New Chapter for the Wells Fargo Building
For years, this beautiful but empty historic building has been underutilized. Now, a responsible, experienced developer is stepping up to preserve and revitalize it into a dynamic restaurant and boutique hotel. As a result, both the Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved this project.
Here’s what’s proposed:
✔️ A ground-floor restaurant and bar with seating for up to 105 guests.
✔️ A new second floor inside the existing structure, featuring three high-end hotel suites.
✔️ A private courtyard with a garden, firepit, hot tub, and elevated deck for hotel guests.
✔️ A thoughtful design that preserves the building’s historic charm and ensures no impact on Bridgeway’s public views.
Why This Project Matters
We’re incredibly lucky to have a proven, responsible owner/developer willing to invest in Sausalito’s future by restoring this property rather than letting it sit vacant and deteriorate—a fate that has affected so many historic buildings across the Bay Area.
The owner has already successfully developed a similar hotel-restaurant in Carmel, working collaboratively with neighbors while maintaining the property’s character and charm. You can read his vision for 715 Bridgeway and project plans. We also encourage you to read this thoughtful letter of recommendation from the Mayor of Carmel, a small town like ours that shares many of our same concerns around preserving our town character and respecting nearby residents.
Addressing Neighborhood Noise Concerns & Legal Appeal of the Project
On July 9, 2025, the Planning Commission reviewed the designs for this project a second time. In the end, they voted 5-0 to approve the project. To address a neighbor’s legal appeal of this project along with other neighbors’ concerns over potential noise from hotel guests, the project owner made significant changes to the design of the project:
The hotel stairway was moved inside the building — previously it accessed the hotel via the Excelsior stairs.
The outdoor deck was reduced by nearly 50% to respond to neighbors' concerns and comply with Ordinance 1022 (a 1984 law that restricts development).
Along with this, the project owner has agreed to 24/7 management by providing a number to call in case there are issues with noise (this was initially thought to be onsite management but this was not the case — more details below*.) The hotel deck is also only for registered guests and their guests, and does not allow access to the upper deck after 10 p.m. Sausalito’s noise ordinance, which limits noise after 10 p.m., also applies. According to the City staff, there have been no code complaints about excessive noise from existing hotels and Sausalito is not known for a rowdy hotel culture.
The project owner has expressed his sensitivity to noise issues and has a proven track record of working with residents in Carmel to ensure his inn/restaurant there is not an issue (see the letter above from the Mayor of Carmel).
(*Note on 24/7 Onsite Management: There was some confusion during the March 18, 2025, City Council meeting regarding the project owner’s commitment to provide 24/7 onsite management in response to neighbors’ concerns about potential noise. At the time, it appeared that he had agreed to this condition. However, at the July 9, 2025, Planning Commission meeting, it was clarified that this was not the case.
A City Planner acknowledged that the misunderstanding was an error on the City’s part, and that the project owner had never agreed to 24/7 onsite staffing. The project owner explained that requiring a full-time, on-site employee would render the project economically unviable for a three-room hotel. He also noted that Hotel Sausalito, located across the street with 16 rooms, and Gables Inn, with 13 rooms do not have someone sitting at the front desk 24/7. For a small, three-room boutique hotel, we believe this is a reasonable and appropriate solution, consistent with how similar small hotels we’ve stayed at are managed.)
A Chance to Preserve History & Build a Better Future
Sausalito Planning Commissioner Andrew Junius noted that throughout the Bay Area, many historic buildings sit vacant and deteriorating. He emphasized that well-intended preservation efforts often delay projects, preventing these buildings from being restored and put to good use. In contrast, he viewed the proposed inn as a perfect fit for revitalizing this historic property.
“This really is an enormously special and unique opportunity for Sausalito, and we can’t screw this up. This is how you save these buildings.” – Andrew Junius, Sausalito Planning Commissioner
Both the Planning and Historic Preservation Commissions unanimously voted to approve this project. In particular, the Histori Preservation Commission determined that this project conforms to The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings
Turning the Tide: From "No" to "Yes" – Supporting Smart Growth!
Sausalito has long had a reputation for making it difficult for small businesses to open and thrive. If we truly want a vibrant downtown filled with great restaurants, shops, and hotels, we must support responsible, well-planned projects like this one.
This is our chance to show that Sausalito is ready to embrace thoughtful development that respects our history while strengthening our economy.
Let’s turn the tide and support smart progress—for our community, our businesses, and our future.
Learn how to support this project by emailing us at contact@positivepeopleforsausalito.com and signing up for our newsletter: www.positivepeopleforsausalito.com.
