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On November 4, 2020 the Larkspur City Council unanimously voted to enter into a Letter of Intent (LOI) between the City of Larkspur and The Commons Foundation (TCF) to build a $5 Million Library building at the Rose Lane Community Facility parcel. The agreement is the result of ongoing conversations between the City and TCF, a non-profit dedicated to fundraising for the development of the property as a home for a new library and community center.
“The Larkspur City Council is pleased with the agreement and appreciates the substantial efforts of The Commons Foundation to support the creation of a new library and community center at Rose Lane,” stated Mayor Catherine Way. “The residents of Larkspur are eager to see one of our most beloved resources, fondly known as the ‘World’s Greatest Little Library’ get a whole lot bigger and better. The Commons Foundation has been instrumental in helping channel that energy into a concerted fundraising effort in support of a new building. We look forward to the next steps and to continuing our partnership through this process.”
“We are very pleased to have a signed LOI and a plan for moving from fundraising to construction of the new Library with the City,” said Joe Jennings, President, The Commons Foundation. “Our joint strategy to start smaller, at a realistic budget, that can start providing new library services sooner, can then lead to a larger building in the future.”
TCF has 24 months to raise $5 Million in cash. After fundraising is completed, the City will solicit bids to design and build a $5 Million facility, which will be designed to serve the dual purpose of a modern library and community meeting space. It is anticipated that the building will serve as the first phase in a multi-phased approach to building a larger library and community center. The phased approach comes after review of multiple options to move forward with the development property. Based on analysis of the site location and its potential uses, the City has determined that a phased approach best meets the needs of the community.
The Commons Foundation
TCF’s mission is to fund, and build and sustain with the City, a modern Larkspur Library and public square for the communities of Larkspur, Greenbrae and Kentfield at The Commons on Rose Lane. TCF has raised $900,000 in cash and pledges to date. To learn more about how to donate to TCF and contribute to the new building, visit: https://www.thecommonsatlarkspur
Moved to Larkspur in 2009 with his wife Marisa.
Retired high technology patent broker, and previously a senior executive, and market development consultant for 37 years.
Co-founded and led the LLCC Task Force and then the Larkspur Library Community Center Foundation (now called The Commons Foundation) since 2018.
Supporter of: Baltimore Park NRG, Homeward Bound of Marin, Lark Theater, Larkspur Community Foundation, Friends of the Larkspur Library, Larkspur Beautiful, SPARK,. Marin Master Gardeners and co-chairperson of the MMG Opportunity Fund. Member and Board member of the Larkspur Chamber of Commerce.
MBA, Finance, University of Washington, and a BA, cum laude, Political Science, Whitman College.
Resident of Larkspur since 1994
Volunteer for Neil Cummins Elementary School, Twin Cities Little League, Hall Middle School, Marin Highlanders Rugby Club, Redwood High School, Larkspur Creekside HOA Board
Supporter of Lark Theater, Friends of the Larkspur Library, Rec’ing Crew, Larkspur Community Foundation, Youth In Arts, Marin Food Bank, Boys and Girls Club, KQED
LARC Committee Member: Appointed by Larkspur City Council to determine use of parcel at Rose Lane development 2012-2013 (results of this became the 2013 Master Plan.)
20+ years experience as complex civil litigation paralegal with specialty in will and trust litigation, representing large high-profile charitable trusts; administration of medium and small charitable trusts for trustees; general State and Federal legal business compliance
15 years experience in real estate support and compliance services, self-employed
North Tahoe native, attended UC Irvine (B.A.-Political Science), Orange Coast College (Certificate-Hotel Management)
Over 25 years’ experience working with and within Marin communities.
Appointed by the Mayor of Larkspur to the Ad Hoc committee to develop the Master Plan for a new Community Center project.
Serves as a commissioner for the City of Larkspur Parks and Recreation and is founder of the Larkspur Rec’ing Crew, a nonprofit organization, that helps fund youth programs for children in need within the community.
Rotary: President of the Rotary Club of Terra Linda 2015-2016 and Community Services Director 2016-2017, Membership Co-Chair for the Rotary District 5150 serving 42 clubs with 1850 members, and Chairman of the Steering Committee for a joint project between multiple Rotary Clubs and the Center 4 Domestic Peace helping to develop needed bed space for families coming out of domestic violence.
17 years working with the Sausalito Art Festival as the volunteer coordinator and operations director dealing with a work force of over 1,200 volunteers and managing the logistics of the multi-million dollar festival.
Worked with the City of Sausalito managing their city wide events including the Caledonia Street Fair and Jazz by the Bay, as well as the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce.
Accordion Content
Chris has spent a career being both global and local. He has led urban planning projects around the world, and has engaged in multiple citizen initiatives in Larkspur. He is a board member of the Lark Theater and is excited to join the campaign to create a new library and town square for the community. Resident of Larkspur since 1984.
TCF received unanimous votes for authorization to raise funds and collaborate with the City of Larkspur to design and build a library in a phased approach from the following organizations.
TCF Legacy Society was founded in 2020, and supports planned giving for The Commons Foundation. The purpose is to enable individuals and couples to make planned gifts to the Larkspur Library across a wide range of financial options.
Supported by the Marin Community Foundation, TCF Legacy Society offers a wide range of planned giving options to donors. Planned giving gifts can be TCF Board-directed or donor-directed to our Capital Campaign, Endowment Fund or Annual Fund. As of March 15, 2020 pledges to the Legacy Society exceed $1,200,000.
Joanne Bethlahmy, Honorary Co-Chairperson
Joe Jennings, Co-Chairperson
Marisa Jennings
Christina (Tina) McArthur
Elda Marie Phillips
Anonymous
The Seedling Campaign was started in December 2018 to raise seed capital for the LLCC Foundation. Our first donors were:
Anonymous
Julie Allecta
Carrie & James Burroughs
Kristi Ellenzwieg
Jeanne Freidel
Barbara & Karl Friday
Gabriel Gesmer
Jan & Robert Ginsberg
Katherine & Brendhan Green
Lynda & Richard Greene
Kathy & Chris Hartzel
Kevin Haroff
Helyse Hollander
Bill Howard
Marisa & Joe Jennings
Alice Kaufman & Frank Gold
Michael & Eliza Koeppel
W.J. (Bill) & J.F. Levinson
Victoria Love
Christina (Tina) Rosetti McArthur
Clarke Miller
Kristina Neal
Lois & Warren Patton
Susan Painter
Dyan & Peter Pike
Catherine Pyke
AJ Rea and Family
Andy Revell
Rosine Reynolds
Sue & Bill Rochester
Sandra Ruliffson & Dwight Pedersen
Judith Saffran
Mary & Jim Scheller
Suzanne C. Shelhart
Steven M. Stein
Natalie & Paul Straub
Lisbet & Stuart Sunshine
Phillip Terry
Catherine Way
Michelle & Jeff Wilcox
To Receive The Commons Foundation Newsletter