Pazala Foundation‘s purchase of the 10-acre McPhail School property in January 2026 was just the beginning of a vision to transform the bayfront gem into Santa Venetia Commons.
Pazala and the Santa Venetia Community Center nonprofit are now deep in plan set revisions with Marin County, working toward a permit to demolish the buildings and remove the old asphalt. With a preservation mindset, we’re keeping the trees, concrete planters, plaza, and building slabs — the foundation for gathering places to come. The demo includes a new electrical service to power upcoming community events.
The Big Clean-Out
Before anything comes down, it has to be emptied. Used as a surplus storage facility for nearly 30 years, the school is still packed with old desks, chairs, cafeteria and auto shop equipment, pottery wheels, tools, and you name it.
We’re partnering with several nonprofits to tag and donate items to be re-used or re-homed, and hope to recycle much of the rest. Marin Sanitary is providing reduced-price dumpsters for unusable items in exchange for metal recycling. And Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control will do a free inspection and advise so demolition doesn’t create a rodent problem for the neighborhood.
Clean Out the School Day
On July 17, we met with nonprofits to tag items for donation. Once things are organized, we’ll reach out to residents, volunteers, and SVNA members to schedule a “Clean Out the School Day” — filling dumpsters and disassembling furniture for recycling. Sign up to volunteer at www.svcommons.org.
What’s Next
What’s all this for? Phase one is envisioned as a plaza, park, nature trail, garden, and a picnic and food truck area. Phase two builds the community center. Every desk we carry out makes space for summer concerts, community programs, and new cultural experiences.
We’re in the messy middle — right where we need to be.