Marin’s one remaining bowling alley could shutter its doors to make way for new housing.
Country Club Bowl on Vivian Street in San Rafael’s Canal neighborhood was closed in July to make way for repairs after structural damage was discovered by the owner, Charlie Kintler, according to reporting by the Marin Independent Journal.
Marin bowlers will be left with nowhere to play if the alley does indeed close.
"Us bowlers thought our savior arrived when Charlie from SoCal bought Country Club Bowl in San Rafael," said Robyn Ballerini of Novato, who used to volunteer at the site teaching the game to children. "We’re a bowling family, I was raised bowling."
"Our hopes were raised that he was going to revive our bowl and keep us bowling," she said.
But the decision to keep the alley open or closed is not a simple one.
"It’s my understanding the site is looking to be redeveloped into housing and the cost of the repair is substantial enough they may go ahead and apply for demo permits and take the building down, in preparation for the new housing development," Chief Building Official Don Jeppson said, referring to the owner. "Instead of repairing the bowling alley that will be demolished, the damage may hasten the demolition."
The owner will most likely want to avoid the high costs that repairs will entail. Despite the building needing essential fixes, "we don’t believe there’s a danger at this time," Jeppson said.
The decision was set in motion in 2019, when Southern California-based Colin Ashton brought forward a preliminary proposal for a market-rate multifamily development at the site, according to Community Development Director Alicia Giudice.
The developer would be required to make 5% of the units affordable, then decide whether to provide an additional number of affordable residences, pay in lieu fees or donate a portion of the land, she said.
When the San Rafael Design Review Board looked over the plans submitted last April, property owner Kintler discovered the extent of the structural repairs needed at the site. He’ll need to decide soon if repairing the damage is worth it.
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