When the Heritage Preservation Commission recently discussed restoring the Village as a historical landmark, Commissioner and city historian Willys Peck brought up the fact that it already was one—something that seems to have been forgotten in recent years.

The city was hoping that the designation as California Historical Landmark No. 435 would mean that the area is eligible for historical grants and funding.

But the landmark description is most likely too vague to bring any restoration dollars to the city. Though city planner John Livingstone said it probably refers to the Village alone, the state's record of the landmark simply says "Saratoga."

"It's a very, very early designation," Livingstone said. "There's no specific boundaries, just kind of a site area."

Historian Cynthia Howse from the California Office of Historic Preservation said that when the state's historic landmark division approved the landmark application in 1949, standards for qualification were not as specific as they are now, and thus there is no one structure that could receive grant money.

"In these early landmark designations that aren't clearly defined, it's mostly just an honorary thing," she said. "Today's standards require that you make an argument that the property is of statewide significance."

Peck said the designation came at a time when Californians were excited about the 100-year anniversaries of the gold rush and the state's admission to the union.

"It came about because in the years 1948, 1949 and 1950, the state of California was on this centennial binge," he said. "They were designating [landmarks] left and right."

The city has declared historic sites of its own, but those, too, are simply honorary designations and carry no financial benefit.

Historic Preservation Commission Chairwoman Phylis Ballingall said owners of any building on the city's heritage resource inventory or designated landmark structure lists may receive a plaque denoting the building's status.

"The businesses see it as a marketing thing," she said. "It makes an attraction for people who are interested in historic sites."

In order to get any kind of funding, specific-building owners would have to apply to have their buildings be recognized as state landmarks, or the current designation would have to be redefined.

"Since there are no boundaries, it might not even meet current standards," Howse said. "Someone would have to renominate it or rejustify it."

Howse also said the city could apply to add the Village to the national landmark listing to qualify for certain tax exemptions.