Bank of Italy
Also known as: Livermore City Hall
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Why it's listed
Built in 1921-22 at 2250 First Street in Livermore, this granite-faced bank was commissioned by the Bank of Italy as its 13th branch, part of what became the Bank of America. Edward T. Foulkes was the architect and Alfred J. Storm the builder. The branch opened on January 3, 1922. The First Street front has three round-arched openings, rusticated stone, Corinthian-style pilasters, carved heads on the keystones, a fleur-de-lis frieze and a balustrade at the roofline. A longer side facade on South Livermore Avenue repeats the design with four arches. The exterior remains virtually unchanged. The City of Livermore bought the building in 1957 and used it as City Hall while the population grew from about 12,000 to over 48,000. The city council designated it a local landmark in 1977. It was listed for its architecture as an early 20th century Second Renaissance Revival bank and for its relationship to other period buildings nearby.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is architecturally significant as an early 20th century Second Renaissance Revival bank and a good example of the neo-classic architecture that shaped California's early 20th century townscapes. It was also the 13th branch of the Bank of Italy, now Bank of America, and served as city hall during Livermore's major growth. It faces other historic buildings of the same era and style across the town center.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78000648, listed November 16, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2250 1st St., Livermore |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | November 16, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000648 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1921-1922 (specific dates 5/17/21 to 1/3/22) |
| Architect / builder | Edward T. Foulkes - Architect; Alfred J. Storm - Builder |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival (Second Renaissance Revival) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned and occupied by the City as City Hall for about twenty years; the city planned to vacate it within a year. Exterior described as virtually unchanged from original. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.68226, -121.76834 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78000648.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q123232237
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.