July 15, 2009

SPEAKER(S):

Terry Milne– from Bernal Heights – Alemany Farmers Market – the oldest farmers market west of the Mississippi, established in 1943 by John Bicardo and moved to Alemany in 1947. The stalls in the building were built in 1951. I would like some information about how to suggest or propose this be eligible for landmark status in San Francisco.

Peter Warfield– Director of Library Users Associations. Thanks for holding hearings on Branch Library Improvement Programs (BLIP) at recent meetings. Serious concerns were expressed on a number of projects by a variety of people both on and off your Commission. I ask this Commission to put on its agenda the detailed plans for at least three specific branches. There is a very great harm and indeed an injustice in progress with respect to Park Branch, North Beach Branch and Ortega Branch specific plans, and I think it would be worth while for this Commission to hold public hearing on each one of those branch renovation/ retrofit projects, whether or not you have power to control outcomes or require specific actions, you can control your own agenda.

STAFF REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tina Tam – At the last Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) hearing, after the library representative made their presentation on the overview of the branch libraries improvement program (BLIP), you asked the Planning Department for several things. 1. Determination for demolition for Ortega, and asked that the Environmental Review Officer (ERO) report back on what action could be taken whether it's appropriate to rescind this determination. You also asked the Department to look into the Cat Ex for the Merced Branch Library and asked for similar information as for the Ortega. You also asked for a draft historic resource evaluation response (HRER) for demolition of the North Beach Branch Library as well as the alternative for the environment impact report (EIR). Lastly you asked to see all Cat Ex determinations for all of the Appleton Warfred libraries. It is my understanding from my discussion with the Planning Director, the ERO, and our City Attorney that the rescinding of the Cat Ex is somewhat unlikely. To provide you some background information on Ortega: back in 2003, the Department issued a Cat Ex for the demolition of Ortega. In 2008 the Department asked the library for more information in order to evaluate this earlier determination. Based upon the information that we got at the time, the Department did conclude that there was insufficient integrity for Ortega and that the building is ineligible for historical resource. The Department then issued the Cat Ex back in October of last year (2008). In February of this year the Department issued and filed an exemption which terminated the appeal period to the Board of Supervisors (BOS) for the Cat Ex. As for Merced Library, the Planning Department issued a Cat Ex very recently. I believe a copy of the Cat Ex along with the HRER is part of today's packet for your hearing. As for the North Beach Library, the Planning Department is currently still reviewing the consultant's report, the HRE report, and once we have finalized our HRE, our response, and certainly like we did for Merced, will be included in your packet for your review. As for the preservation alternative, which is part of the EIR report, once the DEIR is published, as with all our draft EIRs that pertain to historic resources, we will schedule that for a public hearing for your review and comment. I do have Bill Wycko here today in the audience and he is available to answer your technical questions regarding California Environment Quality Act (CEQA). You should have a letter from Luis Herrara in your packet today, who is a City Librarian, commenting on some of the remarks you made at the last hearing. That concludes my report.

PRESIDENT'S REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

President Chase – My report will be very brief. I did have the opportunity to speak with the librarian, Luis Herrara, and a member of the library board concerning issues that came up before the Commission and the result is in the letter. That letter of information has been provided to both [staff], and all Commissioners. That actually is the end of my formal report. I would like to take the opportunity to welcome both James Buckley and Andrew Wolfram to this Commission. Just to let the audience know the caliber and quality of our fellow Commissioners: Mr. Buckley has a Bachelors Degree from Yale; a Masters Degree in City and Regional Planning and a PH. D in architecture from U.C. Berkeley. He is the President of Citizens Housing Corporation in San Francisco and prior to that he was the Vice President at Bridge Housing Corporation. We welcome Jim to the Commission. In addition, Mr. Andrew Wolfram, an architect with 20 years of work experience in historical preservation adaptation and reuse. Most recently, he claimed, if you will, a few projects that represent his work. One of them is the Ferry Building. The project under construction right now is the Public Health Service Hospital adaption for housing on Presidio properties in the city of San Francisco. He is a graduate of Columbia School of Architecture with a Master Degree in that program, and a Bachelors Degree in the same program. Welcome to both of you and we are very happy and pleased to have you and welcome a full complement to this commission. As a result of a decision made at our first meeting with only four commissioners seated at the time, we will hold election of officers for president and vice president again now that we have all seven members. With only four members at the time, we only made temporary appointments until such time we had at least six members seated. That concludes my remarks.

MATTERS OF THE COMMISSION

Commissioner Martinez – Two things: I would like to put on the agenda for our next meeting a response to the letter from Mr. Herrera, because I think it needs to be responded to and at that time I think the agenda should reflect that we could also discuss these three projects at that time. I don't know if we need a formal presentation, but I think we should be able to be free to discuss these three projects. Also, we received the response to comments for the DEIR for the Exploratorium and I really think we need to respond to that, at least for the benefit of the Planning Commission, and tell them our thoughts about how our comments were responded to (whether or not they ask for it).

President Chase –Okay. So we have 3 items to agendize. For our new commissioners and the public, our next hearing will not be on August 5, but it will be the subsequent meeting in August on the 19^th, the third week of the month.

Commission Secretary Avery –If I could just remind you. We got an email from the Department of Media Services for City Hall and they will be upgrading or repairing the sound system and cameras in this room during the first week of September. So this room will not be available. I believe they will be able to give us an alternate room, but that has not been worked out yet. I just want to bring everyone's attention to the fact that if they cannot find a room or space for us, because all other commissions, committees and Board are still meeting, we will probably need to cancel the first hearing in September. But there is plenty of time and I'll let you know as soon as I know anything.

President Chase –Any other matters of the commissions? Hearing none, let's move on.

CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS PROPOSED FOR CONTINUANCE

Commission Secretary Avery –This is not a category that you usually have, but as we continue to work on the rewrite of Articles 10 and 11, your certificate of appropriateness cases will require notices. At that point, once the notice is put in the newspaper for a particular item, it will have to show on that calendar and if it can't be heard on that date, it would need to be shown as an item proposed for continuance. So although this one isn't really mandatory, we thought we would start getting into practice. Staff had already put this item on calendar so we had staff continue it out. This is kind of a practice run.

1. 2009.0420A (A. Starr: 415/558-6362)

2113 – 2115 Bush Street, south side of Bush Street, between Webster and Fillmore Streets, in Assessor's Block 0677 and Lot 032. Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to legalize work that has already been completed including removing the asbestos siding, removing the historic drop siding, interiorize the exposed plumbing and electrical conduits, installing new drop siding to match the original and replacing the sashes on five of the front façade windows. The subject property is located within an RM-1 (Residential, Mixed, Low Density) Zoning District, and a 40-X Height and Bulk Limit.

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval

(Proposed for Continuance to August 19, 2009)

SPEAKERS(S): None

ACTION: Continued as proposed to August 19, 2009

AYES: Buckley, Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Chase

ABSENT: Damkroger

CONSENT CALENDAR

Commissioner Buckley had questions on Items 2 and 3. They were pulled from the Consent Calendar and followed item 4.

2. 2009.0565A (S. Caltagirone: 415/558-6625 or T. Frye: 415/575-6833)

1000 Great Highway, Golden Gate Park,west end of park near Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Assessor's Block 1700, Lot 001. Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for seismic and ADA-accessibility upgrades, window replacement, and re-roofing. The building contributes to designated Landmark No. 210: The Murphy Windmill and Millwright's Cottage. It is zoned P (Public) District and is in an Open Space Height and Bulk District.

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval

SPEAKERS: Rick Thall – project sponsor from Recreation & Park Department

ACTION: After opening to allow public comment and following Commission deliberation, this item was continued to August 19, 2009 with the following instructions: the project sponsor is required to provide more plan alternatives: 1) a configuration similar enough to provide a ramp and walkway on either side; 2) a combination of grading slope less than or equal to 1:20 and 1:12 to provide a shorter ramp and railing. The public hearing remains open

AYES: Buckley, Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Chase

ABSENT: Damkroger

3. 2008.0775A (S. Caltagirone: 415/558-6625 or T. Frye: 415/575-6833)

1000 Great Highway, Golden Gate Park (811 Stanyan Street),east end of park near Stanyan Street. Assessor's Block 1700, Lot 001. Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for seismic and ADA-accessibility upgrades, exterior restoration, and re-roofing. The building is designated as Landmark No. 201: Park Emergency Hospital (a.k.a. Park Aid Station). It is zoned P (Public) District and is in an Open Space Height and Bulk District.

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval

SPEAKERS: Rick Thall – project sponsor from Recreation & Park Department

ACTION: Approved as amended: removal of the ramp that accesses the multipurpose room; notations on the plans are to reflect the intent to salvage and reuse the clay tile from the roof; repairs to deteriorated sandstone be made with the sandstone salvaged from the base of the foundations and plans are to reflect the work; the handrail reflect the minimal brass handrail shown at the hearing; relocate the ADA parking space closer to the proposed ramp.

AYES: Buckley, Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram and Chase

ABSENT: Damkroger

MOTION: 0018

4. 2009.0490A (P. LaValley: 415/575-9084)

670 - 680 2^nd Street, west side between Brannan and Townsend streets, Assessor's Block 3788, Lots 043-044. Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install one primary and one secondary tenant sign on the 2^nd Street façade and three gooseneck light fixtures to light the primary sign. The subject property is a contributing structure to the South End Historic District and is located within a MUO (Mixed-Use Office) District with a 65-X Height and Bulk limit.

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval

SPEAKERS: None

ACTION: Approved

AYES: Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Buckley, Wolfram, Chase

ABSENT: Damkroger

MOTION: 0017

REGULAR CALENDAR

5. 2005.0162E (S. Smith: 415/558-6373)

New Irvington Tunnel Project- The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) proposes the New Irvington Tunnel Project (also known as  NIT ). Request for a Review and Comment on the Draft Environment Impact Report. The project would be approximately 3.5 miles long, extending west from a new Alameda West Portal in the Sunol Valley to a new Irvington Portal in the City of Fremont, located approximately parallel to the existing tunnel. The proposed NIT project would result in impacts on the historical significance of individual facilities or districts resulting from alteration and nearby construction activities.

Preliminary Recommendation: Provide written comments on the adequacy of the DEIR, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

SPEAKERS: Erika Schultz – architectural historian from Carey & Company

ACTION: Hearing held to receive comments on the draft EIR. No action was required or taken.

6. 2007.0007A (P. LaValley: 415/575-9084)

750 2^nd Street, west side between Townsend and King Streets, in Assessor's Block 3794, Lot 002A. Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish an existing, one-story with mezzanine industrial building and construction of an eight-story with mezzanine residential building with ground floor retail and parking. The subject property is a non-contributing structure to the South End Historic District and is located within a MOU (Mixed-Use Office) District with a 105-F Height and Bulk limit. The project also requires Large Project Authorization from the Planning Commission, which is scheduled for public hearing on July 23, 2009.

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with conditions

SPEAKERS: Andy Bush – project sponsor

Bob Baum – project architect

ACTION: Continued to 8/19/09 to allow receipt and review of CEQA documents.

AYES: Buckley, Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram and Chase

ABSENT: Damkroger

7. 2009.0203A (P. LaValley: 415/575-9084)

625 3^rd Street, northeast side, between Brannan and Townsend streets in Assessor's Block 3788, Lot 045. Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to undertake a voluntary structural upgrade, which includes installation of new concrete frame behind the existing ground floor opening (former loading dock) and reduction in the width of the opening and new concrete beam across lobby entrance opening (former railroad spur), as well as replacement of non-historic storefront system in two openings, and removal of non-historic exterior light fixtures and installation of new light fixtures. The subject property, formerly known as the Transcontinental Freight Company Building, is a contributing resource to the South End Historic District and is located within a SLI (Service/Light-Industrial) Zoning District with a 65-X Height and Bulk limit.

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with conditions

SPEAKERS: Barbara McDaniel – representative from project sponsor

ACTION: Approved as amended to allow three options: 1) follow staff recommendations; 2) steel beam in place of concrete across entrance; or 3) if unable to do 1 or 2, do a detailed cost break down for an alternate proposal including analysis for 1 and 2.

AYES: Buckley, Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram and Chase

ABSENT: Damkroger

MOTION: 0019

8. 2009.0536U (A. Starr: 415/558-6362)

1969 California Street, south side of California Street between Octavia and Gough Streets, in Assessor's Block 0649, Lot 016. Request for Review and Comment on the nomination of the Tobin House, Landmark No. 260 to the National Register of Historic Places. The subject property is located within an RH-2 (Residential, House, Two-Family) Zoning District with a 40-X Height and Bulk Limit.

Preliminary Recommendation: Provide written comments on Category of Significance and nomination

SPEAKERS: None

ACTION: Approved criterion  C with also consideration of criterion  B with association with the De Young.

AYES: Buckley, Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram and Chase

ABSENT: Damkroger

9. 2009.0537U (A. Starr: 415/558-6362)

3500 Jackson Street, northwest corner of Jackson and Locus Streets, in Assessor's Block 0970, Lot 002, Request for Review and Comment on the nomination of the Roos House, Landmark No. 56 to the National Register of Historic Places. The subject property is located within an RH-1 (Residential, House, Single-Family) Zoning District, and a 40-X Height and Bulk Limit.

Preliminary Recommendation: Provide written comments on Category of Significance and nomination

SPEAKERS: None

ACTION: Approved criterion  C as proposed by staff with mention that the kitchen is not original, and under the Statement of Significance, incorporate Arts and Crafts ideas instead of Modernists ideas.

AYES: Buckley, Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram and Chase

ABSENT: Damkroger

Adjournment: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­3:01 p.m.

The minutes was proposed for adoption at the Regular Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday, September 2, 2009.

SPEAKERS: None

ACTION: Approved

AYES: Hasz, Chase, Damkroger, Hasz, Martinez, Madsuda, Wolfram

ABSENT: Buckley