July 17, 2002
Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board (LPAB)
FINAL ACTION MINUTES
OF THE
SAN FRANCISCO
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
CITY HALL
1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 400
JULY 17, 2002
12:38 P.M. ROLL CALL
FOR FULL BOARD CONSIDERATION
MEMBERS PRESENT: HO-BELLI, KELLEY, KOTAS, PEARLMAN, PICON, SHATARA and SKRONDAL
MEMBER(S) ABSENT: DEARMAN and FINWALL
PUBLIC COMMENT
Charles Chase re: Meeting with FEMA July 18, 2002, regarding 135 Van Ness Avenue/170 Fell Street.
REPORTS
1. STAFF REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Neil Hart, Chief
Neighborhood Planning:
i Informed the Board of the newspaper article regarding landmark designation of 128 King Street.
i Received letter from the Office of Historic Preservation regarding the Fairmont Hotel and Fire Station No. 3 now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
i Received letter from the Office Historic Preservation awarding San Francisco Certified Local Government a $20,000 grant for 2002-2003 for work on the North Mission Survey.
i Thanked Charles Chase for information he provided regarding 135 Van Ness Avenue/170 Fell Street.
Tape No(s).: 1a
2. PRESIDENT’S REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
3. MATTERS OF THE BOARD
None.
REGULAR CALENDAR ITEMS
n Nomination(s) to the National Register of Historic Places
4. (M. LUELLEN: 415/558-6478)
PIERS 1-1/2, 3 & 5, The Embarcadero between Washington, Jackson, and Pacific Streets. Assessor's Block 9900, Lot 68. The subject structures are piers of concrete, wood and steel. Pier 1 was constructed in 1886 and rebuilt in 1915. Pier 3 was constructed in 1886 and rebuilt in 1918 and 1967. Pier 5 was constructed in 1942. The site is zoned M-2 (Heavy Industrial) District and is in a 40-X Height and Bulk District. The State Office of Historic Preservation is seeking the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board's comments on a proposed nomination to the National Register of Historic Places as part of San Francisco's role as a Certified Local Government.
Speaker(s): Jennifer Sobol
Mark Paez
Elizabeth
Charles Chase
Board Comments
and Actions:
i After hearing public comments, Board Member Pearlman moved (seconded by Ho-Belli) to recommend nomination to the National Register of Historic Places with the following recommendations:
4 Page 2, Section 5 – states that there are two (2) contributing resources with zero (0) noncontributing. However, the body of the text states that two major structures, the Pier 3 transit shed and the historic two-story addition on the north elevation of the Pier 3 bulkhead building are identified as noncontributing. References to noncontributing structures should be deleted from the body of the text.
i Page 3, Section 7 – states that the Architectural Classification is given as Beaux-Arts Classicism exclusively. This should be corrected to include industrial design, which characterizes major district elements such as the piers and transit sheds. Commented that it is misleading to focus exclusively on the bulkhead buildings, which do not alone define the District.
i Page 11, Section 7 – states in the last sentence However the serious deterioration has compromised its integrity sufficiently to eliminate it as a contributor to the Historic District. Should be deleted since the structure's condition does not form a part of the assessment of Integrity. The structure exhibits excellent integrity of Location, Design, Setting, Materials, Workmanship, Feeling, and Association, the seven aspects of Integrity. The nomination should be amended to include the historic addition as part of the contributing resource to the District.
The author of the nomination testified that because of difficulty of access and of researching the history of this structure, it had been eliminated as a contributing element, however, these arguments do not substantiate such a negative assumption.
i Page 14, Section 7 – states under the discussion of Integrity of the Pier 3 Transit Shed, the claim is made that the historic Passenger Gallery has been removed completely. While it is true that portions of the gallery have been removed, its volume is still prominently visible as a vertical extension on the south elevation. Sufficient portions of the structure remain on the interior, including bead board finishes, walls, and floor, to convey its historic appearance, function, and significance. The claim that it has been removed completely is in error and should be deleted.
i A conclusion is made that the Transit Shed has lost integrity and should not be considered a contributor to the District. The Landmarks Board strongly disagrees for the following reasons:
4 The remaining portion of the shed is that most closely identified with the primary historic function of this pier – the San Francisco terminus of the California Transportation Co., operator of the historically important San Francisco-Sacramento passenger and freight service. The famous Delta King and Delta Queen boats moored alongside this portion of the shed, and it was this portion of the shed most completely adapted to their needs.
4 With this District, the remaining Pier 3 Transit Shed is the only example of the earlier timber framed construction method. The shed at Pier 1 is steel framed, and Pier 5 no longer exists.
4 The remaining portion of the shed adequately indicates the appearance of the missing portion, which was simply a lineal repetition of the existing form. This form should be considered the primary defining feature of the building.
i Pages 25-28, Section 8 – this section fails to adequately explore the importance of Labor History to these piers. Although the Bibliography cites King and Queen of the River (Garvey, 1995) as a source, the nomination omits any discussion of the particular effects of labor unrest at these piers, a topic treated at some length in Chapter 6 and elsewhere. Garvey relates the significant effects of labor conditions on the demise of inland waterborne traffic, which is the defining feature of the proposed district.
The attempt (page 27) to disassociate these piers from the Maritime and General Strikes of 1934, is based on one contemporary citation that is at variance with the large body of scholarly research on this topic, as well as with incidents recounted in Garvey.
The Landmarks Board believes that discussion of the Labor History of this district should be amplified, and that Labor History should be stated as an Area of Significance on page 3.
Tape No(s).: 1a & b
ADJOURNMENT: 2:26 P.M.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE
ROLL CALL: Chair: Jeremy Kotas
Ex-Officio: Tim Kelley
Committee Members: Ina Dearman, Paul Finwall, Elizabeth Skrondal
REPORT
CHAIR'S REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
ADJOURNMENT: 2:28 P.M.
Adopted: August 7, 2002
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