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SAN FRANCISCO
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
Hearing Room 400
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
12:30 P.M.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chase, Damkroger, Hasz, Johns, Martinez, and Wolfram
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Matsuda
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY VICE PRESIDENT DAMKROGER AT 12:34 P.M.
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Kelley Amdur - Neighborhood Planning Director, Rich Sucre, Shelley Caltagirone, Pilar LaValley, Tim Frye – Acting Preservation Coordinator, Linda Avery – Commission Secretary
A. PUBLIC COMMENT
SPEAKERS: [Glendon] brought 100 signed letters for preserving the Eagle Tavern. He asked HPC to calendar the item to look at the building for historic relevance - that the building, formerly a stable and a fire house, was built in 1906 and is still in its original state; that it’s the last queer and leather bar in SF; that in its 30 years, it raised $3 Million for AIDS, gays and straight organizations. It has weathered many different changes in the SOMA neighborhood - like the Castro Theater or the Harvey Milk Camera Store. He felt this is an important part of the community’s queer history that needs to be looked at and saved; Kyle [DeFreize], Resident of the neighborhood, spoke on behalf of the Eagle Tavern saying the Tavern acts as an organization hub and a center for the LBGT community for 30 years; Marcus, SF Resident for 15 years, asked the Commission to consider preserving the Eagle Tavern as a queer community icon; Ian Griffin, asked the Commission to preserve the Eagle Tavern; Mark Klien, SF Resident, Home and Business Owner, said the Eagle Tavern is an anchor for tourism, shopping mall, or a retail district in San Francisco.
B. STAFF REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Acting Preservation Coordinator Frye:
1. Monthly report on the status of the Golden Gate Park Article 10 Designation – During this time, Mr. Frye had met with the Recreation and Park Department on a regular basis and worked on the following: 1) Identified and confirmed construction dates on national nominations and documented character defining features in the Park; 2) Developed templates in the reviewed for historic significance of potential contributing buildings, structures, objects and sites in the Park; 3) Provided additional research on WPA era properties; 4) Consulted with cultural landscape specialist regarding the use of the sites and the change of use that are compatible with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the review process related to landmarking parks. He hoped to schedule some site visits of the Park in his next meeting with the Recreation and Park Department.
SPEAKER: Katherine Howard, Golden Gate Park Preservation Alliance, was here to support this effort.
ACTION: Information only – no action required
C. MATTERS OF THE COMMISSION
2. President’s Report and Announcements
President Chase announced that the California Preservation Foundation’s Conference was from May 15th – 18th in Santa Monica, California. This year’s theme was “Preservation on the Edge”. He encouraged commissioners and anyone who was interested to attend.
3. Consideration of Adoption:
a. Draft minutes of Hearing of April 6, 2011
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Matsuda
4. Disclosures
Commissioner Damkroger received many emails about the Eagle Tavern.
President Chase received phone call and email communications concerning the Eagle Tavern.
Commissioner Martinez spoke to the contractor who was working on the Nightingale House at a social function and didn’t talk about much.
5. Commissioner Comments/Questions
Commissioner Hasz provided an update on 900 Innes - Tenderloin Housing had a fundraiser and raised enough money for a contractor to work on the roof and paint the house. Mr. Peskin was going to spearhead another fund raiser in the district. He added that it would probably take more than one fund raising event.
Commissioner Martinez asked to calendar the Eagle Tavern for discussion in a month’s time. He gathered that there was not much cultural research done in South of Market beyond the A form but noted there was some movement from Supervisor Dufty to raise money to do research on the nomination. Commissioner Damkroger was concerned about timing. Commissioner Johns cautioned that the HPC activities should be confined to historic preservation and not on landlord-tenant or other disputes. Mr. Frye preferred to calendar a discussion until the HPC receives the nomination from the public. He was concerned that an informational presentation would discuss more about the use rather than the actual preservation of the building [which] might not move the conversation forward. Commissioner Martinez wanted to calendar a discussion to respond to Commissioner Johns comments since responding to him now might start a discussion (not agendized on the calendar). He felt the HPC needed a discussion in absence of a nomination. President Chase said the appropriateness of the landlord-tenant issue should not cloud HPC evaluation of the resource. He agreed that the HPC needed a discussion. Mr. Frye suggested it be schedule June 1st, the first available date.
Commissioner Wolfram asked about his earlier request to calendar a discussion with the Department of Building Inspection on facade inspection, treatment and life safety issues. Mr. Frye responded he had it in his queue.
Commissioner Martinez asked whether or not the National Register Nomination of Historic Place for S.F. North Beach Branch Library had moved forward. Mr. Frye would report back on this.
D. REGULAR CALENDAR
6. (T. Frye: 415/575-6822)
The Commission will discuss the Department’s May 2, 2011 presentation to the Land Use Committee and will consider possible action to draft a letter to the Committee.
SPEAKERS: Jane Martin, Local Architect, was concern about the time and money the process would add to property owners or developers cost; Katherine Howard, Golden Gate Park Preservation Alliance, urged the HPC to speak clearly and strongly in the letter and told HPC it would have support from many of them; Chris Yerke, Contractor, commented that the Planning Department has a lot of information online, including the fee structure. The process was marvelously streamlined.
ACTION: Approved sending a letter to the Committee drafted from comments of the HPC.
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Matsuda
MOTION NO: M0114
7. 2010.1072A (R. Sucre: 415/575-9108)
937 VALENCIA STREET, east side of street between 20th and 21st Streets, Assessor’s 3609, Lot 036. Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace the existing garage door and main entry staircase, and relocate the secondary stair. The subject property is a contributing resource to the Liberty-Hill Historic District and is located within the Valencia Street Neighborhood Commercial Transit District with a 50-X Height and Bulk limit.
(Continued from 2/16/11, 3/16/11 regular hearings and 4/6/11 Architectural Review Committee hearing)
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Matsuda
MOTION NO: M0115
8. 2011.0180A (P. LaValley: 415/575-9084)
964 EDDY STREET, north side between Gough and Franklin Streets, in Assessor’s Block 0737, Lot 007. Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for construction of an unenclosed parking space in the front yard setback with alterations to the existing retaining wall and gate. The former Rothschild House, constructed circa 1880, is Landmark #112. The site is zoned RM-4 (Residential, Mixed, High Density) District and is in an 80-B Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval
SPEAKERS: Alex Bevk, SF Architectural Heritage, supported all elements of the project.
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Matsuda
MOTION NO: M0116
9. 2011.0310A (S. Caltagiorne: 415/558-6625)
201 BUCHANAN STREET, west side between Laussat and Waller Streets. Assessor’s Block 0858, Lot 002. Request for Certificate of Appropriateness to restore of the exterior of the Nightingale House, including repairs, in-kind replacement of deteriorated historic elements, and recreation of missing historic details. The subject property is Landmark No. 47 – Nightingale House; it is zoned RTO (Residential Transit-Oriented) and is in a 40-X Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
PRESENTER: Chris Yerke, Project Sponsor
SPEAKERS: Alex Bevk, SF Architectural Heritage, fully supported the project’s work as detailed in the Certificate of Appropriateness.
ACTION: Approved with the inclusion of a clarifying statement related to the issuance of multiple permits for relevant work on the project.
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Matsuda
MOTION NO: M0117
ADJOURNMENT: 2:32 P.M.
The minutes was proposed for adoption at the Regular Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday, October 19, 2011.
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Wolfram
