October 04, 2006FINAL ACTION MINUTES
OF THE
SAN FRANCISCO
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
CITY HALL
1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 400
October 4, 2006
12:37 P.M. ROLL CALL
FOR FULL LANDMARKS BOARD CONSIDERATION
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chan, Cherny, Damkroger, Dearman, Hasz, Maley, Martinez, Street
BOARD MEMBER(S) ABSENT: Shatara
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Mark Luellen; Preservation Coordinator; Tim Frye; April Hesik; Tara Sullivan-Lenane; Sonya Banks, Commission Secretary; Marlena Bryne, Deputy City Attorney
PUBLIC COMMENT
Greg Miller: He informed the Board Members that the National Trust of Historic Preservation and American Express are co-sponsoring a contest entitled Partners in Preservation. The public may cast their vote by visiting there website: www.partnersinpreservation.com. He encouraged the public to vote for the Music Concourse and the Temple of Music.
Edna James: She shared her concerns regarding the Lefty Gordon Memorial Park. She states that City College is planning on moving the park and has made no efforts to preserve this memorial park.
REPORTS
1. STAFF REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mark Luellen, Preservation Coordinator:
iOn October 3rd the Board of Supervisors passed the landmark designation for the exterior of St. Brigid's Church. The revised ordinance is in the Board Members' packets.
iThe San Francisco Port will be hosting a celebration for the Waterfront National Register designation on October 4th 5:30 – 7:00 pm at Pier 1, Bayside Conference Room.
iThe City Hall Advisory Commission will hold its regular meeting on October 5th at City Hall, rm. 408 @ 5:00 p.m.
iOn October 11th at 12:30 p.m. the Landmarks Board will be holding a special hearing at the New Mission Theater, 2250 Mission Street.
iThe landmark designation for Mission High School was rescheduled from October 12th to October 19th before the Planning Commission. The disapproved Certificate of Appropriateness application to install a garage at 1306 McAllister will be heard by the Planning Commission on October 26th.
iIn the San Francisco Examiner there was an article on the Mills Act application that will come before the Landmarks Board regarding 1080 Haight Street. The article was inaccurate in stating the annual maintenance for that property is $200,000. It should have stated that the maintenance would be $200,000 for every 10 to 15 years not annually.
2. PRESIDENT'S REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
None at this time.
3. MATTERS OF THE BOARD
Bridget Maley:
iShe requested an informational presentation on the Central Subway Project and would like to know how it would impact the historic resource
- LANDMARKS WORK PROGRAM 2005-2006 UPDATE
On October 18th the Landmarks Board will be discussing the new work program for 2006-07. The 2005-06 landmarks designations are moving forward.
ACTION ITEMS
5. APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 6, 2006 DRAFT ACTION MINUTES:
September 6, 2006: It was moved by Board Member Damkroger (seconded by Chan) to adopt the draft action minutes with the following corrections: pg. 3 (under Board Comments for #6) insert mitigation measures and there may be a different conclusion about the significance of the resource that would justify reissuing the DEIR and change from Board Members feel to Board Members think . The vote was unanimous.
AYES: Chan, Cherny, Damkroger, Dearman, Hasz, Maley, Martinez, Street
NOES: None
ABSENT: Shatara
INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION
6. (Rick Thall)
THE MUSIC CONCOURSE, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco Landmark #249, Assessor's Block 1700, Lot 001. Rick Thall, Project Manger at the San Francisco Department of Public Works will present current information regarding the condition of trees and landscaping within the local landmark boundary. Also presented will be an overview of the hazardous life and safety issues that have arisen due to spalling material from the cornice of the bandshell structure, and the temporary netting installed until a more permanent solution is designed.
Speaker(s):
Rick Thall
Greg Miller
Board Comments:
The Board questioned why the trees were deteriorating, and asked if all of the wire root baskets be removed? What are the intentions for the steps around the bandshell? There is skateboard damage on some of the older concrete. What can be done about preventing future damage from the skateboarder? What is the status of the maintenance plan? Are there any plans to restore the fountains?
REVIEW AND COMMENT
7. (T. SULLIVAN-LENANE: 415/558-6257)
2151 VAN NESS AVENUE, formerly St. Brigid's Church, is located on the southwest corner of Van Ness Avenue and Broadway. Assessor's Block 575, Lot 015. Constructed in 1904-1906, and altered in 1930, 1946, and 1965, 2151 Van Ness Avenue is a Romanesque Revival-style building with Richardsonian details. The architecture firm of Shea & Shea designed the 1904-1906 structure, and H.A. Minton designed the 1930 and 1946 alterations. The building is located within RC-2 (Residential-Commercial Combined, Moderate Density) Zoning District, and 80-D Height and Bulk District. Request for Review and Comment for the State Historical Resources Commission hearing on October 27, 2006, on the request by the owner to remove 2151 Van Ness Avenue, formerly St. Brigid's Church, from Determined Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (National Register) and from listing in the California Register of Historical Resources (California Register).
Speaker(s):
Steve Atkinson
John Gregson
Dennis Conrad
Bruno Morelli
Jan Robinson
Pablo Shebalin
Clementina Garcia
Nikolai Shebalin
Charles Chase
Lorraine Kelley
Kenneth Epley
Beatriz St. John
Eleanor Croke
Vincent Marsh
G. Richards
Board Comments:
The Board found that the determinations made by the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 remain correct and that St. Brigid's Church is eligible for the National Register under Criterion C, for Architecture, with the period of significance from 1902-04 and 1930, and for the church's design by architects Shea & Shea with modifications during the period of significance by architect H.A. Minton. The Landmarks Board agreed with the 1995 nomination report that the building has certain element reminiscent of Irish Romanesque churches. Several Board members provided images of these churches. The Board also found that the 1995 report may supports the finding that St. Brigid's Church is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A, for the property's association with events that have a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history by virtue of the church's importance to the San Francisco community in particular the Irish community.
Board Action
It was moved by Board Member Dearman (seconded by Damkroger) to recommend to the State Historic Preservation Office that St. Brigid's Church remain determined eligible for the National Register for Historic Places and that it remains listed in the California Register of Historical Resources. The vote was unanimous.
AYES: Chan, Cherny, Damkroger, Dearman, Hasz, Maley, Martinez, Street
NOES: None
ABSENT: Shatara
Tape No.: 1b & 2a
8. (T. FRYE: 415/575-6822)
The Landmarks Board will provide comment on the Planning Department's draft procedures for adding garages to historic and potentially historic residential buildings. These procedures were reviewed by the Planning Commission on September 14, 2006.
Speaker(s):
Charles Chase
Steve Williams
Board Comments:
Board Members suggested the year 1920 instead of 1913 because there was still a lot of houses being built without garages until 1920 or so (resources that are 50 years or older). Recommended that, when garages are inserted into older buildings, the garage be made as unobtrusive as possible. Questioned if there was a standard of materials to be used for garage additions? Suggested adding visual aide/photos/illustrations outlining the proposed garage location. Recommended adding language to the LPAB bulletins that state there may be cases when a garage addition may not be appropriate. Board Members think there should be a maximum height for garage doors and a maximum percentage of any potential surface area to be removed. Suggested that secondary elevations will usually be better than a primary elevation. Suggested adding language that expresses how careful one must be to add a garage to a historic building. Recommended coordinating proposed projects with the Department of Public Works (for a minor sideway encroachment permit).
Tape No.: 2a
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
9. 2006.0606A (T. FRYE: 415/575-6822)
924 GROVE STREET, between Fillmore and Steiner Streets, Assessor's Block 0798; Lot 008. Continuation of August 16, 2006 hearing for a Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to insert a garage at the ground floor. The subject property is a 1903 Greek Revival-Richardsonian Romanesque single-family dwelling and a contributory structure to the Alamo Square Historic District. It is located in an RH-3 (Residential, House, Three-Family) district and a 50-X Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
Speaker(s):
None
Board Action
It was moved by Board Member Street (seconded by Maley) to approve the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to insert a garage at the ground floor with conditions. The vote passed 7-1.
AYES: Chan, Cherny, Damkroger, Dearman, Hasz, Maley, Street
NOES: Martinez
ABSENT: Shatara
MILLS ACT APPLICATION
10. (A. HESIK: 415/558-6602)
1080 HAIGHT STREET, the John Spencer House, north side between Broderick and Baker Streets, in Assessor's Block 1236, Lot 18 -- Consideration of adoption of a resolution recommending approval of a Mills Act historical property contract for 1080 Haight Street, the John Spencer House, which is individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Mills Act authorizes local governments to enter into contracts with owners of private historical property who, through the historical property contract, assure the rehabilitation, restoration, preservation and maintenance of a qualified historical property. In return, the property owner enjoys a reduction in property taxes for a given period. The subject property is within an RH-3 (Residential, House, Three-Family) District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval
Speaker(s):
Chris Yerke
Charles Chase
Board Action
It was moved by Board Member Street (seconded by Martinez) to accept the recusal of Board Member Dearman from this item. The vote was unanimous.
It was moved by Board Member Chan (seconded by Martinez) to adopt the resolution recommending approval of a Mills Act Historical Property Contract for 1080 Haight Street, the John Spencer House. The vote was unanimous.
AYES: Chan, Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz Martinez, Maley, Street
NOES: None
ABSENT: Shatara
RECUSAL: Dearman
Tape No.: 2a
ADJOURNMENT: 3:57 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sonya Banks,
Recording Secretary
ADOPTED: November 1, 2006
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