HPC Meeting - 21 October

I arrived a little late to last weeks San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission meeting. Public Comment was already in process. Of the five speakers I heard, by far the most interesting was the one who indicated that he was in the process of nominating the Civic Center to the UNESCO World Heritage List. After Public Comment, Tina Tam relayed the status of the Landmarks Work Program. She mentioned ten resources from the Program but there are actually eighteen. Below is what I believe to be the correct Work Program List:

2005-2006
Doggie Diner Sign (Landmarked)
Del Monte Warehouse (?)
Musicians Union Hall (The owner's were not in favor of nomination)
Doolan/Larsen Residence (Landmarked)
Emanu-El Religious School (DPR 523 forms are 90% finished)
Bath House at Fleishhacker Pool (?)
Mother's Building (?)
Transit Shelters (25% done)
Arab Cultural Center (?)
Sailor's Union of the Pacific (?)
Forest Hill Clubhouse (?)

2006-2007
Van Ness Light Standards (10%)
Mona's Club (10%)
Sunshine School (Context Statement written)
Park MErced (EIR in process)
Tallant Flats (10%)
49-Mile Scenic Drive Signs (10%)
Mission National BAnk (25%)

While I understand the budgetary limitations for continuing the Work Program, I believe that it did serve an important purpose. In theory, it allows the public to express what is important to them and to, in turn, hear the priorites of the Commission. I suggest that the Work Program be changed into a "Wish List". No money needs to be dedicated to it from the Planning Department but when a student or volunteer is looking for a project they can be directed to a pertinent list of resources that need analyzing.
Next there was a discussion of the minutes. Secretary Avery indicated that she could not write in depth minutes because of lack of money and staff time. It was suggested that the minutes actually be shortened rather than lengthened.
All six items on the Consent Calender were pulled for full hearing. The first two items were located in the Eastern Neighborhoods Survey Area and were heard as part of the Interim Review Process. Item 5 was approved and Item 6 continued. Item 7 was a Certificate of Appropriateness for new signage on the Hotaling Annex-East Building, Landmark #13 which was approved with conditions. Followed by Item 8, a Certificate of Appropriateness for a new storefront and addition in Jackson Square Historic District; also approved. The Orpheum Theater, Landmark #94 received an approval for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a new door. The Bill Graham Civic Auditorium however, looked as though it would not get a majority vote for their Certificate of Appropriateness for new signage and the vote was continued until more Commission members could be present. (Commissioners Chase, Buckley and Matsuda were not present at the meeting).
A presentation followed about the Historic Resource Surveys currently in process by the Department, during which I left the meeting.

Masonry Repair Workshop

Yesterday I went to a Masonry Repair Workshop given by Cathedral Stone and sponsored by the Western Chapter of the Association for Preservation Technology. They covered the Jahn Restoration Mortars and we all got a chance to prepare a patch. Though I am already quite familiar with the product, it was fascinating to get to use it. I expected it to be wetter and stickier, and I was surprised at how hard it is to build up a patch that is overhanging.

20 years since Loma Prieta

Where were you? I was at my cello teacher's house in Palo Alto and instinctually got under a table and waited for the shaking to stop. At the time I was less afraid than in awe. Most pressing on my mind was the welfare of my family and friends. Later I was saddened and angered by the failure of bridges and structures.
Yesterday I again practiced my duck and cover skills during the ShakeOut earthquake drill. I also spent some time assessing my risks at the 72-Hour website. Tomorrow I shall check out one of the Big Rumble events.

Spreckels Temple of Music

During lunch today I walked over Golden Gate Park and snapped some pictures of the Spreckels Temple of Music. I worked briefly on this marvelous structure several years ago. Built in 1900, the Temple is made of Calusa sandstone. It suffered damage in the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake and received a major seismic upgrade. Several years ago water intrusion problems surfaced at the highest cornice. The decorative rosettes and modillions were jeopardized and in some case actually fell off. While the repairs look good, the color match is not perfect. Granted, matching patches is one of the greatest challenges for repairing unpainted stone!

HPC Meeting - 7 October

Last weeks San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission meeting was crowded indeed! Most of the public showed up for the portion of the hearing that was to discuss the landmark initiation of the Appleton and Wolfard libraries. However the hearing start out with a one-hour CEQA training. As I am comfortable with CEQA I skipped most of this presentation though I am sure it was interesting. This was followed by Public Comment and a handful of people spoke. The first speaker discussed soft story buildings which is a very pertinent issue as we have almost reached the 20 year anniversary of the Loma Prieta Earthquake. Two speakers raised concern over a residence at 2750 Vallejo. A few others sited the lack of televised or electronic files for the HPC. I see this blog as a way to get at least some information out there about the meetings. I also spoke at Public Comment. My statement follows:
"Just a quick heads up about the Muni Substation at Turk and Fillmore which is as of yesterday back under City jurisdiction from its failed Redevelopment journey. This landmark is one of our most vulnerable. I hope that the Commission will consider contacting the Office of Economic and Workforce Development in regards to their upcoming community meetings to determine the fate of this building."
Public Comment ended and the Minutes were considered with changes made. The next item was a continuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness. Finally the Commission got to the first library project; Park Branch. This item had been continued from the last HPC meeting. Page & Turnbull was brought in as a consultant and some changes to the project were discussed. Though obviously eligible to be a landmark the Commission is aware that throughout the designation process, which takes at least 180 days, no permit activity can take place. As the project is already in the permit process it would be unfriendly to designate the building at this time. So the Commission voted to disapprove initiation with the intention of perhaps landmarking it after the project is completed, pending available money to do so. Commissioner Buckley voted against the disapproval. The next item was the highly anticipated initiation of the Appleton and Wolfard libraries. President Chase decreed a one minute time limit for each public speaker, much to the chagrin of those who had waited quite a long time for the opportunity. I had to leave the meeting before this item was finished. The Chronicle indicated that the final vote was 5-2 for initiating five of the eight libraries including the North Beach branch.

HPC Meeting - 16 September

Last month was so busy that I did not get a chance to write about the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission hearing from September 16th. The meeting started out with the first Architectural Review Committee gathering since the creation of the new Commission. The ARC is made up of Karl Hasz, Alan Martinez and Andrew Wolfram with Charles Chase acting as Ex-Officio. Since Andrew was not at the meeting Charles sat with the ARC. First, they reviewed the project for the Filbert Cottages. Buttrick Wong Architects proposes a relatively significant addition to this cute cluster of houses, including undergound parking. The proposal was well received. Controversial aspects of the design included an orange-colored rain screen for the addition and the extent of the set backs. The second item was heard even though the Committee was running over its one-hour allotted time. This next project included major construction to the Fairmont Hotel. It received a mixed review with Charles and Karl in general favor; Alan expressed concerns with the massive volume of the new work.
The full Historic Preservation Commission convened following these project reviews and the hearing schedule was rearranged. The next item was a planning training presentation that basically described the ins and outs of the planning department. This was followed by an informational presentation of the plans for Pier 70. I left the meeting during the middle of this presentation.

Pictures from the Leap Sandcastle Contest

Leap Sandcastle Contest - 3 Oct

Only one more day until the Leap Sandcastle Contest on Saturday at Ocean Beach. Come watch and cheer our team as we construct a scene from The Very Hungry Caterpillar.