San Francisco designates New Era Hall as a landmark to preserve cultural heritage

The San Francisco County government meeting held on July 4, 2025, focused on the proposed landmark designation of New Era Hall, located at 2117-2123 Market Street. The meeting began with Colton Lambert from Supervisor Sheehy’s office expressing full support for the ordinance to designate the building as a landmark under Article 10 of the planning code.

Desiree Smith from the Planning Department presented the historical significance of New Era Hall, highlighting its architectural importance as the work of master architect August Norden. The building is notable for its role in the rebuilding of San Francisco after the 1906 disaster and its contribution to the establishment of Upper Market Street as a commercial corridor. Smith noted that New Era Hall is one of only nine remaining social halls in San Francisco, retaining a high degree of architectural integrity.

The hall has served as a crucial meeting space for various organizations displaced by the 1906 earthquake, including the Oddfellows and the Knights of Pythias. It also housed the Visalia Stock Saddle Company, a significant business founded by Mexican Americans that contributed to the development of Western saddle design.

Smith reported that the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) had added New Era Hall to its landmark designation work program in 2011 and had unanimously recommended its designation in 2017. A letter of support for the designation was received from the Academy of Ballet, a longtime tenant, while the property owner, Crossroads Training, initially opposed the designation but later revoked its opposition after discussions with the Planning Department.

Following the presentation, public comments were invited. Zorik Kara, director of the Academy of Ballet, spoke passionately about the building's historical and cultural significance, emphasizing its role as a home for the ballet school since 1953 and its importance to the local community.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further discussions on the landmark designation, reflecting the community's desire to preserve the historical integrity of New Era Hall amidst ongoing urban development.