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Board upgrades 619 West Alameda to contributing; pentile well flagged for preservation
Summary
The Historic Design Review Board voted to upgrade 619 West Alameda from noncontributing to contributing, designating the south and west facades as primary and adding a pentile-lined well as a contributing element.
The Historic Design Review Board on July 22 voted to upgrade the status of the single-family residence at 619 West Alameda from noncontributing to contributing in the West Side Guadalupe Historic District, designating the south and west facades as primary and recommending the pentile-lined well on the property be treated as a contributing feature.
Staff member Lanny presented the staff report, describing the property’s architectural elements, the history of additions (adobe portion circa 1943, pentile addition by 1951, and a 1975 wood-frame addition that later collapsed), and the presence of a pentile-lined well likely constructed around 1951. "Therefore, staff recommends the historic status of the structure be upgraded to contributing with the south facade and the west facades ... as primary, and staff also recommends a contributing status for the pentile well," Lanny said.
Owner Scott Irving said he accepted staff’s recommendations as a status finding but noted practical concerns about the well: the property has experienced repeated unauthorized occupancy and fires; the well has been used by people on the site, and the owner asked the board to consider how the well could be protected if given contributing status.
Members voted to adopt staff’s recommendation. Member Benjamin Yu moved to upgrade the structure and designate facades 3 and 4 as primary and to list the pentile well as contributing; Member Degnan seconded. The motion passed on a roll call with all members present voting yes.
During public comment, Stephanie Benanato urged protection of the well and noted that in other local cases wells and buried features had been historically significant and worth acknowledging or preserving.
The board’s action is a status determination under section 14-5.2(c) and does not by itself authorize work; the owner was told that if the well or other elements are to be altered, they should return with a specific application that would identify options for protection or modification.
