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Committee initiates landmark designation process for 16 properties across the city
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Summary
The Land Use and Transportation Committee voted 3-0 to forward 16 resolutions initiating landmark designations for properties that planning staff say represent a range of San Francisco histories, including LGBTQ associations and the city's first proposed landmark with a strong American Indian association.
The Land Use and Transportation Committee on Oct. 6 voted 3-0 to send 16 resolutions to the Board of Supervisors that would initiate landmark designation processes for a range of properties citywide. The nominations include churches, former bathhouses, the Bank of Italy branch in the Castro, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s original office, and a property tied to American Indian history — the first proposed city landmark identified with a strong American Indian association.
Board President Rafael Mandelmann framed the batch as part of a broader effort to identify and protect significant historic resources ahead of large-scale zoning changes. Mandelmann said the work began as a pilot in District 8 and comes amid other initiatives to expand housing and streamline permitting. Planning Department staff member Alex Westhoff outlined the department’s approach, noting the batch focuses on Category A resources that are non-residential or single‑family residences outside public and RH zoning districts.
Westhoff said the program "is very much centered on racial and social equity," and that the current batch includes seven properties with LGBTQ associations and a first proposed landmark with an American Indian association. The planning staff identified the properties through cultural-historic context statements and the ongoing citywide cultural resources survey; Westhoff said final designation will require public hearings, a majority vote by the Board of Supervisors, and the mayor’s signature.
The 16 initiated properties (agenda items 3–18) described on the record include: Hose Company No. 30 (1757 Waller); Maude’s (929–941 Cole); St. Matthew’s Church (1381 Sixteenth Street); St. Nicholas Cathedral (2005 Fifteenth Street); St. Paul’s Church (1660 Church Street); a Stick/Eastlake residence (102 Guerrero); Bank of Italy branch building (400–410 Castro); the Bob Ross House (4200 20th Street); Castro Rock Steam Baths (578–582 Castro); the original San Francisco AIDS Foundation office (514–520 Castro); Full Moon Coffee House site (4416 Eighteenth Street); Most Holy Redeemer Church complex; Shaar Zahav (220 Danvers Street); an 1865 Folk Victorian (361 San Jose Avenue); Chautauqua House / American Indian Historical Society (1451 Masonic); and Engine Company No. 13 (1458 Valencia).
Several supervisors praised the department’s work. Mandelmann thanked Planning staff for vetting the properties and noted the effort is time-consuming; he said similar work will continue in other districts. Member Bilal Mahmood asked whether landmark status would change allowable heights under the family zoning plan; Planning staff responded that landmark designation would not change maximum allowed height and that vertical additions remain possible under precedent, but staff had not produced a formal analysis of how landmarking would affect projected housing-unit totals.
After the presentation and a short public-comment period, Chair Mirna Melgar moved the items, and the committee recorded three ayes (Melgar, Chen, Mahmood). The resolutions will proceed to the Board of Supervisors, which must conduct required hearings and vote for final designation.
Votes at a glance: Committee recommended initiation of 16 landmark designation resolutions to the Board (Melgar: aye; Chen: aye; Mahmood: aye).
