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Committee forwards two Mission Dolores historic-district landmark initiations to Board with unanimous recommendation
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Summary
The Land Use and Transportation Committee unanimously recommended initiation of landmark designations for two early residential historic districts in Mission Dolores, moving the proposals to the Board of Supervisors for further review.
The Land Use and Transportation Committee on April 28 voted unanimously to initiate landmark-designation processes under Planning Code Article 10 for two Mission Dolores early residential historic districts, identified in the committee record as the Chula Abbey and Alert Alley historic districts.
Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, president of the Board of Supervisors and sponsor of the legislation, told the committee the districts were identified in an adopted Mission Dolores historic context statement and survey completed in 2022. He said the context statement and survey identified two development periods — pre-1906 (early neighborhood development era) and the 1906–1915 reconstruction era — and that together the two districts include 53 contributing properties that reflect the neighborhood's development history.
Rich Sucre, deputy director of current planning for the San Francisco Planning Department, said the department performed outreach for the designations, holding two community forums in June and December 2024 and a virtual forum in January 2025; Sucre said the department will continue outreach and bring the nominations to the Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Commission for comment and recommendation before returning to the Board of Supervisors for final action.
Speakers from the Mission Dolores Neighborhood Association (MDNA) emphasized they are not opposed to new housing and described long-standing community effort to protect the neighborhood's historic resources. Peter Lewis, a founder and past president of MDNA, said the association has worked for 20 years to protect the neighborhood and encountered no organized opposition to the designations. Aaron Phillips, MDNA's president, thanked Planning and supervisor staff for their work.
On a motion by Chair Mirna Melgar to recommend the two landmark-initiating resolutions to the Board of Supervisors, the committee voted Melgar — aye; Vice Chair Cheyenne Chen — aye; Supervisor Bilal Mahmood — aye. The motion passed 3-0.
The Planning Department will proceed with Historic Preservation Commission review, Planning Commission comment, continued outreach and return the nominations for Board action. The committee record notes the nomination stems from a context statement and survey work and reflects collaboration between Planning and MDNA over several years.
Votes at a glance: Motion to recommend initiation of landmark designation for Chula Abbey and Alert Alley early residential historic districts — passed 3-0 (Melgar, Chen, Mahmood).
