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Council approves two historic-property nominations; one designation passed on consent, another after extended public comment
Summary
The council approved a consent-item historic designation for a set of buildings (item 8) and unanimously designated a William Malentine-era apartment group as a Historic-Cultural Monument after extensive public comment; staff and applicants described how the designations affect an in-process ED1 affordable housing application.
The City Council approved two historic-property actions: one was adopted on the consent calendar and the other followed extended public comment.
On the consent calendar the council approved three consent items including item 8, a Heritage/Cultural Commission nomination to designate a set of buildings (referred to in public comment as a corridor of older multi-family buildings) as a historic monument; the clerk recorded five yes votes. Speakers who registered in support included Bremen Gutiérrez, Lindsay Molkeyi (representing a local conservancy) and Jessica Sánchez, each urging designation to preserve the buildings and enable rehabilitation.
Later in the meeting the council heard a longer, contested nomination for apartments associated with architect/developer William Melentine. Ken Berthstein of the Historic Resources Planning office presented the staff recommendation noting the buildings were constructed in 1954, represent an example of Melentine’s multi-family designs and were found significant by the Cultural Heritage Commission. Supporters including neighborhood council members, long-term residents and the property owner’s representative described the buildings’ architectural character and community value. Opponents — including the applicant’s counsel — argued that the nomination could impede a pending ED1 affordable-housing application and said the nomination did not include a comparative analysis to justify historic significance against other Melentine-era properties.
Staff and council members addressed how a Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM) designation interacts with ED1 (an emergency/expedited affordable housing application path discussed in the staff report). Staff explained that HCM designation does not automatically bar an ED1 project; the ED1 process includes a mechanism for considering historic status and the designation’s main effect is to subject substantial alterations and demolitions to historic-review procedures. Planning staff said that, because the ED1 application under discussion was not yet final, the site remained eligible for ED1 incentives; the HCM designation would affect any later changes that required historic-review approvals.
After discussion the council approved the William Melentine apartments’ designation by a unanimous vote. Planning staff’s memo and commissioners’ report were cited as part of the record. The council’s votes in both matters were unanimous, and staff said the designation would help preserve a relatively rare remaining example of this multifamily architectural type in the neighborhood.
The council did not change ED1 administrative rules in the meeting; staff described how the two processes would proceed in parallel and noted the HCM designation primarily affects future alteration or demolition review.
