Commission approves rehabilitation of Shipwright’s Cottage at 900 Innis with conditions

The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission on Aug. 18 approved a certificate of appropriateness for the Shipwright’s Cottage at 900 Innis Avenue, a circa‑1875 house proposed for rehabilitation as a welcome center and community classroom for the India Basin Shoreline Park. Alex Westhoff of Planning Department staff told commissioners the Shipwright’s Cottage is Planning Code Article 10 individual landmark No. 250 and that the proposed work ‘‘will be in compliance with Article 10 of the planning code and the Secretary of the Interior standards,’’ while recommending approval with conditions.

Community voices urged the commission to protect the site’s layered history. Linda Fadiki Richardson, of the India Basin Neighborhood Association, said she wanted ‘‘a special dedication of space inside the shipwrights cottage to honor India Basin’s history’’ and thanked staff for bringing the project forward. Multiple callers — long‑term residents, neighborhood historians and representatives of community organizations — urged that the main floor be used for interpretation, that oral histories and neighborhood videos be included, and that artifact display and community access be guaranteed.

The project sponsor and design team described a rehabilitation approach that retains exterior character-defining features (gable roof, shiplap siding, historic window trim and chimney) while removing non‑historic additions and making targeted accessibility improvements. Page & Turnbull’s presentation says interior partitions will be revised to reveal historic floor patterns and create flexible interpretive space; paint analysis and in‑kind window and door repairs are planned.

Commission discussion praised extensive neighborhood research and recommended integrating community material into the interpretive program. Commissioners asked staff and Rec and Park to incorporate neighborhood media and oral histories; Park staff confirmed they will work with Planning to develop an interpretive program and incorporate community submissions. Commissioner So moved to approve; the motion passed 6–0 (Commissioner Wright had recused himself from this item). The approval was made with the conditions summarized in the staff report.

Next steps: staff will finalize conditions and compliance with the historic preservation plan required by the India Basin EIR; the developer and Rec and Park will coordinate the interpretive program and follow-up community engagement.