Commission backs five Mills Act nominations, forwarding contracts to Board of Supervisors

The commission voted to recommend approval of five Mills Act historical property contracts to the Board of Supervisors. Planning staff (Michelle Taylor) described each property's rehabilitation plan, estimated 10‑year rehabilitation costs and annual maintenance commitments, and provided estimated property tax savings prepared by the assessor's office.

Highlights from the staff presentation included: 2251 Webster (Italianate dwelling) with estimated rehabilitation cost $113,613 over 10 years and annual maintenance cost about $2,880; 1401 Howard (St. Joseph's Church), a three‑story landmark valued by the assessor at over $5 million, with estimated proposed rehabilitation $291,065 over 10 years and estimated annual maintenance of $31,000; 64 Potomac with rehabilitation estimate $126,035 over 10 years; 2168 Market (Swedish American Hall) with rehabilitation of about $95,000 and annual maintenance estimated at $7,500; and 2731–2735 Folsom with proposed rehabilitation estimated at $305,000 over 10 years and annual maintenance estimated at $5,148.

Property owners and organizational representatives — including applicants and cultural organizations such as St. Joseph's Art Society and the Swedish Society of San Francisco — spoke in support, noting high rehabilitation costs and public benefits of preservation. Commissioners discussed Mills Act eligibility criteria and whether the contracts function as incentives rather than needs‑based grants. The commission adopted staff recommendations to forward all five Mills Act nominations to the Board of Supervisors for approval (motion passed unanimously; one commission recusal earlier left a 6–0 recorded vote for this package).