Commission recommends approval of Hearst/Hurst Building amendments, adds interpretive conditions

The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission on March 20 voted unanimously to recommend that the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors approve a planning code text amendment and a major permit to alter for the Hearst (Hurst) Building at 5 Third Street.

Planning staff presented a package that would allow buildings designated as significant under Article 11 that are nonconforming in height to infill an existing terrace up to 1,500 square feet (limited to Block 3707) with a required 17-foot parapet and a sunset date of 01/31/2029. Rebecca Salgado said staff recommended approval with 12 conditions related to rooftop work, storefront restoration and facade rehabilitation. Seema Adema described the ordinance and said the measure is intended to facilitate adaptive reuse consistent with the planning code and Secretary of the Interior standards.

Frederick Knapp, the project's preservation architect, described the building's period of significance (1909–1938), Julia Morgan's 1938 additions and the proposed work to convert existing office space to a hotel with public access to a rooftop terrace. Knapp said some rooftop elements, including a small Julia Morgan penthouse and water-tower structures, would be removed to permit a publicly accessible rooftop terrace that is intended to be minimally visible from the primary street frontage.

Public commenter Georgia Shudish urged preservation or incorporation of the Julia Morgan "little house" and asked that the building's flagpole and tile work be preserved where feasible. Commissioners who toured the building during the day commended the sponsor's sensitivity; Commissioner Pearlman said the building "really is a Julia Morgan" and praised the sponsor's preservation approach. Commissioners asked for an interpretive program and artifacts or framed drawings to be used in public areas; the project sponsor said that historic drawings and artifacts would be used to enhance the guest experience.

The commission approved the recommendations, adding two conditions beyond staff's package: an interpretive program to provide historic context (to be approved by staff) and delegation to staff to negotiate minor reductions in rooftop scope that may arise from the federal historic tax-credit review, so those limited changes would not require returning the matter to the Commission. The motion passed unanimously, with recorded 'Yes' votes from Commissioners Black, Jonck, Pearlman, Wolfram, Matsuda and President Hyland.