Historic Preservation Commission recommends eight legacy businesses, approves Ghirardelli storefront plan and backs Mills Act nonrenewal for 690 Market

The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission at its Dec. 19, 2018 hearing recommended eight businesses for inclusion on the city’s Legacy Business Registry, approved a storefront enclosure at Ghirardelli Square and voted to recommend nonrenewal of the Mills Act contract covering 690 Market Street.

Shelly Caldicheroni of the Department of Preservation staff summarized eight applicants that staff recommended to the Small Business Commission: Alioto’s (Fisherman’s Wharf seafood restaurant), Bayview Boat Club (recreational boating club), Couture Designer European Clothing (Union Square menswear), For Your Eyes Only Optometry (Castro optometry practice), Kimochi (Japantown senior services), Other Avenues (worker‑owned cooperative grocery), St. Mary’s Pub (neighborhood bar) and Ted’s Market and Delicatessen (South Market grocer). Each presentation listed the features staff proposed to protect — for example, staff recommended protecting Alioto’s fish‑shaped neon signs and cioppino tradition and For Your Eyes Only’s interior features and community services.

Community members and business representatives urged approval. Dr. Kathleen Kennedy, owner and optometrist at For Your Eyes Only, described the practice’s role during the AIDS crisis and said inclusion on the registry would help with a lease renewal concern in 2020. Maria Davis, owner of St. Mary’s Pub, described the bar’s history and neighborhood role. Laurie White, outgoing Bayview Boat Club commodore, and other supporters testified to long local histories and community programs. After public comment Commissioner Johns moved to recommend approval of all eight legacy nominations; the motion passed unanimously.

On a separate item, Rebecca Salgado of planning staff presented a certificate‑of‑appropriateness application for the Carillon Building at Ghirardelli Square (900 North Point). Staff said the proposed enclosure of the first floor with glazed storefront units would conform to Article 10 and the Secretary of the Interior’s standards. Joshua Callahan, representing the property owner Jamestown LP, said the square is more than 98 percent leased and the work supports ongoing revitalization. The commission approved the project with a condition requiring a sample of the proposed metal storefront framing; the vote was recorded as 6–0 (one commissioner was recused from the subsequent item).

On Mills Act business, Shannon Ferguson (planning staff) presented a resolution recommending nonrenewal of the Mills Act contract for 690 Market Street (the Ritz residences and hotel). Staff outlined how Mills Act contracts provide property‑tax reductions in exchange for preservation obligations and noted the city holds 31 active Mills Act contracts. After discussion of the contract term, preservation plan attachments and the Board of Supervisors’ role, the commission voted to recommend nonrenewal as amended; the motion passed.

Routine business included adoption of draft minutes for Nov. 7, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, all adopted unanimously.

The commission’s formal recommendations will be forwarded to the relevant bodies (Small Business Commission for legacy nominations; Board of Supervisors and other agencies as required). No appeals or implementation dates were set at the hearing for the items reported here.