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Commission advances Central SoMa Article 10 and Article 11 landmark designations and district nominations
Summary
The commission initiated or forwarded multiple Central SoMa landmark actions on April 18: Article 10 nominations for the new Pullman Hotel, the Piledrivers/Structural Ironworkers Local 77 Union Hall and Hotel Utah, and the Clyde & Crooks Warehouse Historic District; it also initiated a change in Article 11 designation for 26 properties. Commissioners directed staff to continue outreach to owners and noted benefits (Mills Act, TDRs) and concerns about permitting impacts.
The Historic Preservation Commission on April 18 moved to advance several Central SoMa historic‑resource actions, initiating Article 10 landmark nominations for three individual properties and one historic district and initiating changes in Article 11 designation for 26 properties identified through the Central SoMa survey.
Desiree Smith and Frances McMillan presented staff reports describing the justification for Article 10 nominations—the new Pullman Hotel (noted for its associations with Pullman porters and maids and a period of significance from 1909 to 1964), the Piledrivers/Structural Ironworkers Local 77 Union Hall, and Hotel Utah—and a Clyde & Crooks Warehouse Historic District that reflects early industrial and maritime commerce. Staff said the recommendations implement Central SoMa plan policies to protect the neighborhood’s industrial and cultural resources and noted that revised ordinances for the Article 10 nominations had non‑substantial changes.
Frances McMillan summarized the change in Article 11 designation for 26 properties—up‑rating several parcels to Category 1–3 based on architectural and historical survey results—and reviewed outreach and benefits associated with designation, including eligibility for transferable development rights (TDRs), the Mills Act and use of the California Historic Building Code.
Public commenters included small property owners and HOAs near the Clyde & Crooks area who expressed concern about perceived added permitting time and potential constraints on routine maintenance; staff and commissioners responded by describing priority processing, Mills Act and TDR incentives, and offered follow‑up technical assistance and meetings to address owner concerns. Commissioners generally supported forwarding Article 10 nominations to the Board of Supervisors and initiating Article 11 changes; motions on both packages were seconded and passed unanimously, 7‑0.
Staff indicated the Article 10 individual nominations would move directly to the Board of Supervisors and that district nominations would also proceed through the planning commission as part of Central SoMa plan deliberations.
