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Historic Preservation Commission forwards 13 legacy‑business nominations; local owners, nonprofits urge protections
Summary
The commission recommended 13 businesses and nonprofits for the Legacy Business Registry, hearing extended public testimony on each applicant’s historic and community role; the motion to forward recommendations passed unanimously and items were referred to the Small Business Commission.
The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission on Nov. 2 voted unanimously to forward recommendations for 13 legacy‑business nominations to the Small Business Commission after an extended public‑comment period in which owners, nonprofit leaders and community members described each applicant’s history and local contributions.
Planning staff presented the nominations and draft resolutions for businesses including Bay Area Video Coalition (2727 Mariposa St.), Blue Bear School of Music (Fort Mason), Bow’s Flower Stand (Market St.), Cafe du Nord (Swedish American Hall, 2170 Market St.), Cafe Trieste (601 Vallejo St.), Cartoon Art Museum (SoMa), Castro Country Club (4058 18th St.), Cole Hardware (956 Cole St.), Galleria de la Raza (20 Fourth St.), Golden Bear Sportswear (200 Potrero Ave.), Sam’s Grill (374 Bush St.), San Francisco Heritage (2007 Franklin St.) and the Stud (399 Ninth St.). Staff stated each application met the registry’s criteria for listing.
More than two dozen speakers addressed the commission in support of individual applicants. Mindy Aronoff and Carol Varney emphasized Bay Area Video Coalition’s training and access programs; Renee Richardson and others described Blue Bear School of Music’s long record of community music education; Samarka Kashar and museum representatives recounted the Cartoon Art Museum’s exhibitions and relocation plans; and multiple speakers emphasized Galleria de la Raza’s cultural and civic role in the Mission District. Several speakers described the Stud’s importance to LGBTQ community life and safety following the Pulse nightclub attack, and Sam’s Grill and Cafe Trieste speakers highlighted long institutional histories.
Nonprofit and community‑development advocates urged expanded uses of the Legacy Business Fund to help nonprofits secure long‑term leases or pursue acquisitions. The Northern California Community Loan Fund described its displacement‑mitigation work and urged consideration of broader funding eligibility to support nonprofit sustainability.
Commissioner Johns moved to approve the set of recommendations (with minor staff amendments); the commission voted 6–0 to forward the nominations to the Small Business Commission for final consideration. The commission and staff discussed ways to better capture the oral histories presented at hearings in application files, including a possible oral‑history partnership with the public library or another archival approach to preserve proponents’ testimony in record materials.
Next procedural steps: the recommendations will be considered by the Small Business Commission, and proponents may continue lease negotiations and displacement‑mitigation planning with Small Business and Planning Department staff.
