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Commission agrees to add Woodward Street nomination to landmark work program, asks for broader study options
Summary
The Historic Preservation Commission directed staff to add the community-sponsored Woodward Street Romeo Flats nomination to the landmark designation work program and asked staff to explore whether a broader or thematic district would better capture Romeo Flats in the area.
The Historic Preservation Commission on March 16 directed Planning Department staff to work with the project sponsor to file a formal application and add the Woodward Street Romeo Flats Reconstruction nomination to the commission’s landmark designation work program.
Shannon Ferguson of Planning Department staff presented the community‑sponsored Article 10 nomination and told commissioners the district has a strong grouping of post‑1906 Romeo flats and generally good integrity, although staff flagged that some buildings may be better handled as contributors to a broader thematic district. Staff also noted that window replacement is the most common alteration and that the nomination draws on survey work completed in 2011.
Project sponsor Stephen Sher described neighborhood character and history, emphasizing Woodward Street’s cohesive streetscape and community stewardship. Sher argued the designation would encourage property improvements and pointed to letters of support received from residents, including Spanish‑language correspondence he said came from working residents.
Resident Sandra Camacho told the commission the block is ‘‘homey’’ with active neighbor‑led landscaping and argued landmark designation would help incentivize landlords to maintain buildings. Commissioners discussed whether to pursue a single‑block Article 10 designation or a broader thematic/noncontiguous approach to capture similar Romeo flats on nearby streets, and whether to include adjacent parcels such as a nearby parking lot in the study.
A commissioner moved and another seconded to add the nomination to the Landmarks Designation Program. Staff said the move provides direction to work with the sponsor on a formal application; formal initiation and any ordinance amendment would follow a later staff report and required approvals, including Board of Supervisors action if an Article 10 designation is proposed.
Commissioners asked staff to explore broader district boundaries or a thematic district option and to return with options and proposed timing in the quarterly work‑program report.
