Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Historic Preservation Commission approves sky bridge connecting 1355 Market and 875 Stevenson
Summary
The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved a permit-to-alter to build a glass sky bridge connecting 1355 Market Street and 875 Stevenson Street, with a required maintenance and lighting plan to be reviewed by preservation staff before a site permit is issued.
The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a permit-to-alter application to construct a sky bridge linking 1355 Market Street and 875 Stevenson Street.
The Commission’s action follows a staff recommendation that included a condition requiring review and approval of a maintenance and lighting plan by preservation staff before a site permit is issued. “Based on these findings, the department recommends approval of the project with the condition that a maintenance and lighting plan…be submitted for review and approval by preservation staff prior to site permit approval,” Department staff member Lili Gazzew told the Commission.
Why it matters: 1355 Market Street is listed as a Category 1 significant building under the planning code, and the proposed bridge crosses a parcel that was vacated by the city and is now privately owned. Commission members and staff framed the work as limited and subordinate to the historic resource because the bridge is set well back from the public right-of-way and alters a secondary, utilitarian rear elevation.
Project details and design: Greg Mottola, principal at Boland Suwinski Jackson, described the bridge as a deliberately lightweight, transparent structure set about 148 feet back from the corner, with the underside roughly 103 feet above grade. He said the design uses large vertical monolithic low-iron laminated glass panels, concealed seismic movement joints to allow independent movement of the two buildings, and maintenance tie-offs to permit window-washing access. “We’re developing a series of fairly discreet tie offs that the window washing company will be able to tie off and perform maintenance,” Mottola said, adding that the sponsor is developing a maintenance plan and refined lighting details in response to ARC comments.
Public reaction and Commission view: One member of the public, Joe Elford, urged the Commission to reject the project on broader neighborhood-change grounds, arguing that recent development driven by technology companies has changed the character of San Francisco: “I urge you to reject this project,” Elford said. Commissioners responded by saying the proposal is modest, occurs on a privately owned, vacated street parcel, and is compatible with the rear facade’s character. Commissioner Croman said he and ARC members were “very impressed with the design,” and Commissioner House added she was “in full support of the project.”
Vote and next steps: The Commission approved the project with the staff-recommended conditions. The motion passed unanimously, 6–0. Staff must review and approve the required maintenance and lighting plan prior to site-permit approval, per the Commission’s condition.
Funding and permits: No funding request or separate legislative approval was required at the hearing; the action was a permit-to-alter decision by the Historic Preservation Commission. The department noted that notices were mailed and the project was posted per planning code requirements.
The Commission moved next to other agenda items after the vote.
