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Commission approves contemporary infill at 901 Tennessee Street in Dogpatch with conditions
Summary
The Historic Preservation Commission approved a four‑story, 44‑unit residential project at 901 Tennessee Street in the Dogpatch Landmark District, endorsing the sponsor's fenestration and painted wood siding and attaching standard material‑review conditions; Planning Commission would need a supermajority to alter an HPC approval.
The Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for a new four‑story residential building at 901 Tennessee Street in the Dogpatch Landmark District.
Department staff presented the project as compatible infill: the proposal calls for demolition of an existing non‑contributing one‑story warehouse and construction of a 40‑foot, four‑story building with 44 dwelling units and 33 off‑street parking spaces. The sponsor's design incorporates painted wood siding and a simplified Fenestration pattern; staff recommended approval with conditions and proposed considering an industrial‑sash window alternative.
Architect‑developer Mike Pittler of Workshop 1 said the design intentionally reflects district materials and proportions and noted 6 units would meet the city’s BMR requirement. "These were some of the buildings that we looked at initially in historic building" he told commissioners during the presentation, describing material choices and a central breezeway that opens to a landscaped courtyard.
During deliberations, commissioners discussed siding (painted versus stained) and window type. Department staff said painted wood siding more closely matches prevailing finishes in the Dogpatch residential fabric; the applicant offered stained wood as an alternate in limited areas. Staff also clarified procedural questions about the Planning Commission: the Planning Commission would need a two‑thirds vote to modify a decision made by the Historic Preservation Commission.
After discussion, the commission voted 7–0 to approve the design with the painted siding and the sponsor‑proposed fenestration, subject to the standard conditions recorded in the case report (including submittal of material samples prior to building permit approval). The vote advances the project to Planning's large‑project authorization review, where larger building‑scale approvals will be considered.
Because the project exceeds 25,000 gross square feet, Planning review is required for a large project authorization; staff noted that any changes at Planning that would overturn an HPC approval require a supermajority. The commission's decision does not waive required building‑permit or Planning approvals, and conditions must be satisfied before permits are issued.
