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Commission asks staff for prioritized landmark work list; adds community nominations to pipeline
Summary
Staff presented a new Landmark Designation Work Program with a public application form and performance measures; commissioners praised the format, debated reporting cadence and prioritization, and asked staff to return with a recommended priority list, with the item continued to Nov. 19.
The Historic Preservation Commission reviewed a new Landmark Designation Work Program and asked staff to return with a prioritized list of nominations, including several community-initiated proposals.
Tim Frey, speaking for the department, outlined a new application form and four proposed performance measures: a target of 150 staff hours for an individual landmark designation, timeliness targets for processing applications, a 30-calendar-day goal to bring completed applications to the commission, and semiannual reporting to track progress. Frey said the department will prepare the new Article 10 application form and make the designation reports more accessible online.
Commissioners generally praised the new graphic and the clarity the report provides. Commissioner Matsuda said the visual 'temperature' bar will help the public understand progress on nominations. Several commissioners pressed staff on reporting frequency and staffing: some urged quarterly updates to maintain momentum; others said quarterly reporting might consume staff time better spent on designations. Frey said the department plans to hire an additional preservation planner soon and to reallocate existing staff time to support designation work.
Commissioners also emphasized prioritizing community-initiated nominations. Hyland and others argued that community momentum should elevate nominations such as the Ruth Goldberg Building. Public commenters asked the commission to add the University Mound Old Ladies Home and Ingleside Presbyterian Church (the Great Cloud of Witnesses) to the work program; Belo Sielda presented a petition supporting the Ladies Home, and Desiree Smith of San Francisco Heritage said Heritage is preparing a nomination and oral-history research for the Ingleside church.
Commissioner Johns moved that staff prepare and present a prioritized list; the commission agreed to continue the matter for prioritization to the Nov. 19 hearing. The motion passed unanimously, 7–0. Staff said it will add community nominations to the work program and return with the department’s recommended priorities for the commission to consider.
