Historic Preservation Commission approves 10½‑year extension to keep three temporary classrooms at 333 Dolores

The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission on Nov. 20 approved a request to retain three temporary classroom structures at 333 Dolores Street for an additional 10½ years, voting unanimously to adopt staff-recommended conditions.

Sailesh Topby of the Planning Department told commissioners the portables were originally authorized in 2003 with a 10‑year removal condition and that the applicant now seeks an extension because the project’s phased campus improvements and fundraising have been delayed. "The proposed project is a request to retain 3 existing temporary classroom structures in their present location on the site for an additional 10 and a half years," Topby said, and staff recommended approval with specific conditions to ensure compliance.

Sponsors Molly Hoffman, head of school, and Valerie Veronin, project manager, described the school’s plan to repurpose a nearby building at 601 Dolores Street as a middle school and said removal of the portables is tied to a broader multi‑step campus buildout and fundraising schedule. Hoffman said the school expects to complete the campus improvements over the coming decade and noted the portables remain necessary while other permit and construction steps occur.

The commission’s approval includes conditions spelled out by staff: the project sponsor must remove the three temporary classroom structures within 10½ years from the date of planning commission approval for the conditional use authorization; maintain the structures in safe, sanitary and good physical condition; keep the site and landscaping in a manner that screens the temporary structures from view; provide an informational update to the commission on the progress of fundraising and capital improvements within five years; and file written status updates every two years thereafter.

Commissioners asked for background on why the initial 10‑year period did not suffice; staff and the sponsors explained that the school’s expansion changed from a single additional class to doubling class sizes across grades, that code constraints at St. Joseph’s Hall complicated on‑site solutions, and that the school purchased and is renovating 601 Dolores as part of a phased strategy. Commissioner Jonck moved to approve the certificate of appropriateness with conditions; the motion passed on a unanimous roll call vote.