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Commission approves alterations and seismic upgrades at 901 Battery Street with conditions
Summary
The commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for seismic upgrades and facade work at the Petri Cigar Building (901 Battery St.), adding a condition for staff collaboration on contemporary light fixtures and requiring mockups for certain materials.
The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission on Aug. 7 unanimously approved, with conditions, a certificate of appropriateness for exterior and interior seismic upgrades and facade restoration at 901 Battery Street, commonly known as the Petri Cigar Building.
Staff (Lily Gazzo) recommended approval with conditions requiring revised shop drawings, painted or patinated finishes on stainless-steel elements within the Northeast Waterfront Special Sign District, and on-site mockups before production. Sponsor representatives from The Suite Company and ARG described the voluntary seismic reinforcement, replacement of nonhistoric entries, and a proposed glass-fiber-reinforced-concrete (GFRC) entry feature. ARG preservation planner Matthew Davis asked whether leaving some stainless-steel elements unpainted would better differentiate new work; staff replied that the sign-district rules and district character commonly require painted or weathered finishes.
The commission added a condition requiring the sponsor to work with staff on a more contemporary light fixture for the main entrance and otherwise approved staff’s conditions, including shop drawings and mockups to be submitted prior to construction activities per staff direction. The motion passed unanimously (record reflects a 6–0 tally with one recusal earlier in the meeting).
Quotable: Sponsor Deborah Boyer said the owners ‘‘pride ourselves on being good stewards of historic buildings,’’ and ARG’s Matthew Davis said leaving some stainless-steel unpainted ‘‘would better differentiate those new elements from the historic building.’’ Staff noted the Northeast Waterfront Special Sign District places additional restrictions on signage and finishes.
Next steps: The project sponsor will submit revised drawings and a signage packet as required; preservation staff will review on-site mockups of GFRC materials and stucco and approve finishes prior to installation. Any required building permits will be linked to the approved conditions.
