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Historic Preservation Commission endorses Fireman's Fund National Register nomination with staff revisions
Summary
After lengthy testimony from neighbors, the developer and the nomination sponsor, the Commission voted unanimously to forward a revised resolution to the State in support of the Fireman's Fund home office nomination, asking specific edits to narrative and resource claims.
The Historic Preservation Commission on May 16 voted to forward a resolution to the State Office of Historic Preservation recommending the Fireman's Fund Insurance Company Home Office (a 10.2-acre campus in Laurel Heights) for the National Register, subject to specific staff revisions requested by Planning Department preservation staff.
Planning staff (Desiree Smith) said staff found the nomination to be "well researched and well written" and concluded the property is eligible under National Register criteria for community planning/commerce and design, but staff raised targeted disagreements: staff questioned whether the service building should be considered a contributing resource and whether architect Edward B. Page should be characterized as a "master" under National Register guidance.
Denise Bradley and Kathy Devon Chansey, representing the Laurel Heights Improvement Association, who prepared the nomination, urged support for listing under criteria A and C and argued the property's landscape and building ensemble reflect postwar suburban corporate campus design. The property owner and developer, represented by Gregory Miller and others, opposed the nomination in its current form and agreed with staff on several technical points, arguing that many innovations predated the site's development and that the service building is noncontributing; they emphasized the site's housing potential.
Public commenters were split: some neighbors and preservationists supported listing to protect key landscape and architectural features and assist CEQA review; others — including housing advocates and proponents of redevelopment — said preservation would reduce housing capacity on a site where proponents propose several hundred housing units. The department reported it had received letters of opposition including from the owner.
After deliberation the commission moved, seconded and voted unanimously (6'to'00) to adopt staff-recommended revisions and to transmit an edited resolution in support of the nomination to the State Historical Resources Commission for final decision.
Next steps: The HPC's resolution and requested edits will be forwarded to the State Office of Historic Preservation and the State Historical Resources Commission will hear the nomination on May 17.
