Planning Commission approves Commonwealth Club’s 110 Embarcadero plan after heated debate over Embarcadero façade
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Summary
The San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously approved the Commonwealth Club’s proposal to restore and adaptively reuse 110 Embarcadero, including a third‑floor addition and public auditorium, after extended public comment and requests that the applicant and staff pursue landmarking and robust historic interpretation of the 1934 labor events tied to the site.
The San Francisco Planning Commission voted unanimously on Nov. 13, 2014, to approve the Commonwealth Club’s proposal to rehabilitate 110 Embarcadero, add a third floor and convert the building into a civic home with a 300‑seat auditorium and related program spaces.
The project sponsor, Gloria Duffy, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Club, told commissioners the club plans extensive historic interpretation of the site and programming for public audiences. "The club is, of course, the nation's largest and oldest civic forum," Duffy said, and said the club intends to preserve the Stewart Street facade and to mark the building’s labor‑history significance.
Why it matters: The building sits on a block with deep labor‑history significance tied to the 1934 dock strikes. Opponents argued the proposal’s contemporary Embarcadero facade would alter a historically important waterfront face and could make future landmarking or full restoration more difficult; supporters and labor and trade unions said the club’s long‑term public use and proposed commemoration were preferable to leaving the gutted structure vacant.
Commission staff recommended affirming a pending administrative approval of the project and highlighted that the proposal preserves the Stewart Street facade and would add 24 new programmatic dwelling units and significant public programming space. Architect presentations described a narrow Embarcadero frontage redesigned to meet program needs while responding to adjacent historic and modern neighbors.
Public debate: Twelve speakers and several neighborhood groups spoke in favor, praising the club’s programming, stewardship and union partnerships. Opponents—historic‑preservation advocates and neighborhood associations—raised three central objections: they said (1) Planning had previously advised a modern approach to the Embarcadero face, (2) the proposed Embarcadero facade departs from the block’s historic character and (3) that altering that face could hamper landmarking or restoration of the period‑of‑significance appearance. Rincon Neighbors’ David Osgood said, "The people of San Francisco have made it perfectly clear that they want superior planning practices followed when developing our waterfront," and urged more preservation. Other commenters asked that the Commission ensure any mitigation fully documents the 1934 events.
Commission response and conditions: Commissioners discussed landmarking possibilities and process: staff and the applicant agreed to explore landmarking with the Historic Preservation Commission and to report back, noting that an initiated landmarking action can impose timing constraints on approvals. Commissioner Richards requested staff ask the Historic Preservation Commission to consider initiating landmarking discussions after approvals are finalized; staff said they would coordinate with the applicant and the Historic Preservation Commission.
Outcome and next steps: The Commission approved the project unanimously. The applicant agreed to work with staff and preservation groups on historic interpretation, plaque installation and to consider a landmarking path consistent with project timing and the club’s operational needs. Site permitting and final design reviews were expected to follow the Commission’s action.
Provenance: Topic introduced SEG 1982; final vote and motions recorded through SEG 3212.
Speakers (attributed quotes): Commission President Wu (meeting chair); Gloria Duffy, President and CEO, Commonwealth Club (project sponsor); Michael Theriault, San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council (support); David Osgood, Rincon Neighbors (opposition); Jim Warshall, San Francisco Victorian Alliance (opposition).
Authorities cited: Planning Code section 309 (administrative downtown project authorization); Secretary of the Interior standards (historic treatment) — referenced in staff and architect presentations.
Actions: The Commission approved the downtown project authorization with conditions and directed staff and the applicant to discuss landmarking and historic interpretation with the Historic Preservation Commission.
