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Committee sends Mother's Building landmark initiation to full Board after advocates testify
Summary
The Land Use and Transportation Committee voted to forward initiation of local landmark status for the Mother's Building at the San Francisco Zoo after community historians and preservation groups described WPA‑era murals and recent stabilization work; multiple callers urged restoration and public access.
The Land Use and Transportation Committee on April 4 voted to send to the full Board a resolution initiating local landmark designation for the Mother's Building at the San Francisco Zoo.
Chair Supervisor Mirna Melgar, who co‑sponsored the initiation with Supervisors Mar and Chan, described the building as "one of the most treasured structures on the West Side," noting it houses murals commissioned during the 1930s Works Progress Administration era and has never been locally landmarked despite being listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Community historian Richard Rothman presented the building's origins and art history, saying the Mother's Building was built in 1925 and that murals by area artists were begun in 1934 and completed in 1936 using egg tempera. Rothman credited prior preservation staff and community advocates with short‑term stabilization work and outlined plans to reopen the building to the public so the murals can be viewed.
Stacy Bradley of the Recreation and Parks Department described immediate stabilization measures: plywood protection on the western façade, roof repairs, and steps to limit moisture intrusion that had contributed to paint and adhesion problems inside the building. Several callers, including Woody Labounty of San Francisco Heritage, author Wendy Good, historian Robert Cherney and David Pilpel, urged the committee to move forward with landmark initiation and restoration to make the art accessible.
Chair Melgar moved to send the initiation to the full Board with a positive recommendation; the committee voted 3‑0 to approve.
The resolution begins the formal local‑landmark process under Article 10 of the Planning Code; further hearings and staff reports will follow as the review proceeds.
