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Committee advances landmark designation for 22 Beaver Street after owner support
Summary
The San Francisco Land Use Committee voted to forward an ordinance to designate 22 Beaver Street as a landmark, following presentations from planning staff, an architectural historian and the longtime owner, who said she has owned the house for more than 60 years.
A San Francisco Land Use Committee hearing on Jan. 28, 2019, moved forward an ordinance to designate 22 Beaver Street as a historic landmark, the committee’s chair, Aaron Peskin, announced. Planning Department staff and neighborhood supporters urged the committee to recommend the nomination to the full Board of Supervisors.
Shannon Ferguson of the Planning Department told the committee the Historic Preservation Commission initiated the nomination on Sept. 19, 2018, and unanimously recommended designation on Nov. 7, 2018. "The department received a community sponsored landmark designation from the property owner in June 2018," Ferguson said, and added that the department believes the building meets eligibility requirements.
Kyle Smeely, legislative aide for Supervisor Rafael Mandelmann, said the house—built in the 1870s—is one of the oldest in the DuBose Triangle neighborhood and urged support: "I am here today to speak in support of the historic landmark designation for the property at 22 Beaver Street." Christopher Verplank, an architectural historian who prepared the case report, praised the long-term owners for stewardship and said, "The Geelings truly embody the increasingly rare notion of property ownership as stewardship."
Owner Imogene Geeling told the committee she has owned 22 Beaver Street for "more than 60 years," recounted its deterioration and restoration, and said neighborhood improvements followed the house’s rehabilitation. Planning Commissioner Dennis Richards, testifying as a private citizen, described the property’s history and said he supports the landmarking; he also urged a separate hearing on SB 50, asserting the bill’s broad impact on local zoning.
After no further public comment, Chair Peskin called for a motion. A motion to forward the ordinance to the full Board of Supervisors with a recommendation was made and taken "without objection," sending the item to the full board for final action. The committee record shows the item will appear on the Feb. 5 Board of Supervisors agenda unless otherwise stated.
The designation package presented to the committee identifies the property as the Benedict Geeling House (constructed circa 1870) and lists the Assessor's Parcel information included in the nomination. The Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Department recommended designation to preserve architectural features described in the report.
