Committee forwards landmarking of Swedish American Hall on Upper Market
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Summary
The committee unanimously recommended landmark status for the Swedish American Hall (Market Street), citing its historical ties to San Francisco's Swedish community, architectural significance and recent rehabilitation that added an ADA elevator and revived live-music uses.
The Land Use & Transportation Committee voted unanimously to forward to the full Board a proposal to designate the Swedish American Hall (2001–2174 Market Street) as a city landmark.
Supervisor Scott Wiener described the building as one of San Francisco's most historic properties and noted the Historic Preservation Commission's unanimous recommendation in favor of designation. Planning staff highlighted the building's construction in 1907, its role as a social center for Swedish and Scandinavian communities, and the Freyja Hall's preserved Arts-and‑Crafts interior.
Enrique Landa, master tenant and developer, thanked staff and said recent investment has reopened the building, added an ADA elevator and created jobs: "The restaurant opened this last weekend; 67 people have jobs that didn't in a vacant storefront that sat dark for over nine years," he said.
Planning staff told the committee the nomination had broad support including letters from the building owner and Swedish Society of San Francisco; no known neighborhood opposition was reported to the department at the time of the hearing. The committee forwarded the measure to the Board with a positive recommendation.
The designation, if approved by the full Board, will require future significant exterior changes to receive a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission.
