Public raises concerns about Saint Francis Hotel entrance and Crocker Amazon park; planning staff, enforcement staff respond
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Summary
Public commenters urged Historic Preservation Commission intervention over entrance changes at the Saint Francis Hotel and a proposed Crocker Amazon renovation that would remove mature trees and may disturb archaeological resources; planning staff said a minor permit was issued for Saint Francis and that Rec & Park has not yet submitted a CEQA project for Crocker Amazon; enforcement staff reported active enforcement at 369 Valley.
Several members of the public used the commission’s general comment period Nov. 19 to raise preservation concerns about a hotel entrance change and a Rec & Park renovation, and staff provided updates on enforcement and planning procedures.
Saint Francis Hotel: Richard Brandy, a member of the public, said the Saint Francis Hotel (a Category 1 building) has closed its historic Powell Street entrance, moved the main entrance to the automobile entrance on Geary Street, and converted the flanking doors into fixed windows. Brandy said he believed the work “violates the Secretary of the Interior standards,” and that the historic lobby is now a bar and not a publicly accessible lobby. Planning staff later noted they had issued a minor permit to alter for the Saint Francis Hotel and reminded commissioners that operational decisions (which door a commercial operator uses) may fall beyond the commission’s permitting purview even though staff can require materials or certain elements be retained.
Crocker Amazon Park: Multiple speakers — including Susan Malaney, Bob Hall (Keep Crocker Real), and Catherine Howard (Friends of the Music Concourse) — urged the commission to require a full cultural landscape evaluation by a qualified specialist and a CEQA environmental impact report before grading or installing synthetic turf. Speakers said the proposed renovation would remove mature, historically significant tree lines (one commenter said the proposal would remove 128 of the site’s 173 trees) and could heavily disturb subsurface archaeological deposits; Bob Hall cited planning records noting Level B archaeological potential. In response, planning staff said Rec & Park had not yet submitted a project to Planning for CEQA review, that staff has been in consultation on a cultural landscape report, and that when a formal project arrives staff will evaluate it under CEQA.
Enforcement update (369 Valley): Staff reported active enforcement on a project at 369 Valley where more material than permitted was removed; enforcement staff (Gretel Gunther) said the owner was directed to salvage removed siding and store it dry and that the enforcement team was preparing a plan. Staff noted the zoning administrator would weigh in on potential fines and that while enforcement is underway, fines are not yet determined.
Task force and zoning updates: Planning staff summarized the commission streamlining task force work and clarified that the Historic Preservation Commission would remain chartered; the task force is considering moving some procedural items from the charter into the administrative or planning code. Staff also updated the commission on the family zoning plan and the Board of Supervisors’ upcoming hearings related to that matter.
Continuance (2229 Webster): Owner Janine Gesualdo requested a continuance for the COA hearing at 2229 Webster Street to allow redesign and archival research; the commission approved the continuance to Jan. 7, 2026 by a unanimous vote and placed the matter on the consent calendar.
What the commission heard and did
• Public concerns about operational changes at Saint Francis Hotel; staff noted a minor permit had been issued and that some operational issues may be beyond HPC authority. • Repeated public requests to require a cultural landscape evaluation and an EIR for the Crocker Amazon project; staff said the project has not yet been formally submitted for CEQA review. • Enforcement action underway for 369 Valley; staff directed salvage and is preparing next enforcement steps. • Motion passed to continue Case No. 2020-5893 COA (2229 Webster Street) to Jan. 7, 2026.
Why it matters
The items raise questions about the limits of the commission’s authority (operational decisions vs. permit-regulated alterations), the timing of HPC involvement in projects with potential cultural-landscape and archaeological impacts, and how enforcement and CEQA review intersect with preservation goals.
Next steps
Planning staff said they will review formal submissions for Crocker Amazon under CEQA when received, follow up with the enforcement team on 369 Valley outcomes, and transmit the continuance for 2229 Webster to the Jan. 7, 2026 agenda.
