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HPC recommends waiver for 799 Van Ness to allow StorageStar conversion, with design conditions

San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission · January 21, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

The commission voted unanimously to recommend waiving the active‑use street frontage requirement at 799 Van Ness to allow conversion to a StorageStar self‑storage facility, while urging unfrosted glazing, a convertible corner active space, mural/public art, lighting, signage review, and consideration of landmark designation.

The Historic Preservation Commission on Jan. 21 recommended that the Planning Director grant a waiver of the planning code's active‑use frontage requirement for 799 Van Ness Avenue, allowing a proposed StorageStar self‑storage use while attaching a suite of design encouragements intended to preserve the building’s street presence.

Planning staff and the project sponsor said the reuse would invest approximately $1,000,000 in exterior restoration and rehabilitation of the circa‑1917 former Mini Cooper USA (historic Auto Row) building. "Allowing StorageStar to occupy the building will make that work economically feasible," the project sponsor said, adding…

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