The approval process for Articles 10 & 11 is in its final phase before going to the Board of Supervisors. Your attendance is needed at a vital Planning Commission hearing on Thursday, February 2 in Room 400 of City Hall (time and agenda item TBD). The Historic Preservation Commission will meet on Wednesday, February 1 for their final review of Articles 10 & 11 and will make a recommendation to the Planning Commission for their Thursday hearing. The public is welcome to attend both hearings, but Thursday’s Planning Commission hearing is the more critical of the two.

In 2008, San Francisco voters passed Proposition J, which would update the Planning Code and bring it in line with best practices nationwide. Over the past three years, Heritage has commented on proposed revisions to Articles 10 and 11 recommended by the Historic Preservation Commission and further amendments introduced by Supervisor Scott Wiener. Although some of Supervisor Wiener’s more controversial proposals have been abandoned, Heritage remains opposed to amendments that would impose unique procedural hurdles on the designation of historic districts and potentially exempt market-rate residential projects from historic review.

Please review Heritage’s letter to the Planning Commission for a detailed analysis of Supervisor Wiener’s proposed amendments. You can also use the talking points linked below for public comment at Thursday’s hearing. If you are unable to attend the hearing, please email the Planning Commissioners (email addresses listed in talking points document).

What: Planning Commission hearing
When: Thursday, February 2 (time and agenda item TBD)
Where: City Hall, Room 400

-Talking Points
-Planning Commission Letter

Architectural detail of Victorian home on Pierce Street. Photo taken by Peter DaSilva for The Bay Citizen

Heritage executive director, Mike Buhler, responds to a recent Bay Citizen/New York Times article (“A ‘Landmark’ Backlash,” 12/31/11) regarding the proposed historic district in Duboce Park. The original article taps into and perpetuates commonly held misperceptions about historic preservation in San Francisco. Follow the link to read Heritage’s full guest opinion article: http://www.baycitizen.org/blogs/citizen/landmark-backlash-response-duboce-park/

Heritage’s Semi-Annual Meeting tonight at the Swedenborgian Church has reached capacity. Due to the free event’s overwhelming popularity, we will not be able to accept walk-ups.

We look forward to seeing our members and friends who have RSVP’d at this exclusive event featuring an overview of Heritage’s recent activities, a history of the Swedenborgian Church, and a talk from author Mark Anthony Wilson on the architecture of Bernard Maybeck.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. and the Swedenborgian Church is located at 2107 Lyon Street.

The Geneva Office Building & Powerhouse received an HPFC grant in 2009. Photo by Freeze Time Digital on Flickr.

Do you know of a historic preservation project that needs funding? Consider a Historic Preservation Fund Committee Grant, which provides small grants to nonprofits tasked with preserving historic buildings and districts in San Francisco. Examples of funded projects include the preparation of historic context statements for the Mission Dolores and Parkside neighborhoods, and the completion of a National Register nomination for the Tenderloin neighborhood. The application is available at http://www.oewd.org/media/docs/hpfc/NOFA%20FINAL.pdf.

The Historic Preservation Fund Committee was created to disburse funds ($2.5 million) accruing from a settlement agreement signed by the Redevelopment Agency of the City and County of San Francisco, San Franciscans Upholding the Downtown Plan, and San Franciscans for Preservation Planning. In February, 2005, a civil action was filed in San Francisco Superior Court, alleging that certain actions taken by the developer of the old Emporium site on Market Street contravened the Final Environmental Impact Report issued by the City and violated the California Environmental Quality Act.

On Thursday, December 15, the Planning Commission considered Supervisor David Chiu’s proposed ordinance to amend the Planning Code. Among these amendments are several incentives for preserving and reusing historic buildings. Heritage’s Issues Policy Committee considered the proposed amendments at its most recent meeting and supports proposed amendments that would provide flexibility and incentives in the Planning Code to encourage preservation. One of the proposed amendments would reactivate pre-1960 commercial storefronts in residential districts to support the reuse of vacant historic buildings. Read Heritage’s comment letter linked below and stay tuned for more information.

Thank you to all who attended Thursday’s Planning Commission meeting to testify regarding proposed amendments to Articles 10 and 11. At the request of staff, the proposed revisions were heard as an informational item only in order to allow time for the Historic Preservation Commission to provide comments on new amendments submitted by Supervisor Scott Wiener. The item will come back to the Planning Commission for action on February 2, 2012, following its review by the HPC on January 18, 2012.

Supervisor Wiener and Historic Preservation Commissioners Alan Martinez and Richard Johns addressed the Planning Commission prior to staff’s presentation, which included a detailed summary of Articles 10 and 11, comprehensive revisions recommended by the HPC, and recent amendments introduced by Supervisor Wiener. Staff noted that the Department is working with Supervisor Wiener to craft alternative language regarding application of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. Staff’s remarks were followed by lengthy public testimony, with most speaking out against Supervisor Wiener’s proposals to make preservation review standards optional and to reinsert the 66% owner consent requirement for community-sponsored historic district nominations. The Planning Commission’s deliberations represented a range of perspectives. In the end, all agreed that they should have the HPC’s comments before taking action on Articles 10 and 11, while encouraging the parties to work together to resolve remaining areas of controversy before the February 2, 2012 hearing.

Rendering of the proposed Beach Chalet Athletic Fields renovation with synthetic turf and stadium lighting. Image courtesy of Recreation and Parks.

On Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 5 p.m. the Planning Commission will discuss the recently completed DEIR for the proposed Beach Chalet Athletic Fields Renovation. By recommending artificial turf and stadium lighting for the historic fields, the proposed project is inconsistent with Golden Gate Park Master Plan policies that prioritize protection of the west end’s “pastoral and sylvan landscape.” The report fails to thoroughly analyze the project, its impacts, and potential preservation alternatives.

Heritage advises a “hybrid” compromise combining elements from three of the DEIR alternatives, which would allow the city to renovate the Beach Chalet fields with natural turf with no or significantly reduced lighting. It could also allow for the renovation of fields at West Sunset Park–an off-site alternative–in order to protect the natural character of Golden Gate Park’s west end. Please attend the Planning Commission Hearing to show your support!

Thursday, December 1, 5 p.m.
City Hall, Room 400 (4th floor)

The weather's calling for snow at the Haas-Lilienthal House on December 4.

Heritage will celebrate the holiday season on Sunday, December 4 at its annual Holiday Open House. The Haas-Lilienthal House will be festively decorated and Heritage’s favorite holiday treats will be available for guests. Holiday shopping will be available in the ballroom and kids can enjoy the family train and a visit from Santa at 2 p.m. As always, the event is free for Heritage members and their guests. If you aren’t a member and want to take advantage of free admission, join today. Tickets for non-members are $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under. Everyone is encourage to RSVP or buy tickets in advance. The open house starts and noon and goes until 3 p.m.

Online ticketing is now closed. Tickets can be purchased at the door and members are welcome without RSVP.

Explore the Nob Hill Masonic Center at 1111 California Street on November 17.

Online ticketing is now closed for tonight’s lecture. A limited number of tickets will be available starting at 5:30 p.m. at the door of the Nob Hill Masonic Center (1111 California Street). We hope to see you there!

Heritage and DOCOMOMO-NOCA are celebrating the awesome legacy of San Francisco Modernism on Thursday, November 17 in the final installment of our 2011 Lecture Series. To be held at the monumental Nob Hill Masonic Center (Albert Roller, 1958)–itself an icon of Modernism–the lecture will feature a talk with architect, author, historian, and San Jose Mercury News architecture critic Alan Hess. Come discover and learn about San Francisco’s diverse collection of Modern historic resources.

“Alan Hess [is] a prominent California architecture critic who has written extensively on roadside strips,” notes the New York Times. As a practicing architect and historian, Hess documents the emerging suburban metropolises of the West. As an architecture critic, he has written a column for the San Jose Mercury News since 1986. Hess has also been active in preservation initiatives for post-war architecture. He received a 1997 Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for his efforts to preserve the country’s first McDonald’s (Downey, 1953) and a 1999 President’s Award from the California Preservation Foundation. Hess has taught at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (Sci-Arc) and UCLA.

The lecture starts at 6 p.m. and tickets are $8 for Heritage and DOCOMOMO members, and $12 for the general public.

Have you toured the Haas-Lilienthal House? If not, or if it has been several years, join us this Sunday for a fun day of free tours for our neighbors and new friends! The house is turning 125 years-old and we want you to celebrate with us. The purpose of the free ($8 value) community day is to introduce locals to the San Francisco icon in their own backyard. Many people regularly pass by the Queen Anne residence, yet most have never explored its original and luxuriant interior. Let Heritage docents guide you and your family and friends on a tour of the city’s only Victorian interior open to the public.

No reservation are required, just stop by between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. All ages are welcome!