San Francisco Architectural Heritage
Advisory/Information

3/16/09

Dear Heritage members: please see attached from Joe Butler, AIA, who is well versed in the evaluation and treatment of historic properties. Joe’s particular passion is the preservation of small houses. Heritage supports both the preservation of vernacular buildings such as the one at 1268-70 Lombard Street, as well as proper stewardship of property, both for historic preservation and for public health and safety reasons. See below from Joe Butler regarding 1268 Lombard St.

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An acknowledged historic resource, 1268-70 Lombard Street is being picked apart, even as the demolition permits are not yet in order. This building was the subject of a demolition permit application a decade ago, which Planning denied the owner, the building was too important to be demolished. The Molinari family then sold the building in November 2007 to Mike Cassady and James Nunemacher, who according to the Chronicle is the CEO of Vanguard Properties.

So having fought and lost the battle to demolish the building what was left to do? The Cassadys have left open a building permit to make dry rot repairs, in Dec 07 the Planning Department stopped a piecemeal dissassembly in process, and since then the owners have simply left the building open to the elements, rain and vagrants. The SFFD came to the building after neighbor complaints, and said there was evidence of a squatter.

Two to three weeks ago, a crew showed up to pump water through the building. Thought of as odd by one of the neighbors, it was during a rainy period, but it wasnot raining that day. The water was gushing out of the back of the building, on the floor level which experienced the collapse. Then a week ago Wednesday, a lower floor framing collapsed. Thus the "emergency" order, where no emergency occurred.

Call 311 tell the mayor to have Vivian Day Stay her emergency order. NOW