Transcripts For SFGTV Historic Preservation Commission 31616 20160320

Open up for Public Comment and so this that there is any members of the public to speak prelim come up to the podium any Public Comment . Is item one finks for projects requirements all right. Seeing none, Public Comment is closed supervisor wiener. Id like to move we continue this itthor madam cler item two. To public works provide the public assess to the roads and trails the water shed trail supervisor wiener is the author and my understanding supervisor avalos is sick today asked this matter be continued to our april 4th meeting i wanted to check in with supervisor wiener with any remarks. No. No remarks lets go ahead and move to Public Comment. Anyone from the public wish to comment on item 2 sir, i think this is what youre interested in. If this is going to be postponed until april 4th maybe ill speak at that time. All right. Anyone from the public wish to comment on item number 2 okay Public Comment is closed. At this time thank you very much supervisor wiener. Yeah. I know that supervisor avalos requested april april 4th. Right. Ive not spoken and today i dont know if this is a possibility to do that on april 11th instead of april 4th. I dont know the answer to that question madam clerk. Ill suggest to the call of the chair. We will continue to the call of the chair and check with supervisor avalos is there a motion for that to continue to the call of the chair motion carries madam clerk, is there any additional business to come before this body . No madam clerk, any other business before this committee . Mshz . No. Thank you very much this meeting is n francisco Historic Preservation Commission Regular hearing for wednesday march 16, 2016. I would like to remind members of the public that the commission does not tolerate disruption or out birches of any kind. Please silence all cell phones that may go off and when speaking to the commission please state your name for the record. I will take roll. Commission president president. Here. Commissioner high land. Yes. Commissioner hasz. Yes. Commissioner johns. Here. Commissioner matsuda. Here. We expect commissioner johnck to be absent today. First is general public and can address members of the commission on items not on the agenda and you can address the commission for up three minutes. Does any member of the public wish to make a non agenda comment. Seeing none we will close Public Comment. Thank you commissioner. They will place us under department matters. Item 1 directors announcements. Good afternoon commissioners. Tim Frye Department staff. The report is in the packets and i am happy to answer any questions should you have them. Commissioner matsuda. I just had one question about the Upcoming Event on april 6, the Mission Action plan. Youre going to be discussing supporting local businesses. Will we have anything available about legacy businesses that you could share by then . Thats a great question. I will check with the organizers of the event and if there is anything that we can include. We may be able to include maps or information from San Francisco Architectural Heritage about their program. And maybe create a list about legacy businesses. Sure. Thats a great question. If there is nothing further we can move on to item two, review of the past events at the Planning Commission and staff report and announcements. Good afternoon tim frye. No formal report for you regarding the recent events of the Planning Commission but i have a few things to share with you. One is that the Planning Department hosted a table at the San Francisco history days at the old mint last week on march 5 and six. We answered general questions regarding the departments Preservation Program and Property Information and we did have a map posted where members of the public could write down landmarks they think should be designated in the future and we compiled the list and will share during the next Quarterly Report. Second is the department began the Public Outreach portion of the neighborhood commercial store front survey effort. The survey and historic statement will be in front of you in june. On tuesday march 8 from six to 8 00 p. M. We held a Community Meeting in russian hill and well attended and after a short presentation we broke out into discussion groups at tables, a lot of positive feedback about the survey results and we are conducting three more Community Events and along with four walking tours of neighborhood commercial districts in those areas. We did have a walking tour the hyde and polk street on march 12 but canceled due to rain so were going to reschedule that later this year before the hpc renders a vote on the survey. We also had ask a planner event scheduled at a local coffee shop which we will also reschedule so members of the public can ask questions about the code or the survey. The last item i wanted to share with you is something that was published this morning that you may have heard about. It appears that supervisor campos and peskin have cosponsored legislation to add about 350,000 into the Preservation Fund for legacy businesses in advance of it becoming active in july. This money could largely if passed could largely be used to fund a staff member for the small office of Small Business. But two, provide rent subsidies for businesses that qualify as legacy businesses. According to the article it appears that the office of Small Business has about ten working applications right now. I dont believe any of those are complete yet because they havent been forwarded to our office, but i will reach out to regina and find out the status of those and certainly keep you posted about the funding and how through the board of supervisors. It appears it will go to the budget and finance committee fairly soon and that concludes my report unless you have any questions. Thank you. Thank you. Seeing no questions commissioners that places us on please call the next item item 3 reports and announcements. The only announcement i have is i plan to handy on behalf of the commission on the hearing of the rec and Park Commission tomorrow to speak about our comments that we made about the mothers [inaudible] seeing no other items commissioners item 4 consideration of Adoption Draft minutes for the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission Regular hearing of march 2, 2016. I would request that we continue the draft minutes for the Architecture Review Committee for march 2, 2016 as a comment letter wasnt prepared to be included as part of the minutes so if we could continue that to the next hearing of april 6 i would appreciate that. Commissioners any questions on the minutes for the regular hearing on march 2 . Does any member of the public wish to comment on the minutes of march 2, 2016 . Seeing and hearing none we will close Public Comment and do i have a motion to adopt the minutes for the regular hearing and continue the hearing. So moved. Thank you commissioners on that motion to adopt the regular minutes for march 2, 2016 and continue the Architecture Review Commission meeting for daw two. Commissioner hasz. Yes. Commissioner matsuda. Yes. Ionin. Yes. Commissioner wolfram. Yes. That passes 60 and places you on commission five for commission comments and questions. Commissioner johns. The Current Issue of the magazine published by the San Francisco Historical Society has part two of jim haus history of the civic center so those that would like a detailed presentation on that subject i recommend it highly. Thank you. I have a request of planning staff. I understand that the new Mission Theater has been denied their one of the city landmarks we approved certificate of appropriateness has been denied and the tax credit application was denied and i believe there is an appeal and maybe at the next hearing agendize this item to write a support letter for the appeal. Certainly. Just in preparation the department has generally drafted a letter for the commissions review. Would you like us to draft a letter and edit and talk about at the hearing . Yes that makes sense. Okay. Are there any other items . Maybe we should report to the members of the public that we are continuing item 9, the integrate landmark. Is that correct . Item 10, the last item, item 10. We dont have a excuse me, a continuance calendar so we should take it up well, we could take it out of order but we received a request for continuance of 6a and b as well. Okay. We can do 6a and b because its first and then take so item 10 we dont have we dont have a continuance calendar but we can take it out of order. Lets take it out of order and if there is public here they dont have to wait. Sure. If there is nothing further under commission matters we can move to the regular calendar. We will take item 10 out of order as you heard. For 2015007219des and the Ingleside Presbyterian Church and the integrate for landmark designation and greater cloud of witnesses for landmark designation. Any Public Comment on this item . Does anyone want to speak to the continuance of the motion . Seeing none i do have a motion. I move to continue it. Thank you which are approximate commissioners. On that item 10 to continue to that date. Commissioner. Yes. Commissioner. Yes. Commissioner. Yes. Commissioner. Yes. Commissioner yes. President wolfram. Yes. That moves 60 and on 6a and b for 2015000308coa at 38 liberty street certificate of appropriateness and 2015000308var at the same address requests for a variance. Commissioners i do have several speaker cards but we received a request from the project sponsor to continue the matter to april 20 i believe to investigate further an issue on the site and staff as far as i know is in support of that continuance, so you could elect to hear the matter, accept public testimony, or take up the matter of continuance only. Thank you. Commissioners should we any thoughts about this . I think if people have come we should hear them and then vote whether we want to continue or not. Okay. We will hear the item and then the continuance at this point. Good afternoon commissioners. I am from the Department Staff. This project is a cert for 38 liberty street as a potential contractor to the libertyhill district and for a singlecar garage and the primary facade based on the historic photograph and Additional Information from the libertyhill Historic District and construction of a threestory rear horizontal addition include side facade altercations. The department has reviewed the project and has found the project to be compliant with the article 10 and the secretary of the interior standards in the staff report. The department has received correspond ons of the project primarily removal of air street tree as well as facade alterations as well as the removal of the on street parking. In addition the department has received comments on the variance regarding the rear yard var rar and the extension into the rear yard. The department is working with the sponsor for the past couple months to make sure that the restoration is appropriate to the libertyhill district. We have a historic photograph of the exterior of the original residence and victorian in nature and the sponsor has worked towards restoring that piece of the facade or the entire facade back to the victorian character which is characteristic of the surrounding landmark district. We have included conditions of approval and to look at the landscape plan and the sidewalk, to examine the details in more detail as well as provide for Additional Information once the selected demo occurs on the exterior. Currently the exterior facade has a stucco, covered in stucco and Mission Revival feel and it would remove that detailing in past projects we seen scarring and things and might better inform the trim on the exterior so this concludes my presentation. The upon project sponsor is not present so if you have questions i am available. Thank you. Questions commissioners . So at this time we will take Public Comment on this item. I have several speaker cards so if you could please come forward when your name is called. You will have three minutes and there will be a warning bell 30 seconds before the time sup. Jeffrey gainer. Lets see. Can i get that too . Yeah. When you start speaking they will put it on. Okay great. My name is jeffrey gainer and live on liberty street and down two doors. I contacted rich to get a copy of the submitted plans and found that in the plans everything on the site plan was accurate except for the location of the tree, and the size of the tree. What the applicant submitted was 11 times smaller than what is actually out there. In black here theres the tree and the sidewalk cut out that was submitted and going out and measuring on site i find that the actual tree and sidewalk cut out are about area wise 11 times larger than that. You can see where in black hes drawn in a curb cut for the driveway. That would go through where the tree actually stands. You can see marked in white on site is the location of the tree that he submitted on the plans, and the actual tree of course is there off center and much larger than hes portraying. I think that if he were to offset the driveway a bit it might be possible to create a driveway between the trees and only taking about 15 inches out of each sidewalk cut out, that major tree and the tree uphill from it, but that still even so may cut through the roots. The roots are some major roots are right there on the surface and the sidewalk itself. The driveway of course would be 4 inches of concrete on top of 4 inches of crushed gravel and that would certainly cut into the tree roots. Sue yee wrote back when i informed her of this our inspector has inspected the tree and will deny the remule af of tree if an application is submitted. I request that dpw notify the planner that the sponsor should file an application for assessing the trees thickness, and chris altman of Trees Company said on the phone the tree is alive and healthy and cutting in the way they want to would kill it or cause it to fall over. Thank you. Joseph. Hello. So the proposed i actually wanted to point out here on his Architecture Design you see here on the drawing hes got an adjacent window here sir, im sorry to interpret interrupt you and please speak into the mic. The upstairs window has an adjacent window here. On the design there is no window here and two other windows on my building here. The proposal is actually build a bathroom adjacent from the upstairs bedroom which would eliminate privacy. I dont know if the owner has claimed it would be an opaque window and what capacity and if it would open. We worked with the owner and last time we were in correspondence with him was december 29 and we informed him and objected to the entire third floor and shared information about his health and concluded and said we could reject and appealed all we wanted and he intended to build the biggest house he could. We thought about the third story and considered part of it. My home actually faces the all the light from the bottom story and the second story would now face a wall and not have any light exposure as well as hes proposing to build two windows that would directly face into my home now. We lived on the property for 30 years and he plans hes made it clear he plans on flipping the property and reselling it for the most square foot annual possible. Thank you. Thank you. Brent hatcher. Brent hatcher. I live on liberty street right across the street. Me and my partner lived there since 1996. I am in opposition to the project primarily because the developer is deceptive and dishonest with the drawings that you can see and im not sure he is going to follow through in an appropriate way to do right by the neighborhood, by the trees, by the neighborhood by the neighbors so im in opposition, and i would really like to see a massing study. Im not overtly opposed to this size of this project. I do think its over scaled but i do think we need to see a massing study and i am surprised we havent seen one until now for the scale of the project. The last thing i would like to say is i find it odd were basing a Historic Restoration on the photograph. My my estimation its 18 inches or 2 feet of the facade. The photograph is of joeys house and this much of the photograph is the subject property so that concerns me a little as well that we would recreate an entire facade based on 2 feet and if were doing that and were adding the garage and raising the house it doesnt seem historic to me. Thank you. Thank you. Ozzie o dlm room. Good afternoon. I am from [inaudible] neighborhood organization. We also oppose this project based on three issues. Issue number one is misleading drawings and wrong measurements that obscure the fact there is a tree on site that will have to be removed. My question is why is it that these wrong drawings and measurements have not been caught before . And i understand its not in the purview of the Planning Department to worry about the trees and within the dpws jurisdiction. However if a developer or project sponsor is submitting plans that are incorrect and misleading that should be the responsible of the Planning Department to verify that. Clearly in this case the drawings are misleading and should be verified before the department have issued the support of the project. Secondly, third floor vertical addition in a Historic District should require a 3d version and i seen the San Francisco Historic Preservation commission does that routinely with houses deemed Historic Resources and this is a Historic District so at least the project sponsor should have done was to provide visibility studies so the third floor addition would not be visible from the public rightofway. Third, we oppose the variance for building so far into the lots. This house granted is flanked by a couple of houses that are really big, however there is a strong pattern of [inaudible] on that block of liberty and it should be preserved. Plus to build a house this far into the rear yard and keep it within the standard planning code will be large enough. Why do we have to keep going beyond for gaining a few square feet there and here for profit. I really urge you to please oppose this variance and do not grant it. It is very important that we should not set precedent to take away more of our precious midblock open space and thats it. Soo and thank you for taking our comments. Thank you. Does any other member of the public wish to comment on the item . Seeing none. Public comment is now closed and bring it back to the commission. Commissioners. I just have a question for planning staff about the 3d representations. I know from my work every project now days is wired and i would think and specifically what the speaker brought up about you know in a Historic District. Have there been any studies like that . We received an early study of a 3d model of the project on a much earlier version and havent received any updates subsequently so its not a strict requirement to include it as part of their work but we highly encourage it. Im sorry. One of the comments i got from commissioner moore from the Planning Commission is anything that came in front of them was pretty Much Required to have some better presentation so i am just wondering if we can request of the project sponsor if it comes back for a continue when its continued. That would be great. Most definitely. And i have a question for you which wasnt clear in the write up. Is it the house being raised up . As far as i know no. I noticed on the sections for example on the existing says 36 and the new says 34 feet. I will get additional clarity on that well. And the Cross Section s and the existing and new and seems taller than now and i am curious about that, and then also it would probably be helpful if the commission has a better understanding of the grounds for the request of the rear yard variance. That wasnt exactly clear why the project should get that. So is that something that i mean and the massing of the building i think it would be helpful. I am curious from a process standpoint about the variance. Tim frye and this is the first joint hearing and the Zoning Administrator was going to be present if the item wasnt continued and he will speak to that at the next hearing. Okay. Well, then i move that we continue this to some date that is convenient for everyone so we can have the Zoning Administrator here and we can have some additional work done by staff, and so that the proponent can advise us. April 20 was the suggested date. Do you have a comment . Yes. Should we hear the variance first on a stand alone . Because this is our first one; right . We cant . Well no, what i am saying Going Forward the project is going to change if they dont have the singlecar garage. I dont think they can get the variance with that. I think the Zoning Administrators intent is get cues from the San Francisco Historic Preservation commission and which direction youre leaning toward prior to making his decision. Certainly they are completely separate decisions to be made and had but i think that is why the Zoning Administrator likes to have a joint hearing to consolidate the public process for the members of the public and hearing from you as well as the Planning Commission when that occurs. You could get input from him . You could certainly ask questions and its a joint hearing and hearing testimony regarding the variance and clarity and which way he is leaning. The two items are heard together. Thats right. I think we had commissioner hyland. One question for you. In your staff report you asked that the original wood siding which maying underneath the stucco be restored. Have we done that before . We have. Weve had a couple other projects in libertyhill and added a similar condition and we found oftentimes the stucco is layered on top of the original wood siding and in a lot of instances the wood siding is good shape and original redwood so were able to restore it and often yields the scar marks and other things that lend itself to the trim. Incidentally i received an additional historic photograph from a member of the public showing more of the exterior facade which i will include for next time as well. Thank you. The one thing i would note april 20 is the California Preservation Foundation conference in San Francisco so i dont know if that will factor into your deliberations or not. Or dear. [inaudible] well, i dont know that we will all be there. Its a three Day Conference so i assume were having a conference unless full agenda. We have a full agenda. On april 20 its just the one item you continued today. And witnesses. If you elected you could cancel the meeting and reopen item 10 and continue that out further. Sounds to me thats what we should probably do. Commissioners, are soy to interject. Tim Frye Department staff. There are time sensitive projects that will be on that agenda including the liz installation in civic center they is reviewed recently is seeking the cfa on that date. April dwent . Correct. I can be be here. I guess were taking a break and we will be here. I think we will be here and step away from the conference and its in San Francisco so we will continue to that. So i have a motion to continue and did we have a second . We didnt receive a second. Second. Thank you on that motion to continue item 6a to april 20 commissioner hasz. Yes. Commissioner johns. Yes. Commissioner matsuda. Yes. Commissioner pearlman. Yes. Commissioner hyland. Yes. And president wolfram. Yes. So moved that passes unanimously 60. Acting Zoning Administrator. Before we go on did i hear you say 6a because i was intending thats right but you actually dont continue 6b because its the variance portion of the hearing so the Zoning Administrator has basically bestowed upon tim frye the acting Zoning Administrator and so the acting Zoning Administrator would say on behalf of the Zoning Administrator as acting Zoning Administrator i also continue the request for variance to the april 20 hpc hearing. Thank you. Commissioners that will place you have item 7 for case 2015008685des. The woodward street Historic District. This is consideration of a Community Sponsored art ten landmark district application. Good afternoon commissioners. Shannon Ferguson Department staff. The case before you today is the Community Sponsored landmark application for woodward street Historic District. In october 2014 the department was contacted residents of woodward street street about the possibility of obtaining sig woodward street and romeo flats and staff prepared comments on two drafted shitted in june 2015. Based on the suggestions from staff the attached report landmark designation report was submitted in december 2015 and the department received several letters of support from designation for support from the community. Woodward street romeo flats Historic District was first documented by the Planning Department in april 2011 as part of the inner Mission North Historic Resources survey. Much of the text and the landmark designation report is from the record prepared at the time. The report also reprises this boundary map of the district and a table of contributors and additional table based on the permit research. The woodward street Historic District is residential enclave of classical revival following the earthquake and fire. In addition to the association for post 1906 reconstruction the district has a clustering of romeo flats. The bottom row of photos shows a cluster of five romeo flats on the west side of woodward street and top and middle foes show the prevailing number of conventional flats towards the northern end. The other photos show non contributing buildings. The photos on this side on the west side of woodward street show conventional flats. On the top right, bottom right and bottom left are three romeo flats. Bottom center shows the two non contributing buildings on the street and overall the non contributing buildings on both sides of woodward street are intrusive to the overawe cohesion and the level of integrity of materials is good and window replacement the commonly noted alteration. It appears that survey data was properly collected and analyzed in the woodward street reconstruction Historic District record for the purposes of ceqa. However staff determined that the buildings might not warrant article 10 landmark designation and based on the type of romeo flats which can be found across the city including on near by stevenson street but this work is beyond the scope of this application. Currently the landmark Designation Program prioritizing landmarking of under represented property types and landscapes, modern buildings, under represented neighborhoods and buildings with strong cultural associations. The Historic District is composed of post 1906 earthquake construction and not represented by any landmark districts currently. It doesnt contain any modern style buildings. The area around is well represented by existing landmarks with three near by and none of the buildings within the proposed district have specific historical or cultural or ethnic associations. However the Research Indicates they were originally occupied by working class families, first generation california families to immigrant parents rcht the Department Seeks input from the commission as whether a final application should or not be requested or whether or not the proposed landmark district warrants this to the program. The San Francisco Historic Preservation commission may add or not add woodward street to the landmark Designation Program. Whether concurrently or separately ask staff for Additional Information. This concludes my presentation and happy to answer any questions and he is here to also answer questions for you. Any questions for ms. Ferguson . I have one question. In the report you alluded to another area close by on stevenson that had a significant area of romeo flats . It three on that street. Just on that street. So there are different areas of the city that have clusters of romeo flats. And could you perhaps remind the commission if we were add this to the Landmark Program or if we go to the next step what is the process for a district and its been a while since we have done a district . Mr. Frye perhaps you can speak to that deputy Zoning Administrator. Commissioners, tim Frye Department staff. The first step in the process would be working with the project sponsor to develop a fleshed out landmark designation report. At the time we will continue engaging the members, Property Owners and tenants within the district about the responsibilities and requirements of living and owning in a landmark district. After that we would bring it here for consensus. If the commission, hpc at that time forwards a positive recommendation for designation then we bring it to the Planning Commission for review and comment and then back to this commission for a final recommendation and the board of supervisors and then the board of supervisors would vote on it so landmark districts are the only designation that requires review and comment by the Planning Commission, so thats the one extra step that is included in this process. And the approval by Property Owners which was discussed in the article tended that . Did didnt pass. Commissioner johns. Thank you. Mr. Frye it seems to me this has been before us in some form once before. Do you remember a few years ago . What was that . Were there several districts i remember walking through this and noting the buildings. For the inner Mission North survey we did the survey has the same document in it with the district. I would say the inner Mission North survey or the Delores Mission Neighborhood Survey which is also nearby. I think it was the inner Mission North survey. You would have seen the same document as part of that. Well, thank you. It seems to me from going back to the time that it was before us before and looking at this i was impressed then that i thought this was a nice little enclave and because there is a lot of course there are a couple intrusive elements but nevertheless you get the feeling and it probably looks better now from when it was built and there are trees and so forth but i thought this the little neighborhood, little preserved pocket that warrants some protection, and there maybe better buildings elsewhere but this is a nice place where you get feeling for a whole street, and thats what it is as i recall. Its just one block, and its a little isolated which maybe why its preserved so i would be in favor of Going Forward with a landmark. So why dont we mr. Frye i was going to suggest that we hear mr. Sure and bring it back to the commission. [inaudible] no its fine. Mr. Frye were you going to make okay. Mr. Suhr you could come forward. Hi. And as the project sponsor you have ten minutes. Yes, probably less. Okay. Less is fine. Thank you commissioners for your time. So having cobbled together a designation report i cobbled together a presentation for you, so what we see here i guess you cant see there it is. How do i broadcast this . Its up there. Good. This is mardi gras procession going through woodward street. Wouldnt it be nice if it were like this every day, a quiet pedestrian corridor with its anchors at mc cup and the armory at another. That would be sweet. [inaudible] off mic so yeah there is a little bit of a historical association. I wont bore you too much but on the left we see monumental figure, john c fremont. Very important figure in california history. He was also a guy way ahead of his time in a few regards. He got rich by accident. He had the property his Little Country retreat if you believe that because he was away fighting mexican war and he asked his buddy to please buy some land for him when he got back and wanted land on the bay but his buddy instead bought him some dry farmland in Mariposa County and turned out that fremont showed up with people from mexico and guess what . Gold and got rich by accident and became a u. S. Senator. At the time he was in washington so he sold the land to mr. Woodward and not to bore you with his life but he was ahead of his time and issued the emancipation proclamation with lincoln and he did that early and lincoln fired him and became a tech investor and unfortunately went through the tech disaster and died poor. Then we have mr. Woodward that started off poor and died rich and set up a shop with goods near the embarcadero. Set up i believe the citys first inaudible hotel and bought fremonts land as i mentioned, built the mansion and everything and when woodward retired in napa he opened up his land to the public as woodwards gardens of course but time doesnt permit. Here however unless see a picture of the gardens on the heyday. On the extreme left of the picture the land rises. This is the end of the dune field which occupied San Francisco and built the structure on the pavilion and the last of the dunes where stephens street is now. You can see on the street mr. Woodwards horse tram line to bring the public to the gardens. On the right you can see a addition to woodward street. Its a mural. My son is appearing very soon in a Reality Tv Show so everyone on the show is a van and going down woodward street and this lady said stop the van i want to look at that mural and if you look closely at it you might just make out a couple things. Those are monkeys that beloved poet robert frost mentioned in his poem at woodwards gardens. Yes robert frost grew up in San Francisco, and this is a good example. By the way before i go on as to the usage of non contributing buildings and some potential to have for future non contributing buildings including maybe the dreaded condos. There could be signage there and placards. I did forget to mention from contemporary history and talking about the historical figures. San franciscos iconic tamale lady that prevent the hunger for many people late at night lives on woodward street. All right. You already saw the proposed district and here of course is a view of woodward street looking up toward the armory which might give you a feeling what with the trees and the recent landscaping, more landscaping, of the feeling of calm and tranquility that you experience the moment you step off of duboce avenue and on to woodward street and the more calmer it gets, so i think something i want to preserve. Weve got my experience the biggest conclusiver of romeo flats going and this scarce commodity because as you know around the First World War the folks in the Commonwealth Club were talking how the folks in romeo flats were the cause of tuberculosis and changing the code and meant no more romeo flats after that. We have a low density streetscape. This is nice. You see people out on the sidewalks having barbeques. We have diversity worth preserving. People are chatting and interchangeably in english and spanish. Its nice. People hang together and its cohesive. As you will see in the slides and compare woodward street with nearby and smaller enclaves this is much more cohesive. Although yeah sure there are some warehouses there. Theres three story condo going up, but it could be much, much worse and with your help it will not get much, much worse. Lets look at some contrasting clusters of romeo flats. Hes one, two, three romeo flats in a row on 23rd street. Near 23rd and harrison and what do we see . We see modern building to the left and across the street. High traffic. Its got an entire different vibe to it. Lets look at o tis street. I am sure youre familiar with that street. Heres a nice romeo flats on the left, a perfect floor with balconies on the right and modern non contributing squarish building. It has its own charm but a cluster of a different sort so heres stevenson street and see in the pictures some really nice and well restored romeo flats, arguably better maintained than some of the ones on woodward street but if we designate woodward street its an incentive for people to improve their property so why not . So on stevenson street you see the hodgepodge effect where there is something in the present landmarking lets say right next to something new and arguably [inaudible]. More of the streetscape on stevenson street there is the faux brick paving that we could have sort of woodward street but you have intuitive element of the freeway, not pretty, and then of course to the right no skate boarding allowed close to the skate boarding park and all of these modern flats so lacking cohesive and three or four nice romeo flats on the street with pretty stain glass. Worth the detour so what we have going for us on woodward street is special but bee can make it more special if we protect the buildings, add signage. None of this costs a whole bunch. Its good for rental buildings where people with rent control could be improved anyhow to improve the Property Value if for no other reason to change the windows. I know i acquired a sliver on woodward street of a romeo flats before i moved in i made them change the windows because the city had a lien on it. Change the windows. Ms. Camacho got free rent out of that deal and the windows are better and progressively added arksz mennities, nothing expensive or painful. You have a lot of community support. Im not the only person and from the letters and text and in spanish and they wish to send you more but theyre working two jobs so lets do it. Thank you very much. At this time we will take Public Comment on this item . Does any member of the public wish to speak about the potential landmark designation . Come forward to the mic and you will have three minutes and there is a warning buzzer at 30 seconds before the time is up. I am Sandra Camacho and lived on woodward street for five years. I love our street. It has a homie neighborhood feeling to it. Not all the buildings are romeo flats, not all the buildings are period 1906, 1908 but just a few that are modern so the street really has a nice historic feeling to it and weve improved the landscaping quite a bit. We have trees lining the treat. We have a lot of potted plants lining the street. The neighbors came together to improve the street. They installed a mural. We take care of the plants and i really think the street would be benefited from being projected and give the landlords that dont currently maintain their buildings in the way they could an incentive to improve them and be benefit for everyone who lives on the street and for the whole city really. It could be a beautiful street. It really could be. Thank you. Thank you. Does any other member ever the public wish to speak to this item . If so please come forward. Seeing none. Public comment is now closed and bring it back to the commission. Commissioners. Commissioner hasz. Thank you. About 20 plus years ago my office was on woodward street and it was a disaster back then. Massive drug dealing and a mess and the neighborhood has done a phenomenal job of changing that block. I know thats not a part of this but im going to support the neighbors on this but i do think this is a very unique block and the density of these type of buildings and the setting of it so i am definitely in support. Mr. Frye. Commissioners tim Frye Department staff just a couple comments to consider during your deliberation to provide some clarity around a couple points. One is the department certainly agrees that woodward street is an eligible district for the california register. We dont want to diminish the value of it being appropriate street and identified in the market octavia plan for the purposes of ceqa and meeting the criteria for eligibility. One of the things that the struggles for the department other than the demand and list of priorities we didnt have a lot to go on whether or not we felt this rose to the level that it would warrant local landmark designation but there could be a case made. The one thing that interests me in the discussions about the romeo flats and another period buildings within the immediate vicinity if the commission is leaning to do more work, instructing us to work more with the applicant and look at a broader district in the immediate area to pick up some of the other buildings that are from the same period of significance. At the end of the day we might not end up with the buildings as part of a larger district but its something to consider. Theyre nice romeo flats on stevenson street and other side streets where we could offer protection under the same thematic district with this designation as well. Thank you. Commissioner matsuda. I am definitely wouldnt be opposed to that. Thank you for the passionate presentation. It was great and i wanted to see if we proceed ahead about somehow incorporating a plaque or something to remember the woodward gardens. It says its part of a state historical landmark and include that when and if this moves forward. Commissioner pearlman. Commissioner johns. Yeah, you are. I department to follow up with mr. Frye about the question could this be is there a district potential in this area that this would be part of so it might be part of a bigger district . Or i know that in like west soma on the alley streets theyre the small residential buildings there that got noted in the contact statement, and therefore are Historic Resources and have some level of protection. If it could be the same kind of thing and this already has some level of protection because of inner mission context. Thats correct commissioner. For the purposes of ceqa this is a category a district so it does have protection for the purposes of seek eek however not all of the prosections in article 10 designation would provide, but to your point we do think while we havent thoroughly studied it and because we specifically looked at the Development Patterns here as being the boundary justification for the development of the woodward gardens area and this cluster of romeo flats there was certainly a lot of rebuilding happening in this area after the earthquake and fire and its worth some study if it helps sort of raise this district a lot bit in our eyes as being worthy of article 10 designation. Again theres a lot of side streets like you mentioned that we could look at. Right, and we could have a non contiguous district. We have that already. Yeah, this Commission Approved that in the midmarket area. So that might be a more appropriate area to create the protections theyre looking for as well as incorporate more of the same. Commissioner hyland. Yeah, i think theres a couple of issues. I think the primary issue two primary issues is the amount of time and priority that this designation should be given over our other landmark projects, listed on the Landmark Program, and that this isnt no one is denying this is a special enclave so that needs to be acknowledged. I am wondering and the question for mr. Frye could we designate this as the district now and then as we gain more information expand the district . That would then allow these properties to take advantage of the mills act. At this point the action would be to direct staff to continue working with the applicant and file a formal application. Right now weve just been providing Technical Assistance and support. If this commission felt this should move forward a formal application would be filed and ultimately the commission would initiate if they felt it was warranting article 10 designation. Any future expansion would require an amendment to that ordinance and approval by the board of supervisors, so it would be a fairly process heavy issue to do that over and over again which is why were suggesting maybe giving us more time to look at a broader area. Again looking at the broader area it might not yield as much as we think it is so maybe a conservative route would be just look at these boundaries here. From the inner Mission North survey we have good information about the area. Absolutely. All right. Yeah. I think were the challenge for us is how much resource can we put towards designations . We have said in the past and i support fully the Community Supported designations but were finding those take just as much time and effort as any designation, so this one in particular has no community opposition, so thats interesting where the triangle had a long process with a divided neighborhood. I am in support of it. I would like to encourage further study and figure out how best to navigate it and at least you know in the most efficient way. Commissioner johns. Well, you know it would be very helpful if we had some of the other people who live on woodward street if they were here supporting this. If we had some of the owners of the buildings who may realize some benefits from protection under article 10. If some of them voiced some support for this. If we had that then we would also have a group of people who might be enthusiastic about providing Additional Information, documentation and support for moving forward so what i would like to really see if you could get some of your friends and neighbors involved in this, so they could be a Real Community based effort. Yes, actually we could open Public Comment again. Yes, so you could come forward. We have a Neighborhood Group that has pet pretty much everyone living on the street and were always in communication and about five of the people were planning on coming but i think its because in the middle of the day and they work. We did receive a number we received emails from others on the block that were supportive. Theyre all support. Its just the time of the day they couldnt make it. Okay thank you very much. I think what were up against is that as we juggle our priorities on the landmark Designation Program what areas does staff focus on . I am in support of adding or currentlying the applicants to continue this but as we get further into prioritizing the landmarks we want to initiate you know have to be cognizant of how much time this takes. Yeah, i would second that in that im supportive of this the idea of this district and i am very pleased that the neighborhood has come forward and i agree its a special place, and its worthy. I think the question is whether we what i guess i dont want to say its now first on the list because we have other things we have been putting off and i wonder whether we consider adding it to the list and not ranking it yet until the next hearing about our prioritization of the program, so we know its on the list and we have to figure out the timing of it of. Hawses hawses. Can the community do that and run it through the building [inaudible] proposal [inaudible] yeah. Commissioner hyland. Actually i think thats the question mr. Hawses is effort effort does the Community Based nominations maybe staff could come back with an evaluation of that. My feel and understanding it takes as much time, pretty close. Yeah. As i recall our program does not does it have any districts in it at all right now . Tim Frye Department staff. At this time it does not. However one of the summer intern projects is begin collecting data on the rousseau district which is the buildings in the sunset by the architect Henry Rousseau and something we were going to bring in summer for the continuation of the work program. So commissioners any thoughts about adding to the program but not well, i will say we have this discussion frequently, and as you know i do not believe that if everything is a priority anything is a priority, so we have in the past identified a ranking of our projects, and i think that given the state of this one i would be very happy with adding it to the list, not adding it to the top of the list but adding to the bottom of the list so these things move up in some order with appropriate exceptions being made, but i think that we have to start somewhere, and so i would very much like to start. I would move that we add to the landmark Designation Program and then bee study well, i would add to landmark Designation Program. I second that. Okay. Is this an informational item . Do we have a motion . I thought there was. Is there a motion for it or there is no formal motion to adopt. Its a recommendation. Its a recommendation to staff just to provide direction and then we will work with the project sponsor to file a formal application. We will add it to the work program and we can discuss it during the Quarterly Report which is here in a month or so and talk about the timing of when it would come back for initiation. Okay. We should definitely explore the larger context. Great. And i had one question just about a particular property, the parking lot on the southwest corner. Is there a Development Planned for that . We can look into that. Im not sure. Would it be unusual i mean i guess my concern is if theres a threat to the district its that parcel and whether we might consider including that parcel in the district or not. To provide some sort of design guideline. Right. And thats the entry to the whole street and if that is a really incompatible structure and for the purposes of ceqa the impact of the district and outside of the california register district would that be considered . Ceqa doeses consideration to adjacent resources so it would be likely studied but i dont know the level of Environmental Review is required without seeing the project. Okay. I think we might want to consider move forward with the district whether we include that parcel within the district. We can show both options. So i think you have direction from the commission. I am hearing a unanimous sense here so we did move forward with the next item. Thank you. Thank you to the members of the public for coming today. Thank you commissioners. That places us have case four for onondaga avenue. I am here to present the landmark designation on onondaga avenue and known as the alemany Emergency Hospital and health center. Following the sponsor designation application it is buildings were adding to the landmark designation work program on may 2015. At the february hearing the commission initiated designation of the buildings and to defining features to include the sky light and the relationship to the space below. The community is very supportive of landmark designation and supervisor avalos intends to sponsor the legislation. Department supports this as a article 10 landmark. The draft resolution recommending designation to the board of supervisors is included in the packet. If approved department the department will approved today the department will forward this to the board of supervisors and the applicants are here to answer questions and i can answer questions. This is not about the landmark designation but for the city and its deemed Surplus Property and what is the process that the property is sold . Is there an rfp process and whats the process . Commissioners tim Frye Department staff. It was Surplus Property but from the department of real estate and request of the community and supervisor avalos the property will be remained as a city property. Mr. Rothman is in the audience and may have more about a recent hearing he attended that discussed obtaining some additional money for the building but its my understanding that it will do that. Okay thank you. Commissioners any questions before Public Comment . At this time we will take Public Comment on the landmark recommendation for 3445 onondaga avenue. If you have comment please come forward. You have three minutes and there is a warning buzzer at 30 seconds. Commissioners thank you. I dont think it will take three minutes. My name is david hooper and i spoke to you regarding this issue. There is support for returning the buildings to public service, not just serving the structures but doing that for the community. At the same time earlier there was a request for a supplemental budget request for the Geneva Office building and 3045. Those efforts continue to get the money. Theyre not secured but i would like to say there is support and what the Emergency Hospitals mean historically and what they meant to past generations. There is a gap because they havent been used effectively but with the streetscape there are four islands and they call them pork chops and one of the plans for the department of public works is provide Better Safety Pedestrian Access at this intersection at onondaga avenue and alemany to be in the configuration and no more of the quick right turns. This gives an opportunity to have a plaz there at the club in the area and the high schools and at Mission Street and its a major opportunity. Thank you for considering it. Thank you. Mr. Rothman please come forward. Were always happy to see you. Richard rothman seems like i have been at every meeting in the last couple of months. I am supporting the landmark designation. Now, i was at the engage hearing and they did Budget Hearing and sent without recommendation the funding for the geneva car barn but they left unsettled about onondaga. Supervisor avalos wanted to leave it on by the call of the chair but im not sure what happened because i will have to find out, but money wasnt appropriated to move forward for the building, but i got an email, was copied on an email from the Art Commission and theyre putting money in their Capital Budget to help restore the building, so if the building does stay as a city owned building then the Art Commission would be responsible for the murals but if it goes to a nonprofit then it would be up to the nonprofit, but i know i dont want to speak for the Art Commission, but i know they are very big supporters of the murals in this city, and so thank you for considering this and moving this along, and we need to get this building open so people can appreciate these beautiful murals and restore the mural on the first floor. Thank you again. Thank you and thank you for all your work on this project. Does any other member of the public wish to speak to this item . If so please come forward. Seeing none. Public comment is now closed and bring it back to the commission. I move to approve. I second that. We have a motion and a second. Theres a motion and seconded to approve this matter. On that motion commissioner hasz. Yes. Commissioner johns. Yes. Commissioner matsuda. Yes. Commissioner pearlman. Yes. Commissioner hyland. Yes. Commissioner wolfram. Yes. So moved that passes unanimously 60 and places you on case nine for 2011. 1356e, line three central soma context statement and Historic Resources survey. Before we take that item there is a report on the one building and i am wondering because commissioner hyland has a relationship with them but its one component. That was submitted as Public Comment. So its not related to the actual item . It does change the survey findings that hra tim Frye Department staff. I would defer to the City Attorney if a recusal is necessary. Perhaps i will jump into it. Theres a survey finding that the Property Owner disagreed with. They hired arg to prepare a Historic Resource evaluation and included in the commissioners packets for consideration for changing one of the status codes in in the survey. I am the City Attorney so just so understand the situation their work is completed . It is completed and submitted as part of the packet as Public Comment to the findings in the survey. Public comment and theres no pending work right now as far as there was a project. There is a project proposed at the site but i dont believe arg is involved in the project. Okay. So i would suggest it sounds like its not necessary for the commissioner to recuse. Maybe i can disclose this is my former company which i had currently have financial ties to but very limited. That sounds good. I think we can move forward now. Thank you for that clarification. Good afternoon commissioners. Susan parks Department Staff. The item is a consideration to adopt the central soma context statement and Historic Resources survey. Todays items are the first in a series of steps towards completion of the central soma plan. As part of the plan the department developed the central soma context statement and provide framework for consistent evaluations of propertys in the area. This statement was written by Department Staff and reviewed by the survive group and professionals and historians and members of the south of