San Francisco Government SmartTranscripts:

[Supervisor Myrna Melgar (Chair)]: Good afternoon, everyone. The meeting will come to order. Welcome to the 03/23/2026 regular meeting of the Land Use and Transportation Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. I'm Supervisor Myrna Melgar, chair of the committee, joined by Vice Chair Chyanne Chen and Supervisor Bilal Mahmood. The committee clerk is Mr. John Carroll. I also want to thank and acknowledge Eugene Libadia at SF Cup TV for staffing this meeting. Mr. Clerk, do we have any announcements?

[John Carroll (Committee Clerk)]: Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. Please ensure you've silenced your cell phones and other electronic devices you brought with you into the chamber today. If you have any documents to be included as part of any of today's files, can submit them directly to me. Public comment will be taken on each item on today's agenda. When your item of interest comes up in public comment is called, please line up to speak along your right hand side. Alternatively, you may submit your public comment in writing in either of the following ways. First, you may send your written comments to me at johnperiodcarroll@sfgov.org, or you may send your written comments via US Postal Service to our office in City Hall. The address is 1 Doctor Carlton B Goodlett Place, Room 244, San Francisco, California 94102. Items acted upon today are expected to appear on the board of supervisors agenda of 04/07/2026 unless otherwise stated.

[Supervisor Myrna Melgar (Chair)]: Okay. Mister clerk, take a deep breath and call items one through 18 together, please.

[John Carroll (Committee Clerk)]: Agenda item numbers one through 18 are 18 resolutions initiating landmark designations under article 10 of the planning code for the following properties. First, the Century Club of California located at 1355 Franklin. Religious school for the congregation Emmanuel slash Graebhorn Press building located at 13351337 Sutter. Third, the Inverness garage located at 1565 Bush. Fourth, the Allen Weaver Durant Smith auto showroom located at 1625 Van Ness. Fifth, the First Church of Christ Scientist located at 1700 Franklin. Sixth, the Golden Gate Spiritualist Church located at 1901 Franklin. Seventh, the Pacific States Telephone and Telegraph Company slash National Urban League located at 2015 Steiner. Eighth, mister Cudworth's house located at 2032 To 2040 Union. Ninth, the Upper Fillmore Storefronts located at 2035 To 2047 Fillmore. Tenth, the Lincoln Grill located at 2049 To 2051 Fillmore. Eleventh, the first AME Zion Church located at 2155 To 2159 Golden Gate. Twelfth, the International Institute located at 2209 Van Ness. Thirteenth, the Presidio Theater located at 2336 To 2346 Chestnut Street. Fourteenth, the Arthur Castle Home located at 2402 Steiner. Fifteenth, Hannibal Lodge number one located at 2804 Bush. Sixteenth, the Bridge Theater located at 3008 Geary. Seventeenth, the Vogue located at 3290 Sacramento. And eighteenth, Mel's Diner located at 3355 Geary. These 18 items by prior arrangement are on our agenda as a potential committee report and may be sent for consideration tomorrow by the Board of Supervisors. That's on the board agenda for 03/24/2026.

[Supervisor Myrna Melgar (Chair)]: Okay. Thank you very much. So we have Mr. Alex Westoff here to do the presentation. Did you want to say something first, Lorenzo?

[Lorenzo (Legislative Aide, Office of the District 2 Supervisor)]: Thank you. Good afternoon, Chyanne Chen, Member Mahmood, and Clerk Carroll for your flawless reading. I'm happy to be here on behalf of Supervisor Cheryl. I will attempt to be brief to talk about the slate of resolutions that will initiate landmark designations for 18 properties. These resolutions are the product of several months of community outreach, work with the historic preservation team, and conversations around the family zoning plan during its adoption late last year. And the properties in front of you include some very cherished buildings across nearly every neighborhood in District 2. And so, above all, I just want to say Supervisor Cheryl and I are extremely grateful for the work done by the Planning Department's preservationist team to analyze our category As and engage our constituents about the landmark process, namely Alex, who you will hear from right now. So we look forward to continuing to work with you, Alex, and the preservationist team at planning. With that, committee members, thank you again for hearing these items today. Supervisor Chyanne, I hope to have your support in sending these to the full board with positive recommendations.

[Supervisor Myrna Melgar (Chair)]: Hi Mr. Westoff, welcome.

[Alex Westoff (Planning Department Staff)]: Yes, thank you. Good afternoon, supervisors. Alex Westoff, planning department staff, and thank you Lorenzo for the remarks so I'm here today to present 18 properties being considered for initiation as article 10 landmarks in District 2 as part of the family zoning plan landmark program So I presented a few times to this committee so I will not go into a great amount of depth about the broader family zoning plan landmark program. But just a reminder that this is part of an effort of the city to keep our commitment to ensuring that growth associated with ambitious housing production goals is aligned with San Francisco's longstanding dedication to preserving historic places deeply embedded in San Francisco's unique cultural identity. The planning department has been working with a number of district supervisors on identifying and designating properties with exemplary architectural, historical, and or cultural significance as city landmarks. I'd like to thank supervisor Cheryl for his leadership on these 18 District 2 landmarks being presented today. This is part of phase one of the effort in District 2, and these properties include existing category a properties located outside of p and r h zoning districts with zero to one dwelling units attached to them, which we have identified as having the highest level of significance and integrity. Additionally, we've identified a handful of properties that have been proposed through our cultural historic context statements, which have underrepresented community associations. So we have had public forums in January in which we invited all of the property owners and occupants to, and we have since had subsequent conversations with several of the property owners as well. And so from here, I'll just give a brief overview of each of the landmarks. So the Century Club of California was constructed in nineteen o five, originally constructed as a private home which remains at the core of the present building. The property was purchased by the Century Club in nineteen o four and extensively remodeled in 1914 by architect of merit Julia Morgan. It was used by the state supreme court for two years after the earthquake, the great earthquake of nineteen o six. The property is an excellent example of turn of the century classical revival style residence. The religious school for the Congregation Emmanuel slash Grabhorn Press building are located at 1335 To 1337 Sutter Street. The original school building at 1337 Sutter Street was constructed in 1910 while the additional school annex at 1335 Sutter Street was built in 1918. The annex later housed the Grabhorn Press, a significant printing house designed by architect of merit Alfred Henry Jacobs. The buildings are excellent examples of Beau art style buildings. The buildings are significant for their association with the Jewish reform music movement and San Francisco Judaism including being associated with Rabbi Martin Mayer, an important person in the development of Jewish schools throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The Inverness Garage was constructed in 1923 at 1565 Bush Street in the Western Addition neighborhood. The property is significant as an intact example of a classical revival style public garage associated with the development of the automobile related industry in San Francisco. The building was constructed by a building and engine, builder and engineer Joseph Pasqualetti who was the co founder of the American Concrete Company, and known as a pioneer in reinforced concrete technology, best known for concrete garages such as the subject property. The property exhibits exuberant classical revival features and ornamentation for a building of this property type. The Allen Weaver Durant Smith Auto Showroom was constructed in 1919 in the Pacific Heights neighborhood. The property is an intact example of a classical revival style auto showroom associated with the development of Van Ness Avenue as Auto Row between 1907 to 1927. It is considered a relatively early example of an automobile showroom and was used as such for eighteen years. Six important brands of automobiles were sold in the building, and it is the best example of a showroom of automobiles for three of the brands, specifically Studebaker, Durant, and Hudson. While the ground level storefront has been altered, the upper levels remain richly ornamented and textured, and is considered one of the most ornate buildings by McDonald and Khan, an important engineering and contracting firm. The first Church of Christ Scientist located at 1700 Franklin Street was constructed in 1911 in the Pacific Heights neighborhood. The property is an excellent example of a Richardson Romanesque style church designed by architect of merit Edgar A. Matthews. Matthews was a prominent turn of the century architect known for his first Bay tradition designs, especially concentrated in Pacific Heights. He typically did residential homes, and this is one of the few institutional buildings, and it exhibits exemplary features, including the polychromatic brick cladding, polychromatic terracotta ornament with naturalistic detailing, cross gabled roof clad in terracotta tiles. The Meyerstein residence was constructed in nineteen o one, though the architecture is unknown. The original inhabitants were the Meyerstein family of the Myrna company, Alfred Melgar who served as the president of the Metropolis Trust Savings Bank while residing at the property. It continued to be used as a private residence until 1952, at which point it was converted to the Golden Gate Spiritual Church, which it remains today. It's an excellent example of a Beau Arts style resident from the early nineteen hundreds with extant features. 2015 Steiner Street was constructed in nineteen o seven in the Upper Fillmore neighborhood as the headquarters of the Pacific States Telephone and Telegraph Company. The building is a notable example of early twentieth century style American commercial architecture, and is a rare example of the style topology and scale outside of the city's downtown and industrial areas. The building is also significant for its association with the San Francisco chapter of the National Urban League, which was headquartered at the building from 1950 to 1960, and for association with Doctor. Daniel Collins, one of the organization's founder and chairs. During the postwar period, the National Urban League was the city's most prominent and impactful civil rights organizations advocating for improved housing conditions and expanded economic opportunities. Mister Cudworth's house was constructed circa 1874 in the Cow Hollow neighborhood. The home was built for James W. Cudworth and his family. Mr. Cudworth arrived in San Francisco in 1850 for the Gold Rush and took his seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1861. The home was constructed as a farmhouse when dairy farming was prominent activity, given the neighborhood the name Cow Hollow. Mr. Cudworth became a real estate agent in the 1870s and was responsible for building many of the nearby Victorian era buildings along Union Street. While all livestock was ordered out of Cow Hollow in 1891, the property provides a tangible connection to the neighborhood's dairy ranching history. The Upper Fillmore storefronts were constructed in 1926 in the Upper Fillmore neighborhood. The reinforced concrete building displays unique Mediterranean revival commercial features, including leaded glass, honeycomb pattern, glazing at the transom level, and much more. The Lincoln Grill, the adjacent building, was completed in 1932, designed by R. R. Irving. The building is significant as an outstanding representative of commercial art deco design. The first AME Zion Church is located at 2155 To 2159 Golden Gate Avenue. It was constructed in 1960 by Robert Bachelor. The congregation is one of San Francisco's first three African American churches and was formed in 1852. Since its formation, it has had a few locations throughout the city, the most recent one having been in the Western edition, which was destroyed due to redevelopment. The Brown Metzger residence was designed by Moses J. Lyon, which, who was believed to be the first San Francisco based architect of Jewish descent, the first licensed architect in the city. The home was originally constructed for Mrs. Abraham Brown by her father, Charles Meyer, a merchant tailor. The Myers were a Jewish family, and the adjacent property, which has since been demolished, was also constructed for their family. The pioneer was also home to Jewish, property was also home to Jewish pioneer investment broker Louis Metzger, and is an excellent example of a classical revival building. The Presidio Theater was constructed in 1937 in the Marina neighborhood. It was designed by architect John Aden and architect of Merit W. D. Pugh, originally known as El Presidio Theater. The name was changed to the Presidio Theater in 1951. The building opened as a third run neighborhood house, and remained a single screen theater until 2003. The Arthur Castle home located at 2402 Steiner Street was constructed in nineteen o one in the Pacific Heights neighborhood. The original owner was Arthur H Castle, son of pioneering Jewish merchant and dried fruit nut purveyor and partner of the family's dried fruit business, the Castle Brothers. The architect, the property was designed by architect of Merritt Willis Polk and exhibits extant Tudor revival features, most notably the unique multiple a framed roof configuration, which can be seen on all sides of the property. 2800 To 2804 Bush Street was constructed in 1889 in the Western Edition neighborhood. Since the nineteen thirties, Hannibal Lodge number one has resided at the property, which is the oldest Prince Hall, a predominantly African American branch of North American Freemasonry in the West, which was established in June 1852. The building is also a prominent corner Italianate property. The Bridge Theater was constructed in 1939. District theaters such as the Bridge Theater became more common in neighborhood shopping areas following World War I, providing more convenient and affordable alternatives to movie palaces. Uniquely, the Bridge opened during the Great Depression at a time when construction of new theaters was slow. The Vogue was constructed in 1912 in the Pacific Heights neighborhood, originally constructed as a Nickelodeon, but it was expanded in the nineteen twenties with alterations including exterior remodeling and art deco style. The theater became the Vogue in 1939 and it remains one San Francisco's oldest surviving cinemas, and one of the few remaining single screen theaters with a 2025 marquee and neon sign restoration. And lastly, Mel's drive in was constructed in 1952 in the inner Richmond neighborhood. It is significant as the location of the Bay Area's first mass civil rights sit in in 1963, which protested the restaurant chain's practices of not hiring frontline African American workers. Drawing considerable attention, the protest was successful in changing the restaurant's hiring practices to include African Americans for front of the house roles, and led to similar practice protests of other hotels and grocery stores, including a highly visible protest at the Sheraton Palace Hotel in 1964. So that is all. The department recommends the initiation of these properties, and I'm here to answer any questions. Thank you.

[Supervisor Myrna Melgar (Chair)]: That is all. Thank you, Mr. Westoff. I learned a lot today. Supervisor Chen.

[Supervisor Chyanne Chen (Vice Chair)]: Thank you, Chair Melgar. Landmarks are one of the many ways that we honor the people, the places that have made important culture and architectural contribution to our city. I note that this wave of landmarks is directly connected to the city's recent adoption of the family rezoning legislation. This signals that the reality of many of our buildings and storefronts may be increasingly vulnerable to development pressure. In addition to landmarking, I want to uplift other kinds of strategy that can help minimize harms, whether it whether it be community cultural stabilization efforts, small business protections, affordable housing investments, and controls against displacement. For me, myself, I'm very supportive of this landmark and look forward to working with my colleagues to adopt many of this additional strategy as well. Thank you.

[Supervisor Myrna Melgar (Chair)]: Okay. Let's go to public comment on this item, please, Mr. Clerk.

[John Carroll (Committee Clerk)]: Thank you, Madam Chair. Do we have any public comment for agenda item numbers one through 18? It appears we have no speakers.

[Supervisor Myrna Melgar (Chair)]: Okay. Public comment on this item is now closed. Thank you. I would like to make a motion that we send items one through 18 to the full board with a positive recommendation as committee reports.

[John Carroll (Committee Clerk)]: The motion offered by the chair that all of these items be sent to the Board of Supervisors with the recommendation of land use and transportation as committee reports. Vice Chair Chen. Aye. Member Mahmood, aye. Chair Melgar?

[Supervisor Myrna Melgar]: Aye. Melgar, aye. Madam Chair, there are three ayes.

[Supervisor Myrna Melgar (Chair)]: Great. That motion passes. Thank you. Mr. Clerk, there are no further items on our agenda, correct?

[John Carroll (Committee Clerk)]: That's correct.

[Supervisor Myrna Melgar (Chair)]: So before we go, I just want to make a note that we are closed for spring break next week. So our next regularly scheduled meeting of the Land Use and Transportation Committee will be on Monday, April 6. See you then. We are adjourned.