City revamps historic preservation to boost housing efforts

In a recent government meeting, officials outlined a comprehensive approach to historic preservation in conjunction with ongoing rezoning efforts aimed at addressing housing needs. The department emphasized that the rezoning will not specifically exclude parcels with eligible or listed landmarks but will instead apply preservation standards citywide. This strategy aims to protect historic resources while facilitating housing development, aligning with insights from a recent California Preservation Foundation symposium.

Deputy Director Rich Oker highlighted the necessity of adapting to new state laws, including the Housing Accountability Act, which mandates a streamlined review process for housing projects. The department plans to phase out outdated residential design guidelines by fall 2024 and introduce new objective design standards that will integrate historic preservation into future developments.

The meeting also discussed the ongoing SF Survey, a multi-year initiative to document the city’s historic and cultural assets. The survey aims to evaluate approximately 120,000 parcels, with recent findings indicating that 15 out of 211 properties in the Inner Sunset area were identified as historic. The department is committed to accelerating landmark designations, particularly for properties that hold significance for local communities, including sites associated with the transgender community and other historically marginalized groups.

In addition to refining the landmark designation process, the department is developing objective design standards for projects affecting historic resources. These standards will ensure a consistent and transparent review process, allowing for ministerial approvals without discretionary oversight. The meeting concluded with a commitment to engage the community in shaping preservation policies, recognizing that effective historic preservation must be grounded in public input and collaboration.

As the city navigates the dual goals of housing development and historic preservation, officials remain focused on creating a framework that honors the past while accommodating future growth.