Historic Preservation Commission recommends landmarking Fire Station No. 44 in Visitation Valley

The Historic Preservation Commission on Dec. 20, 2023, voted 6–0 to recommend that the Board of Supervisors designate San Francisco Fire Station No. 44 (1298 Gerard Street, Visitation Valley) as a city landmark.

Natalie Gee, representing Supervisor Walton's office, framed the recommendation as community-driven and described neighborhood efforts with the Visitation Valley History Project to identify underrepresented historic resources. Planning staff told commissioners Station 44 was constructed in 1913, designed by John Reed Jr., and is architecturally significant as an early 20th-century classical-revival brick fire station.

Assistant Deputy Chief Mike Mullen of the San Francisco Fire Department spoke in support, calling the station "a beautiful, striking" building important to the department’s history. Woody Labonte of San Francisco Heritage also urged designation and described community outreach that led to the nomination.

Commissioners discussed whether to include interior features; staff said most interiors had been remodeled in later renovations and thus were not generally considered character-defining. Commissioners moved to amend the draft ordinance to include the herringbone-pattern floor in the apparatus bay as a character-defining feature; the motion was seconded and the commission approved the amended recommendation unanimously.

The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for further consideration.