Historic Preservation Commission unanimously recommends landmarking Mother's Building at San Francisco Zoo

San Francisco — The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission on June 15 voted unanimously to recommend local landmark designation for the Mother's Building at the San Francisco Zoo, citing the building's 1925 Italian Renaissance Revival architecture and large WPA-era murals and mosaics.

Jen Lowe, legislative aide to Supervisor Myrna Melgar, told commissioners the supervisor sponsored the nomination and called the Mother's Building "a peaceful respite to honor women" that should be reopened for public use. Planning staff described the building as historically significant for its association with early recreational facilities and for interior artworks by Helen Forbes, Dorothy Puccinelli and Helen Bruton painted between 1933 and 1938.

"The department recommends that HPS approve the recommendation, which will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors," planning staff said during the presentation. Staff recommended the landmark boundary be the building footprint, inclusive of the east terrace or plaza; pathways, vegetation and other surrounding zoo features were not included in the proposed designation.

Advocates and visitors urged support. Richard Rothman, an advocate who has worked on the project, described the murals' condition as generally good aside from water damage on the west wall and thanked prior funding and assessments that enabled stabilization work. "The murals are in really great condition except for the west wall," Rothman said, and he cited a conservation assessment that informed the nomination.

Commissioners praised the nomination and asked staff clarifying questions about scope. Pilar LaValle of the planning department said the commission's designation would identify the main room and its features — the murals, wainscoting, wood flooring and beamed ceiling — as character-defining elements, while some back-of-house rooms altered over time were not called out as character-defining.

Commissioner Johns moved to adopt the recommendation of approval. The motion passed with all seven commissioners voting yes; the commission recorded the outcome as a unanimous 7–0 recommendation. The recommendation now goes to the Board of Supervisors for consideration and final action.

If the Board of Supervisors approves the nomination and the city designates the site, the landmark would formally recognize the Mother's Building (Delia Fleischacker Memorial Building) for its architectural and cultural significance and strengthen conditions for preservation and future restoration work. Staff and advocates said the designation is intended to help generate resources and momentum for restoration and public reuse.