Historic Preservation Commission reviews draft EIR for 1101–1123 Sutter, presses for stronger preservation clarity

Planning staff and the project sponsor briefed the Historic Preservation Commission on the draft environmental impact report (EIR) for a proposed mixed‑use development at 1101–1123 Sutter Street and solicited the commission’s comments on historic‑resource analysis and mitigation.

The draft EIR, staff said, identifies 1101 Sutter as individually eligible for the California Register (period of significance 1920–1961) and 1123 Sutter as individually eligible (period of significance 1926–1930). The draft EIR concluded the proposed project would result in a less‑than‑significant impact to 1101 Sutter but a significant and unavoidable adverse impact to 1123 Sutter because the proposed plan would demolish that building. Staff identified three mitigation measures intended to reduce harm — documentation, interpretation, and a salvage plan — but said the impact on 1123 would remain significant and unavoidable as presented.

The project sponsor, Patrick McNerney of Martin Building Company, told the commission the sponsor’s program priorities are to "prioritize the preservation and rehabilitation of 1101 Sutter... performed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior Standards," while constructing a new residential building on the 1123/parking‑lot sites to add market‑rate and affordable units.

Why it matters: Commissioners emphasized preserving the funeral home’s (1123 Sutter) community significance when mitigation is drafted and debated whether the alternatives strike the right balance between preservation and new housing. Staff presented four alternatives: no‑project; full preservation (retaining both buildings and adding an 18‑story tower on the parking lot with a 25‑ft setback, producing 115 units under one variant); and two partial‑preservation options with different massing and tower heights (one partial scheme referenced in the staff slide set yields 151 units; another was presented as two‑hundred‑plus units in the packet materials). Several commissioners said they were attracted to partial preservation alternative 2 while noting design details (a vertical "hyphen" element) needed greater definition.

Public comment included support from Corey Smith of the Housing Action Coalition, who said the project team had balanced historic preservation with the need for more housing and affordable units.

Next steps: Staff reminded the commission the Planning Commission will hear the draft EIR on Sept. 30 and that written comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 5 to be included in the EIR response document; staff said the response‑to‑comments document is anticipated in late winter or spring followed by EIR certification later in 2022.

Sources: Planning staff presentation (EIR findings and alternatives), sponsor presentation (Martin Building Company), public comment at the Historic Preservation Commission hearing.