Committee recommends landmarking Sacred Heart Parish; preservationists press to protect interior artwork

The Land Use & Transportation Committee on March 4 voted to recommend landmark designation for Sacred Heart Parish and directed further follow-up on interior features and structural concerns raised by neighbors and preservationists.

Supervisor Dean Preston, who shepherded amendments to the file, and Planning Department staff discussed interior features included in the proposed landmark designation. Public commenters emphasized preserving murals and ceiling frescoes by artist Achille Disi and asked that the draft resolution explicitly protect that work. "The artist is Achille Disi...No doubt, it's worth preserving," said Robert Fisher, who urged that the artwork be included in the landmark resolution.

Speakers representing the Sacred Heart preservation community also raised concerns about a connector bridge that was built without permits and how that bridge’s structural condition could affect adjacent rectory and convent buildings in a major earthquake. Committee members approved a motion to recommend the original file to the Board and also approved duplicating the file so the duplicated version could remain open for continued discussion on interior art protections and seismic/connector issues before finalizing landmark controls.