Committee recommends landmark designation for Golden Gate Valley Carnegie Library

The Land Use and Transportation Committee on March 1 recommended that the Board of Supervisors designate the Golden Gate Valley Carnegie Library at 1801 Green Street as a San Francisco landmark.

Planning Department historic preservation staff told the committee the library, designed in the neoclassical style by Ernest Coxhead and opened in 1918, is the last of seven Carnegie branch libraries in the city not previously finalized for landmark status. Melanie Bishop of the Planning Department said the Historic Preservation Commission unanimously recommended designation based on the library’s association with civic and cultural history and its architectural significance.

A representative from Supervisor Stephanie’s office, Dominica Donovan, said the community has long sought formal recognition for the branch. Peter Warfield, executive director of the Library Users Association, told the committee, “This is one of the most beautiful libraries in San Francisco and it well deserves landmark designation,” while also urging careful wording around potential “replacement in kind” language in the ordinance.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin offered to be listed as a cosponsor. The committee voted unanimously to recommend the ordinance to the full Board of Supervisors.

The Board is scheduled to consider the item on its upcoming agenda; the committee record indicates items acted on today are expected to appear on the Board agenda of March 8 unless otherwise stated.