HARC approves accessible remodel for historic church at 405 East California Street

The Historic and Architectural Review Commission on July 22 approved a certificate of appropriateness for File 2026079, allowing accessibility-focused alterations to the historic church at 405 East California Street. The commission adopted staff findings dated July 14, 2026, and approved the project subject to staff recommended conditions 1 through 7.

Ian Foster of the planning department told the commission that "the project's primary purpose is to improve accessibility to the back of the structure, primarily to get it into compliance with modern ADA regulation." Foster told commissioners the bulk of work is confined to a two‑story 1950s rear addition adjacent to the parking area and that no changes are proposed to the California Street primary façade. He said the design concentrates new ramps, walkways, an enlarged double‑door secondary entrance, and an elevator so that the front historic elevation remains unchanged.

Staff identified the elevator overrun — a small roof form to enclose elevator equipment on the rear addition — as the project's most consequential exterior modification but concluded it is subordinate to the sanctuary tower and limited in visibility from California Street. "The proposal ultimately preserves the defining historic character of the church," Foster said when summarizing staff's findings. The commission voted to approve the certificate of appropriateness; the chair declared the motion carried after spoken affirmative votes on the record.

Under the conditions, applicants must submit proposed new materials (roofing, decking, siding) to planning staff for review before building permit issuance. Foster also noted that staff received no public testimony on the application. The commission adjourned at 5:30 p.m.