Duboce Park Landmark District Boundaries (credit: SF Planning Dept.)
The Planning Department will be holding a public meeting this afternoon to consider adoption of the proposed Duboce Park Landmark District. Two years ago the department floated the idea of landmarking the area bound by Scott, Waller, Stiener and Duboce streets (excluding Duboce Park) as the Duboce Park Historic District. The area is known for its many historic Victorian-style homes that were built around 1899-1905. The Planning Department and other residents felt it was necessary to landmark the area in order to protect the neighborhood's unique character and historic architecture. The department held a town-hall meeting in August of 2011 to discuss preservation incentives (including tax credits), alterations, and the permit review process for landmark buildings.
A few homeowners raised concerns about alterations to their properties and felt the permit review process for said renovations may prove to be too lengthy and too restrictive. Working with residents and Supervisor Scott Wiener, the Planning Department was able to address some of these concerns. According to a Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association newsletter,
"This exemplary public process has yielded review standards that allow unparalleled flexibility for owners looking to expand or renovate their historic homes. Bathroom and kitchen remodels may proceed without historic review of any kind. No additional review is required for garage doors, window replacement, seismic work, solar panels, roof replacement, rear yard fences, and most alterations to non-visible facades. Those projects that are subject to review, such as front step replacement and non-visible additions, can be signed off by Planning Department staff after a 20-day wait period. Based on input from residents and Supervisor Wiener, the Planning Department made over two dozen changes in order to streamline approval and exempt entire classes of projects from historic review altogether – only major additions necessitate review by the Historic Preservation Commission"
The modifications to the agreement for landmarking the area's properties also include a Federal rehab tax credit and legislation that makes it easier to access potential 50 percent reductions in property taxes through the Mill's Act. According to Curbed SF, a member of the Historic Preservation Commission described the designation "as the most permissive and flexible landmark designation" she has ever seen.
If you'd like to attend the public hearing, the meeting will be held today at 1:30PM at City Hall room 263.
(via haighteration)
