Norman Mailer once said, “Chicago is the great American city, New York is one of the capitals of the world, and Los Angeles is a constellation of plastic; San Francisco is a lady.”
Whether you live or work in the Bay Area, you know what Mailer meant. There’s an irresistible charm to San Francisco. And much of it has to do with architecture.
Take the Romanesque-style Fairmont Hotel, for example, a building that has stood the test of time since 1906. Today, the Fairmont is a well-preserved icon and an impressive part of the city’s fabric. Downtown San Francisco just wouldn’t be the same without it.
Historic buildings and landmarks reflect our rich history. Where we work and live should be revitalized in ways that make sense in our changing world, but we must also respect and preserve the architectural gems of the past. That’s why historic preservation is something we take seriously. And so does the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission and the California Preservation Foundation. With the guidance of these agencies and the city self, historic preservation initiatives in San Francisco are ensuring our historic buildings continue to thrive.
Significant Historic Preservation Initiatives in San Francisco
Historic preservation initiatives for San Francisco primarily stem from the Historic Preservation Commissions’ and the California Preservation Foundation’s advocacy and guidelines. Their work has been instrumental in making sure San Francisco looks like San Francisco—now and in the future.
Rainbow shares that sentiment. We are honored to be trusted with the historic restoration of important sites throughout the Bay Area as a whole. Through our efforts, we are able to contribute to the beauty and liveability of our communities, led in part by the invaluable initiatives designed to protect our architectural heritage.
Some of the most important initiatives include:
Preservation Guidelines
Each community in San Francisco has a distinct character. To maintain this character, historic guidelines developed by the San Francisco Planning Department offer a roadmap for aligning preservation goals with the Secretary of the Interior’s standards. These “promote and protect neighborhood character and quality of life” and “establish a common directive as to how to treat historic resources, define a clear set of design principles, and identify a range of appropriate design solutions.”
Economics Incentives
Historic preservation in San Francisco is also aided by a number of economic incentives, including federal rehabilitation tax credits and income tax deductions earned via conservation easements. Perhaps the most important, however, is the Mills Act, which was developed to “encourage maintenance and rehabilitation of historic buildings” by offering property tax reductions. In San Francisco, this program is available for owners of “locally designated and National Register-listed properties, including landmarks and contributors to historic districts.”
San Francisco also offers several code incentives to reduce the expense of rehabilitation and simplify the transfer of development rights.
Historic and Conservation Districts
Historic and conservation districts offer significant preservation protections for groups of buildings within a specific community that reflect the history, culture, and unique character of the area. San Francisco has 10 historic districts and 11 conservation districts.
Within a historic district, exterior alterations of protected buildings must be approved by the Landmarks Board and, sometimes, by the Planning Commission. There is also an extensive process of approval necessary for demolition. In a conservation district, demolitions of buildings, alterations of buildings, and new construction must be approved by San Francisco’s Historic Preservation Commission.
Education and Advocacy
The California Preservation Foundation offers statewide opportunities for education and advocacy for the preservation of California’s unique cultural heritage and historic buildings. The organization’s annual conference in Sacramento serves as a valuable space to learn, network, and strategize. Meanwhile, The foundation also presents its Preservation Design Awards to “celebrate excellence in conservation” and recognize outstanding individuals, organizations, and preservation projects.
Rainbow’s Role in Preserving Our Past
Over the years, Rainbow has been a part of numerous important historic preservation projects in San Francisco and the larger Bay Area—many of which have only been possible due to the initiatives discussed above. While the list of projects to which we have contributed is long, some of the most exciting have been the Goodman Library and the Mining Exchange Building.
The Goodman Library
The resurrection of the historic Goodman Library in Napa was an important project for the Rainbow team. It was also highly successful; the project won a Preservation Design Award in 2018.
Built in 1901, the library suffered extensive damage in the 2014 earthquake. As part of the restoration, Rainbow stabilized the stone walls using structural grouting techniques on both the interior and exterior of the building. We also involved repointing, window restoration, painting, and reconstructing the main tower, walls, and window openings.
The Mining Exchange Building
The Mining Exchange Building is located at 350 Bush Street in San Francisco’s Financial District. This 1923 Beaux-Arts building was once home to the San Francisco Mining Exchange, but sat empty for decades until it was restored and integrated with a new 20-story office tower in 2018. To bring the building back to life while staying true to its architectural past, Rainbow meticulously restored the classical terracotta facade to its former glory.
Keeping the Character of San Francisco
Historic preservation is a crucial part of maintaining San Francisco’s character and charm. While millions of residents and visitors enjoy the rich history of our great city daily, there is an extensive network of individuals and organizations working in the background to ensure its architecture is properly maintained and rehabilitated. The Rainbow team is proud to be a part of that network, honoring our heritage while adding economic value to our community.
The historic preservation initiatives in San Francisco are a critical part of protecting not only our architecture, but our diverse cultures and fascinating past. If you are looking to preserve a historic building in the Bay Area, these initiatives can be indispensable resources.
Rainbow has the experience and expertise needed to make your Bay Area building commercial or historic restoration projects a success. Reach out to the Rainbow team today.
The Rainbow Team is Northern California’s most trusted waterproofing and restoration company. We have the craftsmanship and expertise to handle any commercial or historic building envelope, masonry, or waterproofing project in the San Francisco Bay Area.
