Ignoring the recommendation of San Francisco’s Historic Preservation Commission, and siding with the recommendation of its Land Use and Economic Development Committee, yesterday San Francisco’s full Board of Supervisors voted 10 to 1 against landmark status for the North Beach Branch Library helping clear the way for the North Beach Library/Joe DiMaggio Playground Master Plan.
∙ With Whom Will San Francisco’s Full Board Of Supervisors Side? [SocketSite]
∙ Split Decision For North Beach Branch Library Landmarking So Far [SocketSite]
∙ Preservation Commission Recommends New North Beach Landmark [SocketSite]
∙ North Beach Library/Joe DiMaggio Playground Master Plan Report [SocketSite]
Could it be…some common sense and pragmatism are creeping into the BoS?
This is a welcome decision for all of us who live in NB, and hopefully a bellwether for other land use and urban planning issues in SF.
Wouldn’t bet on it, though.
The supes voted 10-1 to get rid of a building that’s more than 20 years old?! There must be a backroom deal to replace this with a new homeless shelter, BMR housing, or something like that.
Woo hoo!
This is definitely good news, but I have to believe that the opponents are gearing up for some other avenue to stop this, probably litigation of some sort. No doubt they will dispute the EIR and find some angle to bring a lawsuit. Funny how the wife of the head of the local Democratic Central Committee (sounds rather Soviet to me) is so opposed to actual democracy. I hope the new library is built in my lifetime, but I’m not counting on it.
10-1? Doesn’t say much about Pesky’s clout with the BOS. Looks like we don’t have to worry about mayor Leprechaun. And the new BOS looks to be a bit of an improvement over the current one.
Who was the 1 who voted to landmark.
The scary part of this is we’re all shocked and surprised when the BOS actually makes an intelligent decision. We’re so used to their craziness that when they do something that makes sense it throws is for a loop.
there IS a Santa Claus!
Yes, I’d like to know who was the addled Supe who voted to landmark! Was it Chris Daly?
[Editor’s Note: That’s a bingo!]
I should have known about CD – the library perfectly echoes the architectural aesthetic of his home city, Fairfield.
ever the contrarian. I will not be sorry to see him gone.
This is good news! Now maybe we can see a new and functional library for today and the future rise on this spot.
I think this incident bespeaks the folly of creating an independent landmarks board. By its very nature the landmarks board will be looking for business and looking to landmark dubious structures like the North Beach library. Look for this sort of incident to repeat itself, again and again.
zzzz does point out an interesting case of perverse incentive here.
Sweet! When is the groundbreaking?
David Chiu’s comment on its bid for landmark status
“I think that cheapens the historical landmark designation for the other buildings that do have merit,”
Good call. David Chiu for mayor!
“David Chiu for mayor!”
I had assumed that was a foregone conclusion with The Gavin moving on.
So, although I agree the existing library in no way merits landmark status protection, does no one care that the new proposal also seems so banal/mediocre (at least in the rendering made public – see SocketSite a couple days ago)?
Just because the old library can be removed doesn’t mean the new one shouldn’t be as good as possible design-wise, does it? This seems like the perfect kind of project to have a design competition for (either open or invited).