Project Status: Completed
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Castro/Upper Market

Market Street Masonry Landmark District

Status: complete

Eight architecturally significant buildings on and near Market Street between Franklin and Valencia Streets comprise the discontiguous landmark district. Master architects including August Nordin and George Applegarth designed buildings in one of the formal styles of the early 20th century, such as Classical Revival, Colonial Revival, and Venetian Gothic Revival.

The Market Street Masonry Landmark District was approved as San Francisco's 12th Landmark District in April 2013.

During the recent Market and Octavia Area Plan survey effort, the eight buildings comprising the landmark district were identified as historic resources for their exceptional and remarkably intact architectural character. On June 15, 2011, the Historic Preservation Commission added the buildings to its Landmark Designation Work Program for local designation. Locally designated properties are regulated under Article 10 of the Planning Code.

District buildings were constructed between 1911 and 1925, when permanent structures were built of earthquake and fire-resistant materials such as reinforced concrete or a combination of brick and reinforced concrete. The buildings display a formal three-part arrangement consisting of a base (often with a commercial storefront), main portion or column (often with residential floors), and decorative top (a cornice or decorative parapet). Projecting bay windows visually reinforce the vertical emphasis, while increasing the light and air into the interior of many of the buildings.

All of the buildings are well-preserved examples and retain most or all of their character-defining features. Unaltered historic storefronts, with their glass transom lights, bronze plate glass window frames and decorative bases are still commonly found on the buildings.

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Department of the Interior.

Landmark Designation Report   Revised Landmark Designation Report
The proposed Landmark District was initiated by the Historic Preservation Commission on August 15, 2012.

 

 

Market Street Masonry   Walking Tour   Market Street Masonry District
Market Street Masonry DPR523 Forms
These evaluation forms provide a detailed history of the development of each of the eight buildings. The Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board adopted the survey findings in 2009.
  Walking Tour
Take a self-guided walking tour by downloading this document for more history and information for each building within the proposed Landmark District.
  Market Street Masonry District Fact Sheet
This document provides some quick facts on the proposed Market Masonry Landmark District.

 

 

Exisiting Local Landmark   Lankmarks   Presentation
Existing Local Landmark Districts
This brochure provides information related to existing Landmark Districts.
  Landmarks FAQ
This FAQ provides an overview of the Landmark designation process and includes answers to common questions related to how designation impacts individual properties.
  December 14, 2011 Kick-Off Event Presentation
The first in a series of community meetings focused on the process and impact of local Landmark designation of the eight buildings in the proposed Market Street Masonry Landmark District. Download alternate Powerpoint presentation with audio narration