Landmarks Party at Today's Historic Preservation Commission

CASTRO - The Twin Peaks Tavern at 401 Castro Street is up for landmark designation for its association with LGBT history. Opened in 1972, the spot is known as the first gay bar in San Francisco to feature large expanses of glass, as opposed to hiding bar patrons. The Planning Department conducted a bunch of oral histories with one of the original owners and lots of long-term patrons at "History Happy Hours" at the bar to document stories. If designated, it'll be one of only 3 local landmarks associated with LGBT history (the other 2 being the Castro Camera/Harvey Milk Residence and the Jose Theater/Names Project Building). [SF Planning]

INNER SUNSET - Also up for designation is the 1933 Doelger Building at 320?326 Judah Street, for its role in the transformation of the Sunset District (Doelger houses make up huge swathes of the Sunset) and its Art Deco and Streamline Moderne architecture. Henry Doelger Builder Inc. used the building as their main office and showroom, and ended up building thousands of houses in the Sunset from the late 1920s to the 1940s. It's also pretty rad looking, if you ask us. This one will also fill a void if listed, as there are only 6 modern buildings and 7 buildings the Sunset listed as landmarks. Nice work diversifying, Planning Department! [SF Planning]

UPPER MARKET - Last but not least is the "Market Street Masonry Discontiguous District," which includes 8 buildings on Market and Franklin between Fell, Van Ness, and Valencia. All the buildings were built by master architects between 1911 and 1925, and "influenced the visual transition of San Francisco from a city of wood and brick, to one of concrete and stucco" after the 1906 earthquake. They're all different, but relate to each other as a group because of their age and fancy-pants design. [SF Planning]

The Historic Preservation Commission will vote whether to recommend landmark status, and then they'll move on to the Board of Supervisors for final approval. So far all 3 have support from their owners and neighbors, so it should be smooth sailing.