SEC. 5. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE.
The significance of Blackstone Court Historic District is more historical than architectural, though enough physical evidence of past history remains to create a sense of the former place
and time in this unusual mid-block enclave of five structures on a blind alley. The north line of the ally, Blackstone Court, follows the north line of an early trail shown on U.S. Coast
Survey maps of the 1850's and 1860's, a trail that ran from town toward the Presidio, around the north end of Washerwoman's Lagoon (now drained and filled; so named for the Gold Rush
laundries). The western end of Blackstone Court is the western edge of William Eddy's 1849 Lagoon Survey which set up a grid parallel to Market Street, facing the view through the
Golden Gate. On a lot alignment perpendicular to the north edge of the old trail, 9-11 Blackstone Court appears to date from the 1850's because of its Gothic Revival veranda and its interior
plan and finish. It is first documented on its site in 1893 (possibly moved to clear a street right-of-way designated by the Laguna Survey of 1889-91). Before 1899 it was raised a story by
the Favilla family from North Beach, very early Italian-American residents in what became the Marina District. Abraham House, 30 Blackstone Court, was constructed in 1885 by Charles
Abraham, and enlarged by him in 1905. Abraham was the horticulturally significant founder of Western Nursery, which operated on most of this block from 1885 to 1947. It was the last
expression of the Cow Hollow/Marina District agricultural enterprises. An Australian peppermint tree and a Monterey Cypress appear to date from the nursery. All of these elements
combine to present a unique physical expression of the pre-1906 settlement patterns of this section of the City: the pre-Gold Rush trail, the lot lines perpendicular to it, the nursery, the
modest old houses and early, pre-1900 Italian-American investment in the Marina District.
(Added by Ord. 464-87, App. 11/19/87)
SEC. 6. FEATURES.
The architectural features of the said Historic District that should be preserved are described and depicted in the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board's case report with appendix
titled "Blackstone Court Historic District," adopted June 4, 1986, which is hereby incorporated herein and made a part hereof as though fully set forth.
(Added by Ord. 464-87, App. 11/19/87)
SEC. 7. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS.
The procedures, requirements, controls and standards in Sections 1005 through 1006.8 of Article 10 of the City Planning Code shall apply to all applications for Certificates of
Appropriateness in the Blackstone Court Historic District.
In addition, the following provisions shall apply to all such applications; in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the following provisions and Article 10, those procedures,
requirements, controls and standards affording stricter protection to the Historic District shall prevail.
(A) Character of the Historic District. The standards for review of all applications for Certificates of Appropriateness are as set forth in Section 1006.7 of Article 10. For purposes of
review pursuant to said standards, the character of said Historic District shall mean the architectural features and historic street and lot lines, freestanding buildings, and low scale and
intensity of development of the Blackstone Court Historic District.
(B) Alterations to Contributory and Contributory/Altered Buildings. Alterations to Contributory and Contributory/Altered buildings shall be compatible with the architectural and
historic fabric of the building. New construction shall be compatible with the character of the historic district defined in Section 7(A) above, including but not limited to materials,
fenestration, scale, bulk, detailing and intensity of development.
Alterations or new construction shall maintain and enhance existing visual access to the historic buildings in the district.
(C) Landscaping. All applications for Certificates of Appropriateness for construction shall include landscaping plans for required yards, setbacks and areas counting toward usable
open space requirements of Section 135 of the City Planning Code. All construction activities, such as but not limited to demolition, storage of construction materials, excavation, and
application of concret