SEC. 5. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE.
The Dogpatch Historic District possesses a unique place and significance in the areas of architecture, history, and environment worthy of protection as an historic district. Dogpatch is an
approximately nine-block enclave of industrial workers' housing located east of Potrero Hill, in San Francisco's Central Waterfront district. The neighborhood is comprised of almost one-
hundred flats and cottages, as well as several industrial, commercial, and civic buildings, most of which were erected between 1870 and 1930.
The neighborhood is significant under National Register Criterion A (Events/Patterns of History) and Criterion C (Design/Construction). The neighborhood is significant at the local level
under Criterion A (Events/Patterns of History), within the category of Industry, as the oldest and most intact concentration of industrial workers' housing in San Francisco. No other district
of San Francisco or California was industrialized to the degree of Potrero Point during the last quarter of the 19th Century. The shipyards and other maritime-related industries of Potrero
Point required a steady supply of inexpensive immigrant labor in an area that was geographically cut off from the rest of the City. Local developers and landholders, including Santa Fe
Land Improvement Company, responded to this need by constructing rows of inexpensive cottages and selling individual parcels to laborers and their families, allowing the neighborhood to
develop as an informal company town. Dogpatch is also significant at the local level under Criterion A (Events/Patterns of History), within the category of Exploration/Settlement, as the
first housing developed in the Potrero District. Initially developed in the early 1870s, Dogpatch became the nucleus of the Potrero District that would evolve after the 1906 earthquake.
Finally, Dogpatch is significant under Criterion C (Design/Construction), within the category of Architecture, as a moderately intact district of mostly Victorian and Edwardian-era workers'
dwellings constructed between 1870 and 1910. Residences within the district reflect vernacular forms of architectural styles that were prevalent throughout the country, including Greek
Revival, Queen Anne, Italianate, Eastlake and Classical Revival styles, or combinations thereof. The district has several clusters, and pairs of identical dwellings, including a group of
thirteen identical Eastlake-style cottages based on the plans of San Francisco architect John Cotter Pelton, Jr. While the significance of Union Iron Works/Bethlehem Steel is national in
scope, the significance of Dogpatch under this criterion remains local.
The period of significance for the district dates from 1867, the opening of Long Bridge and the beginning of construction in the neighborhood, to 1945, the end of World War II.
Additional historic information may be found in the Dogpatch Historic District Designation Report, which is hereby incorporated herein as though fully set forth. This document is on file at
the Planning Department under Case No. 2002.99775L.
(Added by Ord. 66-03, File No. 020972, App. 4/18/2003)
SEC. 6. FEATURES.
(a) Residential - Features of Existing Buildings.
1. Overall Form and Continuity.Building height is generally within a three-story range, with a substantial number of structures built at one or two stories in height. The majority of
structures have been either elevated or altered to allow for the construction of a garage level at grade. However, despite these and other alterations, the majority of residences in the district
retain their historic integrity. Residential buildings are generally set back an average of 10 feet from the public right-of-way.
2. Scale and Proportion.The buildings vary in height, bulk, scale and proportion. The width of lots in Dogpatch range from single lots of 20 feet to 40 feet for larger lots. Early homes
in Dogpatch constructed circa 1870 were designed in a vernacular style with Greek Revival influences. Later homes continued in the Greek Revival form, but were joined by homes
designed in the Queen Anne, Italianate and Classical Revival styles, as well as the Eastlake-styled Pelton Cottages. Multi-story residences are large in bulk, often as great as 3,500 square
feet. Smaller cottage-size structures, typically 800 square feet, are well scaled to the smaller lots.
3. Fenestration.Existing fenestration consists of predominantly double-hung, wood sash windows that are vertical in orientation. Residential buildings feature a fairly symmetrical and
regular pattern of windows with consistent dimensions along primary facades. Generally, the size and shape of window openings have not been altered over time.
4. Materials.Horizontal rustic wood siding is the traditional cladding material found in the district. However, fishscale wood shingles and asbestos siding are also found throughout the
district.
5. Design Features.Recessed porches and entry porticos are characteristic design features of the district.
6. Architectural Detail.Architectural detail found in the district usually follows transitional elements associated with the Greek Revival, Eastlake, Queen Anne, Italianate and Classical
Revival architectural styles.
(b) Industrial/Commercial - Features of Existing Buildings.
1. Overall Form and Continuity.Building height is generally within a four-story range and many of the industrial/commercial structures are one or two stories in height. Typically,
these buildings are constructed closer to the property line than the residential structures found in the district.
2. Scale and Proportion.The buildings are of typical warehouse design, large in bulk, often with large, ground level openings originally designed for rail or vehicular access.
Industrial/commercial structures are found throughout the district, often surrounded by residential buildings. While gaps may exists, because of height, bulk and setback, there is regularity
to the overall form of industrial/commercial buildings. A small cluster of brick and stucco public buildings (police, fire, and hospital) are easily recognizable from other
industrial/commercial structures found in the district. These resources, while offering a different scale and proportion, are compatible with the plain reinforced concrete and brick-faced
structures characteristic of 20th century industrial architecture.
3. Fenestration.For the most part, the district's industrial/commercial buildings lack strong fenestration patterns, which typically are not supportive of a warehouse function. Windows
exist near entrances and in some cases, offer small storefronts to display products. Early 20th century warehouse buildings were often constructed with office spaces above warehouse
functions. In this case, double-hung, residential-type windows can be found. Larger industrial, metal sash windows are prevalent on commercial buildings built after 1920. Door openings
are often massive to facilitate easy access of bulk materials.
4. Materials.Standard brick masonry is found on the older industrial/commercial buildings in the district; reinforced concrete was introduced as a cladding material following the
earthquake and fire of 1906. Concrete block and stucco are also found on some 20th century, industrial/commercial buildings.
5. Color.Red brick is typical, with some yellow and painted brick. Muted earth tones of red, brown, green, gray, and blue are found on reinforced concrete, concrete block, and stucco-
faced buildings.
6. Texture.Typical facing materials give both a rough textured or smooth appearance, depending on the cladding material.
7. Architectural Detail.Industrial and commercial buildings typically lack ornamentation. Warehouses by their very nature are utilitarian; warehouses constructed towards the end of
the Dogpatch Historic District period of significance (1943) have even less ornamentation than older counterparts. Cornices are simple and may be abstract versions of more elaborate
cornices found on larger, commercial structures in San Francisco's Financial District. Where detail occurs, it is often found surrounding entryways to industrial/commercial buildings.
(Added by Ord. 66-03, File No. 020972, App. 4/18/2003)
SEC. 7. STANDARDS FOR REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS.
Any exterior change within the Dogpatch Historic District shall require a Certificate of Appropriateness, pursuant to the provisions of Article 10, when such work requires a City permit.
The procedures, requirements, controls and standards of Article 10 of the Planning Code shall apply to all applications for Certificates of Appropriateness in the Dogpatch Historic District.
In addition, the following specific standards for review shall apply to all applications for Certificates of Appropriateness. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the
provisions set forth below 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 general standards for review of all applications for Certificates of Appropriateness are as set forth in Article 10. For purposes of review
pursuant to said standards, the character of said Historic District shall mean the features of the Dogpatch Historic District referred to and described in Section 6 of this ordinance. For
projects on buildings that have been previously compromised by incompatible alterations or additions, proposed exterior changes which bring these buildings closer to their original,
historic appearance and make the buildings more in conformity with the character of the district are encouraged.
(b) Residential - Alterations and New Construction. Exterior alterations or new additions to a contributory or non-contributory residential resource in the Dogpatch Historic District
shall not destroy historic materials that characterize the resource or its environs. New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic materials, features
and spatial relationships that characterize the property. Any new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and
proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment, and must conform to the following provisions:
1. False Historicism.False historicism and the conjectural replication of historic styles and details is discouraged; if restoration is the selected alteration approach, historic
documentation through original architectural plans, historic photographs, or physical investigation will be required. Where original plans or historic photographs are unavailable, close
physical examination of the building and existing scar traces, along with a comparison to buildings of the same age and style in the neighborhood, may be sufficient to reveal evidence
necessary to guide the restoration.
2. Materials.Horizontal rustic wood siding is the traditional cladding material in the district and its use is encouraged over other cladding materials, including wood shingles (except
where appropriate).
3. Fenestration.Fenestration should be proportionate and in scale with traditional patterns within the district. Double-hung wood sash windows are encouraged over vinyl or metal sash
windows. "Slider" windows of vinyl or aluminum construction are discouraged, especially on primary facades. True divided lites, rather than snap-in or faux muntins, are encouraged when
divided lite wood windows are appropriate.
4. Style.New construction in a contemporary, yet compatible, idiom is encouraged.
5. Scale and Proportion.New construction must be compatible with the massing, size, scale and architectural details of residential resources found in the district.
6. Setbacks.New construction should conform to existing setback patterns found in the district.
7. Roofline.Gabled roof forms and raised parapets are encouraged on new construction.
8. Detailing.Detailing on new construction should relate to the simple, traditional vernacular forms found in the district.