Old Mission Police Station

I worked behind the velvet curtains

3057 17th Street at Treat: I used to work in the art department behind the far window on the bottom floor when  Business Extension Bureau (BEB)  published “Western Real Estate News”, ran a printshop and a liquor licensing business on the ground floor. A mailing list company, editing, and bulk mailing services were on the top floor and the basement was for storage.

I was always intrigued by building. Here is what I found about what happened since BEB left: https://localwiki.org/sf/Old_Mission_Police_Station A historical resources survey says “Built in 1899, the two-story concrete [Romanesque Revival style of the time] police station was designed by the firm of Shea & Shea. Damaged in 1906, the police station was repaired – minus its original corner turret – and placed back into service. It remained in service as the Southern District station until 1950 when the SFPD moved to a new district headquarters at 1240 Valencia Street.” (It later moved to its current location at 630 Valencia Street.)

Identified by their pronounced round arches and heavy, massive stone or brick construction. Most have round towers, squat columns and decorative plaques with intricate or interlacing patterns. ( Our building lost its round tower during the 1906 earthquake and it was omitted from the repairs.)

The Romanesque Revival architectural style originated in Europe in the early 19th century. Buildings in this style are based on medieval and early Christian Romanesque cathedrals of the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Romanesque Revival buildings in the United States are simpler than their European counterparts…Identified by their pronounced round arches and heavy, massive stone or brick construction. Most have round towers, squat columns and decorative plaques with intricate or interlacing patterns. ( Our building lost its round tower during the 1906 earthquake and it was omitted from the repairs.) 

A photo from 1976, part of a survey of whether the building had historic significance. It lists the occupant as the “Business Extension Bureau”.

The police department says it was built in 1902, and the city’s building records say it was built in 1903. According to this survey of the building, the story is that it was built from 1899-1900 and then completed in 1902.

 

 

 

Silicon Valley Turned the Mission into Multimedia Gulch :  Silicon Reef rocked the hood during the first dotcom period, turning our police station into an architectural dream party lab. Friends described wild parties and judging by their attire, I believed it. Halloween parties were out of this world. Better than the Castro version I am told.

Architectual mags describe the scene:  Heart O’ The Mission: What have the Silicon Reefers brought to the neighborhood?, A 1997 architecture book has a few photos of renovated interior space, all shiny aluminum and glass…

1997 renovated interior, from International Architecture Yearbook No.5.

Gelfand, Rennert & Feldman, “a leading full-service business management firm for entertainers, purchase the building and supposedly sold it to Tracy Chapman, who installed a studio in the basement, that was flooded during a major event that plagues the area during heavy rains. Rumors of Hollywood settings have popped up.

This statements like these have have fed those rumors: Blade Runner, set in Los Angeles, was inspired by Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, set in San Francisco.