940 Sutter Street

1. 1925

   Built.

2. June 6, 1951

   The Office of the Assessor-Recorder photographed the property for tax assessment. Hotel Empire was at the address.

   Assessor-Recorder Photographs (SFP 23), San Francisco Public Library
3. 1979

   The York Hotel, one of three businesses where an attempt by Hotel Employees and Retail Employees Local 2 to organise workers was defeated in 1979-80.

   Donna J. Graves and Shayne E. Watson, Citywide Historic Context Statement for LGBTQ History in San Francisco, San Francisco Planning Department, adopted by the Historic Preservation Commission November 18, 2015
4. Oct 1983

   Permit 8310162 $$$ $150,000

   This is not any addition or actual alteration of rooms.

5. Apr 1984

   Permit 8404478 $$$ $68,500

   Additions alterations or repairs.

6. Dec 1984

   Permit 8413408 $$$ $130,000

   Alterations to existing bar area plush room cosmetic work.

7. Sep 2007

   Permit 200709122419 $$$ $30,000

   Remove ~ 6ft. of non bearing partition and some soffitt for new bathroom configuration/ new plumbing fixtures.

8. Mar 2011

   Permit 201103293010 $$$ $110,000

   To complete work and obtain final inspection for work approved under permit application 200712311650.

9. Dec 2014

   Permit 201412083220 $$$ $400,000

   On 1st floor - change of occupancy - renovate former restaurant(a2) into 6 new hotel rooms (r1), renovate existing bar into service area & re-open courtyard previously enclosed for restaurant use. mep under seperate permit. n/a ordinance #155-13.

10. Dec 2015

    Permit 201512235872 $$$ $50,000

    Recofigure existing ground floor toilets, exercise room and storage to one guest room, accessible toilets, exersice room and buisness center. add and relocate doors at courtyard to allow two means of egress for public assembly. ref app#201412083220 r-1. n/a for mahersprinklers-fire alarm separate permit.

11. Dec 2019

    Issued Permit 201912311068 $$$ $75,000

    Renovation of the existing vertigo hotel. work is being done to floors 1-2 only. renovations on level, include to lobby/reception area, moving fitness center to new location. adjusting small office space and adding a small kitchen. the level 2 renovations include coverting guestroom to lounge.

12. Aug 2022

    Issued Permit 202208059981 $$$ $60,000

    Add ada chair lift at entry (platform lift) demolish existing entry stair to accomodate new platform lift. build new stairs.

13. Nov 2022

    Withdrawn Permit 202211227047 $$$ $300,000

    Lobby/reception area construction of existing fitness center and existing guestroom 102. create new kitchen and adjusting of office space. the 2nd fl renovation included removing 1 guestroom and converting it into small lounge area.

14. Apr 2023

    Permit 202304175883 $$$ $40,000

    In-kind window replacement, remove existing aluminum windows in guest rooms from north elevation lvls 1-8 and interior court yard elevations lvls 2-8, no increase in sq ft, no change to egress. 125 windows total.

15. Jul 2023

    Issued Permit 202307111882 $$$ $198,000

    1st and 2nd floors: building mep upgrades.no architectural. ref to 201912311068 lobby & mezz remodel.

16. Jul 2023

    Issued Permit 202307111884 $$$ $198,000

    3rd and 4th floors: building mep upgrades.no architectural work.

17. Jul 2023

    Issued Permit 202307111890 $$$ $198,000

    5/f & 6/f: mep upgrades. no architectural work.

18. Jul 2023

    Issued Permit 202307111891 $$$ $198,000

    7/f & 8/f: building mep upgrades. no architectural work. new roof equpment. (entire building upgrade in separate permits).

19. Nov 2023

    Issued Permit 202311271378 $$$ $250,000

    Interior renovation e bars & kitchen. no structural change. mep deferred.

20. Dec 2023

    Permit 202312293253 $$$ $85,800

    T.i. upgrad existing fire alarm slystem to accommodate the 1st and 2nd fl. rennovation changes, install low frequency sounders in all units and include elevator recll.

21. Jan 2024

    Issued Permit 202401103722 $$$ $38,759

    Deferred electrical and plumbing work on existing bar and kitchen, ti under permit application 202311271378.

22. Aug 2024

    Issued Permit 202408098392 $$$ $1,500

    Updated evacuation signage package.

23. The Empire Hotel, designed by Hertzka & Knowles.

    Architecture, Planning & Preservation Professionals: A Collection of Biographies, adopted 2021

DBI holds 51 permits for this parcel, most of them tenant improvements on individual floors. The timeline shows the 24 largest by stated cost, plus the earliest on file; the DBI query in the sources below returns all 51. 1 of them are nominal $1 street-space or sidewalk permits. 5 expired or cancelled permits are not shown. Hertzka & Knowles is recorded as having worked on the Empire Hotel, with no year given; the partnership was formed in 1933 and the assessor dates the building to 1925, so the work was not the original design.