1881 Bush Street

1. 1895

   Congregation Ohabai Shalom, formed in 1862, built its temple here in 1895 to a design by the architect Moses J. Lyon, in an eclectic style drawing on Moorish and Eastern European precedent. It is one of only three 19th-century synagogues left standing in California.

   Japantown Historic Context Statement, May 2009
2. 1934

   Bought in 1934 by the Soto Zen congregation as the synagogue's membership dwindled. The building housed the Japanese Zen community for more than forty years, and Shunryu Suzuki taught zazen here to students from outside the community in the 1960s and 1970s; the congregation withdrew in the 1970s to build new quarters nearby.

   Japantown Historic Context Statement, May 2009
3. July 1975

   Offered for sale by the Redevelopment Agency in July 1975 as the Soto Zen Mission, at a minimum bid of $39,600, with priority given to holders of Residential Certificates of Preference — property owners who had lost buildings to eminent domain.

   Japantown Historic Context Statement, May 2009
4. Jun 2000

   Rehabilitate existing type v-n temple replace e type v-n addt with type v1 add type i 6 story to e. temp.

   Complete Permit 200006071948 $$$ $6,500,000
5. Jun 2001

   Street space.

   Issued Permit M16429 $$$ $6,500,000
6. Jul 2001

   One-stop: revision to permit application 200006071948, seismic retrofit, sprinklers and alarms.

   Expired Permit 200107123539 $$$ $1
7. Sep 2001

   Shore sidewalk with steel beams and lagging to excavate mat slab foundation goes with 200006071948.

   Complete Permit 200109148340 $$$ $40,000
8. Oct 2001

   One-stop: mechanical & electrical. work. revision to to 20010712235 & 200006071948.

   Complete Permit 200110221358 $$$ $1
9. Nov 2001

   Provide a new fire sprinkler system to existing temple & new 6 story concrete structure.

   Complete Permit 200111304304 $$$ $103,600
10. Jun 2002

    Rev. appl#200107123539 delete garage exhaust fan & duct syste.

    Complete Permit 200206048210 $$$ $1
11. Jun 2002

    Change commercial kitchen range hood grease duct from dual lined stainless steel to 16ga welded.

    Complete Permit 200206259938 $$$ $1
12. Nov 2002

    Permit related to appl#200111304304 & 200107123539 add bew fire alarm system on all floors.

    Complete Permit 200211141373 $$$ $45,000
13. May 2003

    Installation of ansul fire system in kitchen exhaust hood. p/a 200006071948.

    Complete Permit 200305124300 $$$ $2,000
14. Jul 2003

    To renew app#2001/07/12/3539 for final inspection.

    Complete Permit 200307280513 $$$ $1
15. by 2009

    Designated a City of San Francisco landmark under Article 10 of the Planning Code as the Bush Street Temple, for its architecture and its history as a synagogue. It is the only designated property in the Japantown survey area with a recorded tie to Japanese American heritage.

    Japantown Historic Context Statement, May 2009
16. Jul 2017

    Exiting rooftop to be converted to rooftop garden space, new storage shed, pergola bamboo and wood fence, partial synthetic turf, planting boxes- sprinklers for shed and emergency lighting separate permits.

    Complete Permit 201707131768 $$$ $50,000
17. Sep 2019

    Rooftop: modify fire sprinklers system in area of work, all main piping to remain as existing, all areas outside area of work are to remain, add (1) fire sprinkler, upright. ref t.i. pa201707131768.

    Complete Permit 201909262836 $$$ $5,000
18. Dec 2024

    Reroofing. hot works.

    Complete Permit 202412166918 $$$ $30,000

2 nominal $1 street-space or sidewalk permits are omitted from the timeline.