2151 Van Ness Avenue

1. 1863

   The Saint Brigid parish, which later built this church, was founded by Archbishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany, who put it in the care of Dominican friars; its first territory ran from Bush Street north and from Larkin Street west to the ocean.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
2. 1864

   An earlier small wooden church stood on the site of the present sanctuary.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
3. 1875

   The Dominicans handed the parish and its earlier church to the diocesan clergy, two years after settling in the Western Addition.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
4. 1896–1897

   The crypt, foundations and basement of the present church were built to plans by Shea and Shea, whose drawing showed a seven-story corner tower.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
5. 1900

   Built.

6. 1902

   Saint Brigid Church, designed by architect Frank T. Shea.

   Architecture, Planning & Preservation Professionals: A Collection of Biographies, adopted 2021
7. 1902–1904

   After a pause in building, the superstructure was completed under Shea and Shea in the Richardsonian Romanesque style.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
8. 1902–1904

   Roughly 90 percent of the walls are clad in recycled San Francisco granite curbstones and crossing stones, bought as streets were repaved and stored on the church lot; it was the city's first granite church.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
9. April 18, 1906

   The 1906 earthquake and fire damaged but did not destroy the granite church, which served as a refuge afterwards.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
10. December 16, 1906

    Repaired after the earthquake, the church was recommissioned on December 16, 1906.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
11. 1930

    A remodeling by architect Henry A. Minton added more seating and gave the church its Late Romanesque Revival front: he moved the narthex wall toward the street, built the four-story corner tower and designed the terra cotta ornament, made by Gladding McBean.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
12. 1942

    A building permit was taken out for remodeling designed by Henry A. Minton.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
13. 1947

    Low sacristies were added at the west end and new stained-glass windows by Harry Clarke Studios of Dublin were installed, with carpets from the Dun Emer Guild in Ireland.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
14. August 22, 1952

    The funeral Mass of Bank of America president Lawrence Mario Giannini, a parishioner, was held at the church.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
15. 1965

    A top story with a steep pyramid roof was added to the corner tower in darker granite, and the apse roof was raised and given a skylight; the rectory south of the church was demolished at about this time.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
16. January 1983

    A three-manual, 85-rank organ built by Fratelli Ruffatti of Padua was installed in the rear gallery, completed in January 1983.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
17. 1994

    The Archdiocese of San Francisco closed the church.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
18. December 1995

    The church was formally determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
19. Dec 1999

    Permit 9926171 $$$ $8,000

    Brace walls parapet on north & south side of building.

20. Dec 2005

    Permit 200512120068 $$$ $15,000

    Abatement of items# 3 & # 30, # 42 as listed in consulting report dated november 2nd, 2005. asbestos abatement of nave ceilings & basement gymnasium. building not occupied.

21. Feb 2006

    Permit 200602074010 $$$ $20,000

    Plaster work on ceiling in nave area, existing lath and framing to remain cosmetic work only.

22. Apr 2006

    Issued Permit M37032

    Verification of address.

23. May 2006

    Permit 200605091125 $$$ $2,500

    Restoration of steel doors & arch in main entrance. strip existing paint & apply new finish. cosmetic work only. entrance on vanness exempted under 1134b.2.1 ex 4.

24. October 17, 2006

    Designated San Francisco Landmark No. 252, Saint Brigid Church.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
25. Jan 2007

    Permit 200701171874 $$$ $500,000

    Seismic retrofit: structural upgrade to existing cathedral. umb retrofit general procedures.

26. May 2010

    Withdrawn Permit 201005061836 $$$ $100

    Academy of art university - replacement of existing copy at existing wall sign. (non-structural).

27. Apr 2011

    Permit 201104214564 $$$ $49,500

    Fire sprinkler permit. voluntary installation of automatic fire sprinklers within the basement level of the building. no change of use under this permit.

28. Dec 2011

    Permit 201112150783 $$$ $35,000

    Install fire alarm system. no change of use. no exterior work.

29. Jan 2013

    Permit 201301248684 $$$ $500

    Remove small indentification sign on facade at ground floor.

30. Feb 2020

    Filed Permit 202002285768 $$$ $5,000

    Priority process - abate/close enforcement case# 8607. pursuant to case# 20080586, change of use from a religious institution (vacant 13 year prior to aau aquired property in 2005) to a post-secondary institution use. cua requested for post secondary educational institutional use in.

31. Nov 2020

    Filed Permit 202011058268 $$$ $3,000

    To install non-electric, wall, single faced sign.

32. Nov 2020

    Filed Permit 202011058270 $$$ $500

    To install non-electric, wall, single faced, non-alluminated sign.

7 nominal $1 street-space or sidewalk permits are omitted from the timeline. 1 cancelled permit is not shown. The superstructure is dated 1902–1904, on foundations of 1896–1897, rather than completed in 1902.