281–285 Ellis Street

1. 1922

   Built as stores and loft, to the design of the architect Leo J. Devlin. Two storeys over a basement, reinforced concrete structure, two-part commercial composition.

   National Register of Historic Places nomination, National Park Service
2. 1969

   Nature's Herb Company, a decades-old San Francisco business and the first source of herbs for the formulas behind Herbs & Things (1972), a book that has stayed in print ever since.

   Donna Graves for San Francisco Heritage, Citywide Historic Context Statement for Counterculture (1965–1975), San Francisco Planning Department, adopted 17 July 2024
3. Jul 1983

   Permit 8307355 $$$ $13,000

   Additions alterations or repairs.

4. Apr 1986

   Filing Permit 8604624 $$$ $1,500

   Existing rest area to be legalized 2nd floor mezzanine.

5. Apr 1994

   Permit 9405329 $$$ $30,000

   Remodel existing retail on g/f to cashing checks(handicap toilet).

6. Dec 2008

   Permit 200812118355 $$$ $225,000

   Convert existing commercial space at third floor and 1/2 of second to a single family residential unit. new kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and 2 bedroom.

7. Aug 2009

   Permit 200908034034 $$$ $1

   Revision to 200812118355 to delete 2 hour fire assemblies per code sectio 508.3.2.

8. Oct 2009

   Permit 200910219456 $$$ $1

   Revision to application 2008/1211/8355 & 2009/0803/4034. to relocate furnaces, waterheathers, fibre optic controls to attic from utility room.

9. Jan 2010

   Issued Permit M187309 $$$ $1

   Street soace.

10. Dec 2013

    Permit 201312124064 $$$ $98,000

    Tenant improvements, no structural partitions, ada restrooms.

11. Mar 2014

    Permit 201403181056 $$$ $85,000

    New storefroint and entry and mep. refer to permit application 201312124064.

8 nominal $1 street-space or sidewalk permits are omitted from the timeline. 4 expired or cancelled permits are not shown.