99 Grove Street
Civic Center, Tenderloin · San Francisco, CA 94102
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1882
The Mechanics' Institute moved its exhibition building to this block. The hall ran to nearly 170,000 square feet and could hold more than 10,000 people.
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1906
The exhibition building survived the earthquake and was used briefly as a hospital, then burned in the fire that followed.
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Jun 1909
An accord was reached and the land was leased to the City of San Francisco for the development of the civic center.
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1912
The City of San Francisco bought the land for $700,000, ending the era of the Mechanics' Institute industrial exhibitions.
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Jul 1994
Automatic fire sprinkler system, dry standpipe and fire hose restored.
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Oct 2018
Neon artwork installed along the western elevation, with penetrations limited to existing grout lines, under Historic Preservation Commission motion 0325.
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Dec 2019
Outside-air, mixing and return dampers and filters replaced on the main arena fans, with new motors, bearings, variable-frequency drives and controls.
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Dec 2019
Emergency lighting upgraded through the building, with new fittings and controls.
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May 2023
The Polk Street banquet hall on the first floor renovated — a new wall system carrying decorative perforated metal panels and acoustic material, a new acoustic ceiling and lighting, and accessibility upgrades to the restrooms.
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Dec 2024
New single-ply membrane roof laid over the existing membrane across the low-slope roof, about 65,000 sq ft of roof area.
Six of the 53 filings on this parcel are shown; the rest are rooftop telecommunications installations, fire-alarm revisions, and sign and street-space permits.
Not yet documented: when the auditorium standing on the block was built and who designed it — the assessor's roll and SF Planning both give 1900, which is before the 1912 sale of the land to the city recorded above; and what became of the exhibition building's site between the fire of 1906 and that sale. Submit an update