491 Post Street

1. 1913–1915

   Built in reinforced concrete to designs by James and Merritt Reid (Reid Bros.) for the First Congregational Society: a Classical Revival temple-fronted pavilion with a Corinthian colonnade, in the manner of the downtown banks, and the third church on the corner, where the first went up in 1872. Its east windows were later filled in for the St. Francis Hotel's addition.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
2. November 29, 1913

   The First Congregational Church let the concrete work of its new church on the 110 by 137 ft 6 in corner to the San Francisco Artificial Stone Paving Company, for $31,000. Site as recorded: The southeast corner of Post and Mason streets.

   The San Francisco Call, 29 November 1913, p. 7
3. July 25, 1959

   Photographed, showing the First Congregational Church.

   San Francisco Subjects Photograph Collection (SFP 162), San Francisco Public Library
4. July 5, 1964

   Photographed, showing the First Congregational Church.

   San Francisco Subjects Photograph Collection (SFP 162), San Francisco Public Library
5. 1980s

   The First Congregational Church, one of the meeting places of a gay fathers' organisation in the early 1980s.

   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
6. 1985

   Designated San Francisco Landmark No. 177, First Congregational Church.

   SF Planning, landmark designation
7. Feb 2011

   Permit 201102099892 $$$ $249,000

   New 6" fire service & sprinkler system to cover the sub-basement and basement area, 181 sprinklers, new colt backflow preventer, no change of use under this permit. no change to building exterior. interior work only.

8. Oct 2011

   Permit 201110257607 $$$ $45,000

   Reroofing: spray polythene foam roofing application.

9. Oct 2011

   Permit 201110277764 $$$ $1

   To obtain final inspection for work approved under permit application 200801112355. all work is complete. to comply with nov 200722712.

10. Dec 2011

    Permit 201112190941 $$$ $35,000

    Installation of sprinkler monitoring system. no change of use. no exterior work.

11. Mar 2012

    Issued Permit 201203216572 $$$ $30,000

    Install a full building voice fire alarm system. all interior work. no exterior work- a permit is required for layout of building shown on these plans before work can be finaled.

12. May 2012

    Issued Permit 201205049824 $$$ $1

    No work to be done under this permit. establish occupancy load for assembly occupancy only.

13. Nov 2012

    Filed Permit 201211134021 $$$ $50,000

    This permit is for a change of use from church to post-secondary educational institution.

14. Jan 2013

    Permit 201301188360 $$$ $1

    Renewal permit application 200811196923 for final inspection all work has been completed.

15. Jan 2013

    Permit 201301248688 $$$ $500

    Remove wall sign & free standing sign.

16. Aug 2020

    Filed Permit 202008282876 $$$ $30,000

    Priority process - change the use of 491 post from the last legal use of religioius institution to post secondary educational institutional.- abate and close enforcement case 8623 (post-secondary educational institution without a permmit. install of statues on a landmark building).

17. Jan 2021

    Filed Permit 202101223171 $$$ $5,000

    Install single faced electric wall sign (academy of art university logo).

18. Jun 2026

    Issued Permit 202606032410 $$$ $1

    To obtain final inspection for work approved under permit application 201205049824. all work is complete.

9 nominal $1 street-space or sidewalk permits are omitted from the timeline. 2 expired permits are not shown.