1530 Buchanan Street

1. 1935

   Built.

2. 1936

   Purpose-built premises for the Japanese YMCA, dedicated in 1936: $25,000 raised within Japantown and about $15,000 given by supporters in Japan paid for meeting rooms, a small chapel and a gymnasium.

   Japantown Historic Context Statement, May 2009
3. 1942

   One of the places in the city where San Francisco's Japanese community was ordered to report for processing in 1942 before wartime removal. The building was let to the USO during the war to serve African American troops.

   Japantown Historic Context Statement, May 2009
4. 1947

   Returned to the Japanese American community after the war and renamed the Buchanan YMCA; in 1947 it and the Japantown YWCA began a joint inter-racial youth programme for African American and Japanese American children.

   Japantown Historic Context Statement, May 2009
5. July 1948

   The Buchanan YMCA, which had served mostly Japanese American patrons before the war and became a central facility for Black men and youth after it. The San Francisco Urban League held its first meeting in the U.S.O. office here in March 1944, and in July 1948 more than 300 residents met here to object to the Western Addition redevelopment plan. It was one of three buildings the A-1 plan spared. Identified in 2024 as eligible for local landmark, California Register or National Register designation.

   African American Citywide Historic Context Statement, adopted 2024
6. July 1948

   More than 300 residents met here in July 1948 to hear the case against the Redevelopment Agency's plans for the neighborhood.

   Japantown Historic Context Statement, May 2009
7. 1958

   The Redevelopment Agency established its Western Addition Project Office in the building in 1958.

   Japantown Historic Context Statement, May 2009
8. August 20, 1964

   Photographed, showing the Y.M.C.A. building.

   San Francisco Subjects Photograph Collection (SFP 162), San Francisco Public Library
9. Mar 1983

   Withdrawn Permit 8301689 $$$ $30,000

   Re-finish wood floor, patch & paint hallway.

10. Apr 1983

    Filing Permit 8303456 $$$ $600

    Additions alterations or repairs.

11. Oct 1984

    Permit 8411634 $$$ $36,000

    Replacement of glass at gymnasium windows & painting of.

12. Jun 1986

    Permit 8606922 $$$ $90,000

    Remove exist. wall; shore exist roof construction.

13. Oct 1987

    Permit 8715661 $$$ $650,000

    Horizontal addition.

14. Jan 1994

    Disapproved Permit 9400508 $$$ $3,000

    Handicap access direction signs, access drinking fountain.

15. Jul 1997

    Permit 9714072 $$$ $1

    Renew appln #9701420/9701421 & 9701422.

16. May 1998

    Permit 9808474 $$$ $100,000

    One stop- renovation of basement, entrance ramp, upg/heating.

17. Jul 1998

    Permit 9813334 $$$ $60,000

    One-stop, upgrade upper floor, demolition/remvoe w.h., boiler, rest @bst.

18. Oct 1998

    Permit 9821334 $$$ $600

    Modify existing sprinkler system.

19. Jan 1999

    Permit 9901281 $$$ $22,288

    Fire alarm system installation.

20. Nov 2018

    Permit 201811145860 $$$ $40,000

    Tear off existing 41 squares of shingles and replace with new same color shingles; on flat sections of roof recoat with coating on all 34 squares of flat roof.

21. Dec 2022

    Permit 202212208808 $$$ $225,000

    T.i. of existing co-working space at main & upper floors, nw interior partition walls & doors to create nw office spaces, includes replaement of fixtures & accessories at restroom due to ada upgrades.

22. May 2023

    Permit 202305258621 $$$ $200,000

    Revision to permit application: 202212208808 replace all windows, doors, fixtures, and finishes damaged in fire to match exotius.

23. Apr 2025

    Permit 202504164555 $$$ $72,104

    Reroofing. no hot work. r-23 insulation provided throughout. product: sure weld tpo white. sri 99.

7 expired permits are omitted. The city's Japantown context statement dates the dedication of the building to 1936; the assessor's roll and Planning's historic resource survey both record 1935.