37.7798, −122.4266 A locator map appears here once a Mapbox token is configured.
Know This Place

District 5 · Block 0770, Lot 015 · ZIP 94115

Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church

916 Laguna Street

  • Church
  • 2 stories
  • 13,990 ft2
  • 5,562 ft2 lot area
  • 13 rooms
  • 3 bathrooms
  • Wood frame
  • Zoned RM-2
37.7798, −122.4266 Street View appears here once a Google Maps embed key is configured.
  1. 1940s

    The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal congregation took over the former Seventh Day Adventist Church here — one of the mainline Protestant churches the 1950 Sanborn maps show supplanted by African-American congregations.

    Market & Octavia Historic Context Statement, adopted 2007
  2. August 24, 1964

    Photographed, showing the Bethel A.M.E. Methodist Church.

    San Francisco Subjects Photograph Collection (SFP 162), San Francisco Public Library
  3. 1969

    Bethel A.M.E. bought a disused church on this site in the late 1950s and, when it proved too cramped, replaced it with a new building put up between 1969 and 1973. Identified in 2024 as eligible for local landmark, California Register or National Register designation.

    African American Citywide Historic Context Statement, adopted 2024
  4. 1969

    Bethel A.M.E. Church, one of the city's three pioneer Black congregations, moved into its new Modernist church here.

    SF Planning, landmark designation
  5. 1973

    Built.

  6. Apr 1999
    Permit 9907626 $$$ $45,000

    Reroofing.

  7. Nov 2000
    Permit 200011165976 $$$ $22,575

    Reroofing.

  8. Aug 2002
    Issued Permit 200208285100 $$$ $8,500

    Apply feder pt filling on existing structure, install new copper siding (plain).

  9. Dec 2002
    Issued Permit 200212183799 $$$ $1

    Revision to app #200208285100 to cover cross in 24 guage metal sheets with kynar coating.

  10. Jan 2008
    Issued Permit 200801092105 $$$ $25,000

    Replace 12000 sq ft exterior drywall, sheet metal siding. replace 500 sq ft interior drywall at choir room. replace in kind. no structural work.

  11. Aug 2008
    Permit 200808149217 $$$ $325,000

    Construct new elevator from the basement parking area to the second floor. construct a new lift in front of building from sidewalk level to the 1st floor. demolition part of slab, roof and electrical system to allow construction of new elevator and lift.

  12. Dec 2009
    Issued Permit 200912233758 $$$ $2,200

    Elevator recall control & supervisory control unit installation: control panel-1, smoke detectors-4, heat detector-1, relay module-4, monitor module-1.

  13. Aug 2010
    Permit 201008037958 $$$ $1,500

    Revision to appl #200912233758: add (5) five monitor mobules for existing pull stations. add three horns to existing elevator supervisory & recall system.

  14. Nov 2011
    Issued Permit 201111189281 $$$ $3,000

    Automatic fire suppression system upgrade over existing hood. 7 flows used from 11 flow available. tie into fire alarm on separate permit.

  15. May 2012
    Permit 201205100216 $$$ $25,000

    To comply with notice of violation 201225361. replace the sheetmetal siding on the laguna side of the building above the first floor roof line to the cross (approximately 1200 sq ft.) including the tyvek membrane.

  16. Aug 2017
    Permit 201708296244 $$$ $9,000

    Reroofing.

  17. Jan 2020
    Permit 202001303110 $$$ $15,000

    Reroofing.

2 nominal $1 street-space or sidewalk permits are omitted from the timeline. The assessor dates the building to 1973, after this photograph was taken.

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