This walking tour will critically explore the legacy of the Western Addition Redevelopment Area, going beyond the icons of St. Mary's Cathedral, Marquis & Stoller's St. Francis Square Cooperative, and Minoru Yamasaki's Hotel Kabuki to focus on lesser-known projects by significant California architects and landscape architects. Projects will include a community center by African American architects Carey Jenkins and Charles E. Fleming, a park designed through extensive community engagement by landscape architect Peter Walker, low income housing by notable local and Southern California architects, and an unexpected reuse of a former Acme beer brewery as the base of an apartment complex by Joseph Esherick. The tour will dive into the realities of the unkept promises of redevelopment, the devastation that the program had on the predominantly Black neighborhood of the Fillmore--known as the "Harlem of the West" for its vibrant cultural and artistic scene, including many Black-owned businesses--and what James Baldwin referred to as "Negro removal."
This Tour Day event is free for current Docomomo US Members! Consider becoming a member today to get a free ticket, and discounted tickets for future events! You can become a member, or check your current membership status here. This walking tour is part of the annual Docomomo US Tour Day series, which includes events put on by many of the regional chapters and friend organizations.
Whether or not you can attend our walking tour, if you want to learn more about redevelopment in Western Addition, we highly recommend the 1999 documentary program produced by KQED Fillmore Neighborhoods: Hidden Cities of San Francisco.
Image Credit: San Francisco Public Library, History Center (SFH 371)