Colombo Building

The Colombo Building, also known as the Drexler Building or Drexler-Colombo Building, is a historic commercial building built in 1913, and is located at 1–21 Columbus Avenue in the Jackson Square Historic District in San Francisco, California.[2][3][4]

Colombo Building
Colombo Building is located in San Francisco County
Colombo Building
Colombo Building is located in California
Colombo Building
Colombo Building is located in the United States
Colombo Building
Location1–21 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, California, 94111 U.S.
Coordinates37.7956°N 122.4037°W / 37.7956; -122.4037
ArchitectReid & Reid
Architectural styleClassical Revival
NRHP reference No.07001469
CHISL No.07001469
SFDL No.237[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJanuary 31, 2008
Designated CHISLDecember 31, 2008
Designated SFDLAugust 23, 2002

The Colombo Building is listed as a San Francisco Designated Landmark since August 23, 2002;[5] a listed California Historical Landmark since January 31, 2008;[6] is listed as one of the National Register of Historic Places since January 31, 2008;[2] and is part of the Jackson Square Historic District which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.[7]

History

The site of the building was the original location for the Bank of Italy, founded in 1904 by A. P. Giannini.[4] During the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the building was destroyed.

In 1931, the two-story building was commissioned by philanthropist Elise Drexler (1866–1951), and was designed by architects Reid & Reid in the Classical Revival-style.[8][9][10][11] It was unusual for women to be philanthropists during this era, and the Columbo building (and Drexler's other commissioned buildings) served as a symbolic path towards in-powering women into independent living.[11]

The Fugazi Bank Building (1909) by architect Charles Peter Paff served as an architectural design reference for the Colombo Building.[2] These two buildings together are framing the gateway to Columbus Avenue and the North Beach neighborhood. The Columbus Savings Bank building, and the former Montgomery Block (now the location of the Transamerica Pyramid) are also located at this intersection.[5]

The early occupants of the building included the Italian-American Realty; E. Jacopelli and Sons, auto dealers; Caeser Podoni & Company, insurance; and Joe Valvo, barber.[5] It was once the location of Ramparts magazine.[12]

City College of San Francisco had planned to create the Chinatown campus inside the Colombo Building, as the school had bought the property and neighboring property in the 1990s; but that plan was thwarted by Aaron Peskin and the Telegraph Hill Dwellers association.[12]

See also

References
  1. "City of San Francisco Designated Landmarks" (PDF). City of San Francisco. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  2. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Colombo Building". National Park Service. December 18, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2022. With accompanying pictures
  3. Michelson, Alan. "Colombo Building, Financial District, San Francisco, CA". Pacific Coast Architecture Database (PCAD). Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  4. Richards, Rand (2002). Historic Walks in San Francisco: 18 Trails Through the City's Past. Heritage House Publishers. p. 165. ISBN 978-1-879367-03-6.
  5. "San Francisco Landmark #237: Colombo Building". noehill.com. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  6. "Colombo Building". CA State Parks. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  7. "National Register Information System – (#71000186)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  8. "Reid Brothers - Elise Drexler". SF Now. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  9. Heritage News. San Francisco Architectural Heritage. 2007.
  10. Pan Magna Plaza: Mixed Use Development: Environmental Impact Report: Final. San Francisco Department of City Planning. City and County of San Francisco, Department of City Planning. 1987. p. 55.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. "National Register #07001469: Colombo Building in San Francisco, California". noehill.com. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  12. Goodyear, Charlie (2006-03-09). "San Francisco, Church's interest a concern: Neighbors object to Scientologists' offer to buy 1912 building". SFGate. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
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