Historic Civil War-era homes in the Presidio being revitalized

by Eric Cagan

They are among the oldest buildings in the Presidio, dating back to the Civil War. Now, a half-dozen historic former officers' homes along Funston Avenue have been given new life.

"They are Presidio landmarks and their rehabilitation is an important part of our mission to preserve and protect the park's historic buildings," says Frank Kenney, project superintendent with the Presidio Trust. "And the best way to preserve a building is to make it useable."

The Presidio Trust is responsible for managing the national park's day-to-day affairs. The wood frame buildings were constructed in a simple, Victorian style during the 1860s to house officers and their families.

Over the years, the Army added bay windows, gables and dormers, and enhanced the streetscape, often referred to as "officers' row," with street lamps, white picket fences and gardens.

In 2007, the Presidio Trust began transforming six of the 19th century quarters to 21st century offices. Several other buildings in the neighborhood had previously undergone a similar upgrade and are now occupied by a variety of organizations, from a day care center to a psychotherapy office. Special care was taken to protect the buildings' historic character, inside and out, while adding modern necessities.

"We gave them a complete remodel, from the plumbing and electrical systems down to the wallpaper. We also integrated access for the disabled," Kenney said.

Funston Avenue is one of San Francisco's oldest streetscapes. Constructed less than 20 years after the U.S. Army took control of the Presidio, the buildings sit atop remains of the original Spanish fort. Presidio archaeologists have been studying the remains of El Presidio since the post became a national park site more than a decade ago.

Repairing the homes while also protecting the artifacts buried beneath was a challenge.

"We couldn't dig in a sensitive archaeological zone," explained Michael Lamb, historic landscape architect with the Presidio Trust. "So we had to find creative solutions."

Since moisture is an enemy to artifacts, Lamb designed an irrigation system, "kind of like a rooftop garden," that minimized the amount of water that dripped into the soil.

Working from photographs of the neighborhood taken in the 1920s, Lamb has spent the better part of the last year recreating the gardens and landscapes of that era. The finishing touches are now being completed on the buildings and several have already been leased.

Eric Cagan is a writer with the Presidio Trust.