Can a historic property be demolished or altered?
Yes. If a local jurisdiction grants demolition permits “by right” through a ministerial process, a historic property could be demolished. If demolition permits are discretionary, a historic property can still be demolished, but not without a formal process to determine alternatives to demolition, a Statement of Overriding Conditions and adequate compensatory mitigation. In California, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) outlines the process to determine the fate of threatened historic properties.
About the Author
Andrew Shaffer is the former Engagement Director at the California Preservation Foundation. Prior to joining CPF, he studied at the University of San Francisco and the University of Wisconsin, where he specialized in LGBTQ history, preservation, and activism. Andrew is a transplant to San Francisco and loves showing off his adopted hometown to people from all over the world.