Moss Flats Building
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Why it's listed
Three stories tall with an attic, this three-unit residence at 1626 Great Highway faces the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco. Contracted in January 1906 and built by carpenter-contractor Charles M. Depew, it follows the Bay Area Shingle style, with a full-width angled bay and a cross gable. It was built as income property for the estate of Alfred T. Moss, with his guardian J. Mora Moss acting for him; the Mosses were relatives of the builder of Oakland's Moss Cottage. At the time, the beach south of Golden Gate Park was a loose community known as Carville, made up of abandoned streetcars adapted as clubhouses, restaurants and cabins. This solid three-story building appears to have been the only one of its height on that stretch of beach. Its generous size and strong construction allowed it to become permanent housing, and it remains one of the few traces of the area's early resort period. Replacement shingles and a later entry porch are the main changes to its original form.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the few survivors of the early ocean-front beach and health resort development south of Golden Gate Park, where most other buildings were converted streetcars. It was built for the heir of J. Mora Moss, who built Oakland's Gothic Revival Moss Cottage. Its size, three-flat plan and sturdy construction let it survive as permanent income housing.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 83001232, listed February 24, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1626 Great Hwy., San Francisco |
|---|---|
| County | San Francisco |
| Listed | February 24, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001232 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Charles M. Depew, builder |
| Architectural style | Bay Area Shingle style (copied by the builder; no architect) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence; the shingles are replacements and the entry porch dates from about 1960, but the original plan, shape and simplicity are described as intact. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 37.75618, -122.50874 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 83001232.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133500640
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.