Martin Building
Also known as: Metropolitan Hotel
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of Grand and Linden Avenues in South San Francisco, this three-story brick building was completed in 1914 as the Metropolitan Hotel and headquarters of the South San Francisco Land and Improvement Company. It was named for William J. Martin, the company's head agent, known as "The Father of South San Francisco." Built with a concrete frame after the 1906 earthquake damaged the company's earlier building, it was then the largest and tallest commercial structure in town. The hotel housed workers of the industries the company attracted until they could buy company homes. The ground floor held the Bank of South San Francisco, the land company offices and shops. The company, which turned a crossroads hamlet into the West Coast's first industrial suburb, occupied the building until 1956. Original features survive, including the hotel lobby, 68 rooms, bank counters and vault, and terra cotta detailing. The building was listed for its role in community development between 1914 and 1946.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion A for community development, as the headquarters of the South San Francisco Land and Improvement Company, which created and developed the city. The building housed the land company, the Bank of South San Francisco and a hotel for workers drawn to the company's industries. It retains its character from the 1914-1946 period.
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 97000043, listed February 14, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 220 Grand Ave., South San Francisco |
|---|---|
| County | San Mateo County |
| Listed | February 14, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000043 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914-1946 |
| Architect / builder | Martin, William J. |
| Architectural style | Commercial Style (described in the narrative as Neo-Colonial) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Hotel with 68 rooms remains in use, with business offices on Linden Avenue; the two Grand Avenue tenant spaces were unoccupied at the time of the form. Street exteriors are in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.65496, -122.40999 (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 97000043.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133522278
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.