Russian Hill-Macondray Lane District
The National Park Service has not published a boundary polygon for this district; the map shows the listed properties inside it and the district's reference point.
Why it's listed
Tucked onto the steep north slope of Russian Hill in San Francisco, this small district centers on Macondray Lane, a narrow public right-of-way used only as a footpath and lined with trees, gardens, brick, cobblestone and boardwalk. Eighteen two- and three-story frame houses and flats, plus the lane itself, sit on the surrounding block along Green, Jones and Taylor Streets. The earliest building dates to 1878, and four buildings survived the 1906 fire; nearly all the rest were built within the next three years, mostly by contractors rather than known architects. Styles are vernacular Colonial Revival, Craftsman and Mission Revival, with Italianate and Queen Anne examples. The district was recognized for its architecture and its village-like atmosphere, which contrasts with the surrounding streets of small apartment buildings. Residents included painter Giuseppe Cadenasso, writer Charles Caldwell Dobie, and humanitarian Anita Whitney, along with a prosperous Italian-American community.
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) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1878-1930 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Vernacular renditions of Colonial Revival, Craftsman, or Mission Revival; also Italianate and Queen Anne examples |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Art, European, Architecture, Social History |
| Acreage | 1.6 |
| Boundary source | not published |
| Full listing page | Russian Hill-Macondray Lane District (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.