House of Latin Rock Wins Landmark Status After Emotional Testimony

The San Francisco Land Use and Transportation Committee turned a Monday morning hearing into a celebration of the city's Latin rock heritage, unanimously advancing 23 landmark designations and a new tool to make illegal dumpers pay the full cost of cleanup.

• Mission District's House of Latin Rock designated a city landmark after a dozen community members — musicians, family, and mentees — packed the hearing to honor owner Richard Segovia and the building's six-decade legacy
• New ordinance lifts the $1,000 fine cap on illegal dumping, allowing Public Works to recover full cleanup costs from repeat offenders
• Twenty-one District 8 properties gain landmark protection in a single batch vote, from an 1860s farmhouse to the mansion where the Grateful Dead cut their first demos
• Engine Company No. 33 — SF's last horse-drawn firehouse — becomes the first landmark designation in District 11

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A Living Monument to Latin Rock

The committee's most emotional item was the Article 10 landmark designation of the House of Latin Rock at 2880 25th Street, a private residence and cultural hub in the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District that has served as a rehearsal space, recording studio, and mentoring center for decades. The hearing drew roughly a dozen speakers — family members, legendary musicians, and young students — and fell, as multiple speakers noted, on Carlos Santana's birthday.

Why it matters: The designation protects both the building and its full-facade mural — painted by Precita Eyes' Urban Youth Arts program — depicting more than 87 local musicians alongside Chicano and Aztec motifs. It is the only mural in San Francisco dedicated to documenting the complete history of the Latin rock genre. Notably, artist Michael Rios created the cover art for Santana's multi-platinum album Supernatural at the house.

Where things stand: Supervisor Jackie Fielder, who represents District 9, introduced the ordinance and framed the building as irreplaceable. "The property, owned by native San Franciscan Richard Segovia, who is here today and known by the community as the House of Latin Rock, serves as a physical anchor for the Latin rock music movement," she said.

Alex Westoff, a planner with the Planning Department, confirmed the Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously for the designation in May 2026, finding the property eligible under Criterion A (events and social history) and Criterion C (architecture and high artistic value). "The Historic Preservation Commission found that the House of Latin Rock is one of the Mission District's most significant cultural and artistic landmarks deeply tied to the origins and evolution of Latin Rock," Westoff said.

The public comment period was extraordinary. Richard Segovia, the property's owner, who is battling leukemia, spoke first. "Today is Carlos Santana's birthday, and now we're here working to make this house the House of Latin Rock on his birthday. I mean, you couldn't set that up," he said.

Richard Bean, the singer and songwriter behind Malo's 1972 hit "Suavecito," described knowing Segovia for more than 50 years and praised him for making the house both a working studio and an open gathering place for the community. Cassandra Segovia, Richard's daughter, delivered an emotional plea: "A few years ago, my father was diagnosed with leukemia. As his daughter, watching him face that battle has been one of the hardest experiences of my life. But what has inspired me most is that even through treatments and difficult days, he has never stopped fighting for his mission."

Other speakers included Martin, a pastor who first visited the house as an 8-year-old and later became lead singer for Malo in 1993; Issa Hayes, a young student of Segovia's who credited him with helping her get into Ruth Asawa School of the Arts; Maurice Salinas, founder of the Malibu's band; Tony Vella, a musician and SAG-AFTRA stunt coordinator; Jim Corder, director of the Walk of Fame at the Civic Center; Arturo Carrillo of Waldenhouse Health Right 360; and several other family members and community supporters. All urged a yes vote.

Decisions: The committee voted 3-0 to send the ordinance to the full Board of Supervisors as a committee report. (For: Supervisor Chyanne Chen, Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, Supervisor Myrna Melgar; Against: none; Absent: none.)

What's next: The item could appear on the full board's agenda as early as the next board meeting.

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New Tool Targets Repeat Illegal Dumpers

Supervisor Danny Sauter introduced an ordinance amending the Public Works Code to allow the Department of Public Works to pursue administrative cost recovery for illegal dumping cleanups — replacing the current $1,000 fine cap that Sauter called inadequate for the scale of the problem.

The basics: Under current law, even a cleanup costing thousands of dollars in labor and materials is capped at a $1,000 penalty. The ordinance creates an administrative enforcement pathway to recover the full cost.

Why it matters: "When I say illegal dumping, I'm of course not talking about someone littering a candy bar wrapper on the side of the street. I'm talking about much more calculated, persistent" dumping, Supervisor Sauter said, describing weekly incidents involving household contents and construction debris.

Where things stand: "We are currently capped $1,000 fine even for some of these larger debris and illegal dumping sites. Our legislation here simply allows us to pursue an administrative pathway to pursue cost recovery," Supervisor Sauter said. He also acknowledged that DPW's enforcement team is understaffed and pledged to work with the mayor's office on staffing, calling for a separate hearing on broader illegal dumping enforcement.

Vice Chair Chyanne Chen expressed strong support. "San Francisco has an illegal dump problem. And I think this issue is not really new to us. I hear from my residents in my district as well, and I know that this is a persistent concern of residents throughout the city," she said. Chair Myrna Melgar added herself as a co-sponsor. No public comment was received.

Decisions: Passed 3-0 as a committee report to the full board. (For: Chen, Mahmood, Melgar; Against: none; Absent: none.)

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Twenty-One District 8 Properties Landmarked in One Vote

The committee heard items 4 through 24 together — 21 ordinances designating landmarks across Board President Rafael Mandelman's District 8, spanning neighborhoods from the Castro to Glen Park to Haight Ashbury.

Why it matters: The batch designation is part of the city's SF Cultural Heritage Program under the Family Zoning Plan, which aims to protect historic resources as San Francisco pursues ambitious housing production goals. "As part of the broader Family Zoning Plan, the city is committed to ensuring that growth associated with ambitious housing production goals is aligned with San Francisco's long standing dedication to preserving historic places," said Alex Westoff of the Planning Department.

Where things stand: Rene Bjoy from Board President Mandelman's office presented the items, noting that initiation resolutions were previously heard in committee in February and reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission in May. "These properties span a remarkable range of architectural styles, eras and histories, from the Phoenix Brewery on Noe Street, a remnant of the neighborhood's 19th century commercial life, to the James C. Hormel Mansion," Bjoy said.

Among the standout properties:

• James C. Hormel Mansion — home of America's first openly gay U.S. ambassador
• Richard Spreckels Mansion / Buena Vista Studios — "In the mid-1960s it was the first hippie friendly recording studio where the Grateful Dead recorded their first set of demo tapes," Westoff noted
• Phoenix Brewery — a remnant of 19th century Eureka Valley commercial life
• Fernando Nelson Home — residence of a developer who built more than 4,000 San Francisco homes
• Tietz-Beneke House — Glen Park's oldest structure
• Early Haight Ashbury Farmhouse — once part of a dairy farm, among the earliest properties in the neighborhood

Decisions: The committee voted 3-0 to recommend all 21 ordinances to the full board. (For: Chen, Mahmood, Melgar; Against: none; Absent: none.)

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SF's Last Horse-Drawn Firehouse Gets Its Due

Vice Chair Chyanne Chen introduced the landmark designation for Engine Company No. 33 at 117 Broad Street in the Ocean View neighborhood of District 11. Built in 1896 to protect a planned women's college that was never constructed, the firehouse was the last horse-drawn unit in the San Francisco Fire Department, not converting to motorized vehicles until 1921.

Why it matters: "District 11 is a part of the city where there has been relatively less landmarking of the architectural and cultural resources," Supervisor Chen said, expressing hope this would be the first of many.

Where things stand: Westoff noted the firehouse is among the best-preserved interior historic firehouses in the city and was dispatched to assist a fire in nearby Colma — a connection to San Francisco's first mutual-aid fire response. The building was converted to a private residence in 1974. No public comment was received.

Decisions: Passed 3-0. (For: Chen, Mahmood, Melgar; Against: none; Absent: none.) The ordinance heads to the full Board of Supervisors.