American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) and the National Trust for Historic Preservation today announced they are awarding $450,000 in preservation grants to three sites in San Francisco. These include the Doolan-Larson building in Haight Ashbury, Nihonmachi Little Friends and the Roxie Theater, the latter two of which also received Partners in Preservation: San Francisco Bay Area grants in 2006. The three selected sites reflect the unique cultural heritage of the City by the Bay.

Created by American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Partners in Preservation program launched in 2006 in the Bay Area. Since then, it has committed more than $22 million in support of more than 200 historic places across the U.S. This October, the Woman’s Building in San Francisco competed in the Partners in Preservation: Main Streets 2018 campaign and secured a preservation grant for $150,000.

“San Francisco is unique in that it welcomes change, yet celebrates its rich history. These three landmarks reflect some of the most important cultural movements that have shaped the city,” said Timothy J. McClimon, president, American Express Foundation. “The Partners in Preservation program launched twelve years ago in the Bay Area and set us on an amazing journey to engage Americans all across the country on the importance of preservation. We are honored to return to the city where this initiative began and continue this critical work.”

“We chose San Francisco as the site of our 2018 PastForward conference because it’s a beautiful and singular world city that’s long used historic preservation as a key urban planning tool to spur reinvestment and enhance communities,” said Stephanie Meeks, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “With the help of our longtime partners at American Express, we’re delighted to have this opportunity to recognize and help support some of the city’s diverse historic treasures.”

The three historical sites receiving grants are:

Doolan-Larson Building, Haight Ashbury – Upper Haight District

Constructed in 1903, the Doolan-Larson building and storefronts have become synonymous with the counterculture of the 1960s. On the corner of Haight and Ashbury streets, the building was home to famed boutique Mnasidika, credited as the birthplace of the bell bottom and a favorite shopping haunt of Janis Joplin. The Grateful Dead were also photographed at the storefront. Noted preservationist Norman Larson lived at the building until his death early this year, after which he donated it to San Francisco Heritage to rehabilitate and preserve it. Larson was instrumental in achieving the building’s designation as a city landmark and its listing on the National Register. This $150,000 grant will support the repairs and restoration of the building’s exterior including the roof, facades, and windows.

Nihonmachi Little Friends – Japantown

Located in historic Japantown (one of just three in the country), Nihonmachi Little Friends is a private, nonprofit childcare center with a mission to provide Japanese/English bilingual, educational childcare in a multicultural context for preschool through elementary school-aged children. Famed architect Julia Morgan originally designed the building in 1932 as the Japanese Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). This is San Francisco’s only pre-WWII building commissioned by and for the Japanese American community and includes references to Japanese architecture. At the time the building was constructed, the Japanese were prohibited from holding land, so they partnered with the YWCA to build it. The building reflects the complex story of San Francisco’s long-standing Japanese community, its internment and disenfranchisement during WWII, as well as its enduring achievements. This $150,000 grant will support the repair and replacement of exterior windows, as well as stucco repair and painting of the building’s exterior.

Roxie Theater – Mission District

One of the nation’s oldest continuously operated cinemas, the Roxie Theater opened in 1909. A nonprofit organization and one of the few independent theaters in San Francisco, the Roxie brings people together to meet and connect through distinctive cinematic experiences and is an important forum for the independent film community. Located in the rapidly changing Mission District, it strives to provide inspiration and opportunity for the next generation and serve as a forum for the film community reflecting the spirit of the diverse Bay Area population. This $150,000 grant will support highly visible upgrades to the building entrance and lobby concessions area, as well as neon sign maintenance.

CONTACT:

AMERICAN EXPRESS
Amelia T. Woltering
212-640-7034
amelia.t.woltering@aexp.com

NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Germonique R. Ulmer
202-588-6475
gulmer@savingplaces.org

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About Partners in Preservation

Partners in Preservation is a program in which American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, awards preservation grants to historic places across the country.

Through this partnership, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation seek to increase the public's awareness of the importance of historic preservation in the United States and to preserve America's historic and cultural places. The program also hopes to inspire long-term support from local citizens for the historic places at the heart of their communities.

About American Express

American Express is a globally integrated payments company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, instagram.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

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