Part 9 – Alemany Boulevard to San Mateo

This west view highlights the Southern Pacific, SP, San Bruno Branch grade crossing at Alemany Blvd. on Mar. 31, 1953.  This update will examine the Dept. of Public Works, Division of Highways, District IV’s appraisal  of the houses around this location, and the final part of the railroad right-of-way west of the crossing to the San Mateo border.

L287-05-Copyright California Department of Transportation, 3326-11, (Image 1 of 24)

The properties to be taken to construct Highway 280 are shown here in a map ca. 1957. The ones to be reviewed in more detail are boxed in color.

L287-10-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1153, (Image 2 of 24)

Shown here are the houses along the north side of Alameny Blvd. in a north view ca. 1956-1957. Appraisal of Parcel 18732, to the far left, is provided.

L287-15-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1153, (Image 3 of 24)

The rear facades of the same set of houses are shown in a panoramic collage with Parcel 18732 to the right or west.

L287-20-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1153, (Image 4 of 24)

Next to review the most westerly section of the SP branch line in San Francisco, Parcel 18415-7. The images to follow will proceed to the San Mateo border. The west view on the right from Mar. 31, 1953 shows the railroad from the Alemany Blvd crossing to the border, the red arrow showing the railroad crossbuck to acknowledge the grade crossing at San Mateo Ave.

L287-25-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, left, 3326-11, right, (Image 5 of 24)

Description, as written in the report District IV report, ca. 1956-1957:  Westerly view from Alemany Blvd. Unimproved Palmetto St. at left. This begins the most westerly parcel of the SP in San Francisco, Parcel 18415-7.

L287-30-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 6 of 24)

Description: Easterly view from Ramsell St. Note level area.

L287-35-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 7 of 24)

Description: Southwest view from Ramsell St. Large nursery at right.

L287-40-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder, 1197, (Image 8 of 24)

Description: Northeasterly view from San Mateo Ave. Note paved street and level area.

L287-45-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 9 of 24)

This diagram ca. 1957 shows the transition at the Alemany Blvd. crossing of SP Parcels 18415-6, right or east, to 18415-7, west or left.

L287-50-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 10 of 24)

More of Parcel 18746-7, here to the west of the crossing, the structures taken south of the right-of-way would figure more into BART than the new highway.

L287-55-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 11 of 24)

Reaching the county border, this from Dec. 1961, this map provides more details about the taking of properties into San Mateo County. It is at that location, outlined by the left rectangle overlapping the border, that the separation of the SP San Bruno Branch and Highway 280 would take place, just by the present BART station at Daly City.

L287-60-Copyright California Department of Transportation, (Image 12 of 24)

A significant component of District IV eminent domain documents for highways is usually taken up by comparable properties recently sold as a measure against to create the appraisals for the properties to be taken. District IV made use of four recent purchases of land by the City of San Francisco to expand McLaren Park, shown here, as the most appropriate sold properties.

L287-65-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 13 of 24)

A map of the area containing the comparable properties is presented here.

L287-70-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 14 of 24)

Having presented information concerning the properties to be taken from the active SP San Bruno Branch, another dimension to be explained is how the negotiations between District IV and the SP came up with the final sum paid to the latter by the State. Shown here reveals internal discussions within District IV from a document dated Oct. 4, 1957.

L287-75-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 15 of 24)

A follow-up analysis from internal District IV discussions ten days later is presented here.

L287-80-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 16 of 24)

This progressed to more direct negotiations with the SP.

L287-85-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 17 of 24)

By Apr. 1958, it appears from these documents that certain oversights of SP-owned land had been made during the previous negotiations, and an amount of a little over 820k was set for the purchase of the SP right-of-way.

L287-90-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 18 of 24)

Next, in sequence within the documents but undated, comes a proposed stipulation that sets a much lower amount.

L287-95-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 19 of 24)

Accompanying the previous stipulation is the document shown here. Reading through this provides justifiable reasons for why the purchase price should be lowered, taking into account that the SP wanted to retain the rails rather than have them salvaged. It would appear that this stipulation would have been conducted by the State since it was in their favor and agreed to by the SP.

L287-100-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 20 of 24)

This internal document from District IV in Sept. 1958 supplies some discussion around some legal issues and suits involving the purchase of the SP land.

L287-105-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 21 of 24)

The document from Sept. 1958 concludes here. The last paragraph makes reference to the SP’s need to obtain permission to abandon the line to Daly City, and, indeed, the filing with the Interstate Commerce Commission was made on Nov. 18, 1958.

L287-110-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 22 of 24)

By September 1958, the revised price for the sale of the SP land appears to have been finalized using the appraised value with no further explanation, left, as has that for one of the parcels of the property owned by the City of San Francisco agreed to a month later, right.

L287-115-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 23 of 24)

Finally, the deal with the SP and City are completed. Next time, more clarity on the impact of the proposed highway on the Muni operation in Elkton. Appreciation to the San Francisco Planning Dept. and Preservation Planner Melanie Bishop for making the District IV files available.

L287-120-Copyright California Department of Transportation, Folder 1197, (Image 24 of 24)