There’s not a single American city that enjoys the coveted designation of UNESCO Globe Heritage status, an international categorization that brings focus, tourism and preservation. Could San Francisco be the initially?
That is the vision of a program spearheaded by Karalyn Monteil, the former director of the nonprofit San Francisco Heritage, who is beginning a new position at UNESCO in June.
When a city is designated a Globe Heritage website, it rises above the category of a neighborhood or national landmark—it signifies it is a thing significant to all of humanity.
“Think about the pyramids in Egypt,” Monteil mentioned. “Everyone in the planet desires these to usually be there, and people today would come collectively to shield them.”
The notion of San Francisco as a Globe Heritage website has just moved 1 step closer to realization. Crucial stakeholders—including Wealthy Hillis, San Francisco preparing director, and Diane Matsuda, president of the Historic Preservation Commission—have agreed to launch a job force to pursue the nomination, Monteil mentioned.
But it is not just beauty that tends to make San Francisco special, according to Monteil.
“We should really also highlight the LGBTQ history and culture of San Francisco,” Monteil mentioned. “Because by undertaking so, it would be the only Globe Heritage website in the planet with an LGBTQ theme.”
The Globe Heritage Committee has currently been carrying out an evaluation of exactly where there are gaps on its list, which could finish up providing San Francisco a organic benefit.
“We currently have 30 quaint Italian towns with the church on a hill in Italy, but LGBTQ is nowhere,” Monteil mentioned.
Walkers stroll from Baker Beach to Marshall Beach close to the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. | Maryann Jones Thompson/The Normal
Whilst formalizing a nomination requires an typical of 3 years, the city is not beginning from zero.
“San Francisco has place so significantly work into preparing historic context statements and landmarks nominations,” Monteil mentioned. “A lot of the analysis is out there and currently published.”
Nonetheless, the procedure would be lengthy and could face lots of hurdles.
“A lot of it depends on the politics,” mentioned Francesco Bandarin, director emeritus of the UNESCO Globe Heritage Centre. “The mayor is pretty significant.”
There are also logistical challenges with the designation itself. Element of the purpose no American cities are on the UNESCO list is that, in contrast to other nations, the U.S. demands that all home owners are on board with a Globe Heritage designation—an not possible job when you are searching across the landscape of an complete city, Bandarin mentioned.
But by focusing on organic landmarks—like Golden Gate Park, the biggest park in the country—and iconic landmarks that have only 1 owner such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the city could move forward with its proposal.
“It’s a international icon,” Bandarin mentioned. “But it is not definitely an international city, and this would increase its status.”
Rio de Janeiro, a city that is currently on the UNESCO list, could be utilised as a model, exactly where a complicated of organic and cultural landscapes surrounding the city have been regarded collectively to give the city Globe Heritage status, Bandarin mentioned.
“Whether the procedure is long—or even successful—it’s time to bring some power about the extraordinary attributes that San Francisco has,” mentioned Tia Lombardi, SF Heritage board member who previously oversaw the public affairs applications at the Presidio Trust.
“People are forgetting how exceptionally stunning this city is,” Monteil mentioned.