S.F. LGBT center
building chosen for preservation grant

American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation have announced that the historic San Francisco building housing the city's LGBT community center will receive $50,000 for preservation and repairs. Thousands of Bay Area residents participated in selecting 13 historic buildings to receive portions of American Express's $1 million Bay Area preservation grant.

The Fallon building, home to the San Francisco LGBT center since 1984, was built in the Queen Anne style in 1894 and survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. It also marks the farthest edge of the great fire's devastation on Market Street.

"The citizens of the Bay Area have always been noted for their strong community spirit and local pride, but the level of interest and excitement that surrounded the Partners in Preservation campaign far exceeded our expectations," said Bill Glenn, president of Establishment Services North America and Global Merchant Network Group for the American Express Company.

Other sites chosen include Berkeley's First Church of Christ Scientist, the Japanese YWCA building in San Francisco, and the Cleveland Cascade Park in Oakland. (The Advocate)