The Hibernia Bank Building is a Beaux-Arts former bank building at 1 Jones Street, at the corner of McAllister and Market Streets, in San Francisco, California. It was built in 1892 as the headquarters of the Hibernia Savings and Loan Society and designed by Albert Pissis. Slightly damaged in the 1906 earthquake and fire, it re-opened again just five weeks after the calamity. Pissis designed an addition to the building in 1908.
The bank left the building in 1985, and, after a brief period in which it was used by the San Francisco Police Department, the building was vacant for decades, until it was restored and renovated in 2016. As of 2017, the building, re-branded as "The Hibernia", is being subdivided for leasing to tenants who need less than the building's overall of space.
The Hibernia Bank Building is a designated San Francisco landmark.
Early history
In 1892, the bank's new headquarters at 1 Jones Street, on the corner of McAllister and Market Streets, were completed; it was designed by Albert Pissis in the Beaux-Arts style and was referred to by San Franciscans as "The Paragon". In a poll of 20 artists made by the San Francisco Call shortly after the building was completed, 14 of the artists voted for the new building as the "best" in San Francisco; the next building (the Mills Building) received only 4 votes.Ellinger, Mark (ndg) "Fallen from Grace: The Hibernia Bank Building" Shaping San Francisco's Digital Archive @ FoundFerrato, Phillip (August 14, 2012) "Hibernia Bank, Jewel of the Tenderloin" Curbed San Francisco Pissis also designed an expansion of the building, which was completed in 1908.
The building largely survived the 1906 earthquake and fire, taking some damage from the fire. It was one of the first buildings to be restored afterwards, re-opening on May 25, 1906, just five weeks later.
Later history The building was designated an official San Francisco Landmark on August 2, 1981.
The Hibernia Savings and Loan Society left the building in 1985.
The building at 1 Jones Street was used by the San Francisco Police Department beginning in the 1990's as the location for their Tenderloin Task Force until 2000 when the Tenderloin Police Station was completed. The building was then purchased by an out-of-town investor. Eight years later, with the building vacant, it was bought by a local real estate investor for $3.95 million, despite the attempts of a consortium of organizations to create a cultural arts center there, including museums dedicated to radio and music.Staff (ndg) "Hibernia Bank sold for $3.95 million" Gray Area The new owner spent some time looking for a single tenant for the building's of space, but it remained vacant. By 2013. the building was marred by graffiti and the sidewalk in front of it was often the site of drug sales and public urination,Elsen, Tracy (December 11, 2015) "Restored Hibernia Bank Finally Ready for New Tenants" Curbed San Francisco but in early 2016, the building received a $15 million renovation and restoration, along with earthquake-retrofitting.
On May 26, 2016, Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton held a fund-raising event in the renovated building.Keeling, Brock (May 25, 2016) "Hillary Clinton Hosting Event at Historic Hibernia Bank Thursday" Curbed San Francisco
In 2017, not having found a tenant who would take the entire building, the building was re-branded as "One Jones" and began to be subdivided for tenants needing smaller amounts of space.Nevius, C. W. (May 9, 2016) "Hibernia Bank building a symbol of rebirth for the Tenderloin" San Francisco ChronicleSisto, Carrie (April 10, 2017) "In Effort To Attract Tenants, Hibernia Bank Building To Subdivide, Rebrand As 'One Jones'" Hoodline The successful redevelopment of the building is seen as important for the revitalization of the Tenderloin as a neighborhood.Torres, Bianca (April 6, 2017) "Developer has a Jones for this empty historic Mid-Market office building" San Francisco Business Times
See also List of San Francisco Designated Landmarks Hibernia Bank Building (New Orleans), built in 1921 as headquarters for the unrelated Hibernia National Bank
References
External links
https://www.thehiberniasf.com