Surveying in San Francisco

[mpallamary]

Howdy San Francisco Surveyors,

Which is the predominant method of land surveying? Are street locations defined by centerline monuments, setting the record width or, are they controlled by block corners, which may result in non-parallel side lines and irregular widths.


Thank you.

[Ian Wilson]

San Francisco is a completely different world of its own due to history, ancient surveys, including pre-US ones, and an earthquake and ensuing fire that sort of mucked around with ownership documentation and other artifices that we rely on elsewhere.

You won't find many centerline monuments. Instead, you'll follow the block diagrams and other official maps to find things like crow's feet chiseled into the corners of buildings.

I would reach out to a few surveyors, including Robert Hanley, who now works with my at Alameda County.

I'll share this and your contact info with Robert and have him contact you directly.

Regards, Michael!

Ian

[LS_8750]

Like Mr. Wilson described, my experience is that the Block Diagrams are crucial in older parts of town. The Block Diagrams came about in the couple years following the 1906 quake in attempt to re-establish the street limits. Old chiseled notches in buildings that existed at the time, cuts in the old granite curbs, these pieces of evidence showing up in the Block Diagrams will control typically.

It of course depends on the area in the City you are working, other parts of town you might treat differently.

[mpallamary]

Thanks! I knew it was different. I am using it to compare with LA and San Diego.

[LS_8750]

Jasper O'Farrell laid out the original downtown SF and LA if I recall correctly.

[mpallamary]

Close. Ord laid out LA.

[Warren Smith]

A. B. Beauvais laid out Sonora, Columbia, Jamestown, and Groveland.
Very few of these mining camp townsites have parallel rights of way.

[mpallamary]

Thanks Warren! More good stuff.