Plans to add six stories atop the skinny two-story structure at 1236 Market Street, which extends through the Mid-Market block to the former gym space at 37 Grove, and convert the entire building into a 105-room hotel have been kicked to the curb.
Instead, the building has traded hands and Compass Family Services, a local non-profit which provides a range of support services around childcare, healthcare, education and employment for homeless and at-risk families with the end goal of finding stable, long-term housing is slated to take the space, the administrative applications for which are making their way through Planning.
Perfect spot for a non-profit… er, no. Zoning in SF is a mess.
This would be an acceptable spot for most non-profits in most places. It is a street location with commercial zoning that is easily accessible by public transit? When other commercial uses are permitted, it would be next to impossible for the city to say only non-profits are prohibited from locating in the space. Frankly, the lot is very narrow and small, so it makes a great location for an office for a small business or non-profit.
Only in a city where priorities seem to be akin to a hat worn on your ass does a proposal for a 105 room hotel on the main commercial thoroughfare get swapped for keeping a deficient 2 story building and allowing use for office like this.
Agreed. This building, and the one next to it, should be demolished and replaced with the tallest buildings zoning allows.
It is the developer who chose to abandon the plans–apparently, they determined it was not a feasible project (at least for them).
Also, the stretch is zoned commercial. You cannot keep a non-profit out–it fits the zoning.
A non-profit that helps homeless families find housing is EXACTLY what this city needs. Stepping over homeless people does not make the city a nice place for anyone.
Just what Mid-Market needs (not): Another service to attract the down and out to that stretch. They should put this on, say Fillmore & California; somewhere that isn’t sharing the city’s homeless burdens and where it won’t counter-act efforts to improve a stricken neighborhood.
Saturday afternoon at Fillmore/California, a young, barefoot homeless guy (who never blinked once…wonder what he was on) kept exposing himself while patrons (with children) were waiting in line to get into the new ice cream shop. He wandered into the shop from time to time. Management finally escorted him outside the premises (although he loitered outside by the door) once we mentioned it to them. Welcome to SF.
There is no reason why Market Street should be the location of non-profits. Certainly, this is not the best land use in San Francisco’s premier business corridor?
How would you stop a non-profit from locating there? The area is zoned commercial. A small non-profit office is no different than a small for-profit business. And, honestly, do you think the check cashing businesses and “discount” stores along that stretch are better?
This is hardly a premier business corridor. It sat blighted through the first dot com boom and remains an eyesore, regardless of the market rate housing complexes going up around it and the few tax break-inspired businesses in the area.
There is a social services on the west end of the block now. Also, the Fox Plaza has a couple of organizations that serve people that need help. That block will never get better as it is.
Perhaps if we razed Fox Plaza and erected an ornate theater…
The building also has an entrance at 37 Grove. This site is perfect for Compass as it provides great access to their other programs, is convenient to public transportation (for their client families and employees) and City Hall.
Compass is a great organization, very well run, and this is a strong location for them. A 105-unit hotel there would be a failure. They mostly cater to children and families and have rigorous requirements in terms of job training and employment…unlike the City of SF homeless sh*t show…