A plugged-in tipster drops us a note:
I thought you may be interested in this very unique development near us in the Inner Mission. It’s an old mural covered church on 24th Street between Florida and Alabama [2917 24th Street] that has housed various commercial enterprises over the years, most recently Mixed Use (now on telegraph hill). This block has been getting nicer and nicer recently (thank God).
Anyway, they’ve gutted it and are putting in five 3-bedroom condos and a commercial ground floor space. Each unit is different, and they’ve kept the original mural covered church façade. It seems pretty cool, and is a refreshing change from the usual bland hideous neighborhood unfriendly loft projects.
Interested (we were) and a refreshing change (it is) indeed.
The mural is a 1978 project of Precita Eyes. And in terms of the condos, at this point little more than floor plans are available on line.
Rest assured, however, that we’ll keep you posted and plugged-in. Or in this case, perhaps vice versa (if we’re lucky).
∙ 2917 24th Street Floor Plans (and listing to be) [2917mural.com]
∙ Precita Eyes Mural Arts [precitaeyes.org]
How did this get past the MAC? They must be losing their touch. 😉 It does look like a very nice re-use of the building, though.
This project took much longer than typical and has been in planning and under construction for several years now – probably due to the delays from the requirement to keep the mural facade intact.
Agree that it is a great re-use of the building, and such a landmark in the neighborhood.
BUT does it creep anyone else out that this used to be a church? I know the church-to-condo/SFR thing is done all the time now, but I think it would be spooky living there.
No, churches don’t creep me out. Maybe if it was a mortuary it would.
Big money condos in ethnic neighborhoods sort of creep me out, tho. Those of you who decried the Lorax 22nd street build, should take note. That aint nothing compared to this. Every hipster eating the crappy food in Boogaloos would have bought one of those if they could. But this? This is damn near front line gentrification.
Murals are nice to look at, but they are just that. I don’t think I’d necessarily want to live in a building painted with one.
“Big money condos in ethnic neighborhoods sort of creep me out, tho.”
That sentiment is exactly why condos cost so much, and why certain neighborhoods- the Mission in particular- remain delapidated and crime ridden. How much are the dues to MAC anyway Fluj? The Mission should be an ideal place for development- close to BART and great whether- yet it is a pitched battle to build anything that doesn’t involve millions of tax dollars given to pressure groups. At least 3400 Ceasar Chavez prevailed, but think of how much cost will be added to each unit due to the approval process.
Prospective buyers should be much more concerned with the quality of the units. I strongly suggest the most thorough inspection possible and research into the people behind this project. One of the agents is an owner and they have a poor reputation for new construction lemons.
“This is damn near front line gentrification….”
What’s wrong with gentrification? I know the MAC would crucify me for political incorrectness–but I think a city benefits more from having neighborhoods with high wage earners who pay lots of taxes, don’t require government social services and repair dilapidated properties rathern the the reverse.
So will the HOA fees include money banked for a future $750,000 art restoration fee instead of a $7500 repaint the front of the building bill every 15 years?
I wouldn’t call 24th street particularly delapidated or crime ridden. But yes, there are pockets of danger in the Mission still. I have mixed feelings on the subject. I still stand by what I said. It’s scarier than living in a church!
I would rather live in an old church or mortuary any day than next to a nimby preservationist.
“What’s wrong with gentrification?”
Nothing is wrong with gentrification if a region provides adequate housing and transportation. With those covered I think gentrification is a positive force on many levels
Without the above conditions we have conflict
My grandparents were immigrants who settled in the Mission and the reason was it was cheap and accessible. That’s what really matters. Trying to preserve that against market forces is a losing battle. It goes without saying that we are failing to provide adequate and accessible housing elsewhere
I used to visit Mixed Use when it was in that location; outside, the building was often tagged, smelled of urine and drug dealers occupied that stretch of 24th. And impossible parking. I’ll be curious what the units are priced at taking these variables into account.
take a look at San Francisco Crime Maps. The numbers of crimes in this area is the very very high.
AS a 6foot tall male, i would not walk alone in this neighborhood at night
My parents used to own a Mexican Produce store on 24th street for over 10yrs and sold it this past Sept-06. The area has changed a lot over the past 2 years. I noticed the change in the people living there, you see more coffee shops and newer restaurants. I would buy in the area but only to flip a property. Since it will change even more for the better in the next years.
I think it’s important to have places where low-income people can afford to live in. You may not want them in your neighborhood, but do you mind when they’re cooking your food at your favorite restaurant? When they’re sewing your clothes? When they’re bagging your groceries? Total gentrification of a neighborhood is unfair and it doesn’t need to happen.
I can’t believe no one called fluj out on the Boogaloos comment. The food at boogaloos is freakin’ awesome!
But on topic, I think I would get sick of coming home to a colorful mural every day, no matter how beautiful and historical.
24th st is definitely improving…meaning it’s gentrifying, which i think is a great thing. the gangbangers need to get their disruptive ass out of here (i’m sick of them.) unfortunatly there are still some violence issues due to gangs and druggies, but the cops are really cracking down on them. i do not feel unsafe in the mish- but i am more careful at night; daytime is no prob at all.
as for all the good things happening, just check out the cool cafes that recently opened up in that part of 24th st- L’s, sugarlump, and sundance. philz cafe has been here for a few years too. right now the ‘hood is getting a better balance of reidents, and has a great, DIVERSE mix of people! it’s actually exhilerating and alot of fun to live in the area. i live just 2 blocks away, so speak from personal experiences.
“I wouldn’t call 24th street particularly delapidated or crime ridden.”
How do you explain the numerous gangs that run all along 24th street? Not sure how much diligence you guys did before moving into the mission but the gangs on 24th street have been there in some form or another for ~30 years. This is not something that you can wave a wand and make dissapear-it will probably take a generation or so to clean up given rent control. BTW-I am speaking from my experience of having grown up in the mission.
Note that these condos are one block away from the Sunset Idea House. It will be interesting to see the price-per-sqaure foot comparison.
The Mish?!
One of the things I LIKE about San Francisco is that people who live in a neighborhood have some say in what happens there. As a prospective home buyer, I am not without mixed emotions on that. But part of the reason you want to move into a neighborhood is because of who is there. For example, I wouldn’t want to live in the Marina or Pac Heights. I like economically and racially diverse neighborhoods. I don’t want a boogaloo’s on every corner. I say good for MAC, even if it means I rent a little longer
I have lived in and around the Mission for over a decade. 24th is a safe zone. 18th, 19th, 2oth 21st and Florida, 26th street — those are the trouble spots. If you know the Mission, you know the places where you need to be careful. If you don’t, then shut it. Too many people on here blah blah blah and really don’t know shit from shine-ola.
If you wouldn’t walk on 24th at night and you are a six foot male, you should probably stay in the Marina where you belong. We don’t want ya. Stay over on Union street, where they may rob you at gunpoint on occasion. Gangs don’t want anything to do with your ass. Get real folks. It’s a city. There’s a lot of commerce and foot traffic on 24th. It is not particularly dangerous. Go do your radius crime study or whatever. 24th is its own thing.
“If you wouldn’t walk on 24th at night and you are a six foot male, you should probably stay in the Marina where you belong.”
I grew up in a much tougher area than anything San Francisco has to offer.I just avoid areass with thugs, gangs and heavy drug use because it is an unecessary distraction. And I have been mugged three times in SF, including being stabbed in north beach. The crime stats are high on 24th street, so i avoid it until the city or the neighbors decide to clean it up
Thank you socketsite for finally posting an article NOT about a 10 million dollar home that only the heirs of the goldrush fortune can afford. Yes, a colorful and vibrant San Francisco DOES exist, contrary to the negative reporting that happens here.
I personally went this past saturday and was incredibly relieved to see a project that was finally done right. I have seen way too many quick construction jobs lately, purely focused on creating as many units as possible in the smallest space possible, Esprit park is the oppposite!! So nice to see that the smallest home starts in the 800 sq. ft. range, 90% of the homes have private outdoor space which comes with the home, and not included in teh square footage. Seems like the great way to get in a green building before the SF skyline expands all the way down to candlestick, and that area becomes the marina. Especially with all the development taking place down at Pier 70, with increased access to the waterfront. I think esprit park offers a lifestyle I could not find anywhere else in the city, especially for outdoor lovers, and people looking for fun urban living with easy access to cal train and the 3rd street light rail