You’ve still got a couple of weeks to perfect that Tongan war cry and dig out your favorite Polynesian shirt prior to the public hearing on the proposed revitalization of the Fairmont Hotel and fate of the Tonga Room scheduled for June 10.
In the meantime, San Francisco’s Historic Preservation Commission has taken up the debate but so far hasn’t come to any consensus (but has identified some concerns).
Historic ? No.
Worth preserving ? Yes.
I wish they’d preserved the free hors d’ourves (policy) they used to have at happy hour there
Relocate it to Pier 29 or 48 or other tourist-friendly locale. To make it pencil out, team-up with Cirque du Soleil for a permanent polynesian themed water show (as they did with “O” in vegas).
“Relocate it to Pier 29 or 48 or other tourist-friendly locale.”
Assuming you mean Pier 39, this is an excellent idea. It might even draw locals there.
“To make it pencil out, team-up with Cirque du Soleil for a permanent polynesian themed water show (as they did with “O” in vegas).”
Neuvo arty-trendy retro kitsch ? Terrible idea !
What about the old Ginsburg’s Bar on Bay Street? Bet it’d be a big tourist draw. Might have some problem with the neighbors after the whole Suede fiasco.
This is ridiculous. Do we really want to let the city force someone to keep a business going that is losing money just because a few people find it kitschy? I suspect the real reason for the fuss (at least at some level) is that people are against the condo proposal and are using the Tonga Room as cover. I’m sure the operators of the hotel would be happy to sell the business and the FF&E to a new operator who’d be willing to relocate it somewhere else. I hope when I want to close my coffee shop down and retire, someone won’t declare it “historic” and tell me I can’t close my doors.
Why are people against the condos? If the hotel is not profitable, these seems a good solution. How do condos in a building of the same shape and footprint affect anyone negatively?
“Why are people against the condos?” -Conifer
You must be new in town
I am new in town. Just 34 years.
Condos people are against are conversions or new construction. This is a replacement for a largely vacant tower that already exists.
Unless you are implying that San Francisco leftists are irrational? How could you say a thing like that?
As a good Chicago Democrat I will do more then imply, SF leftists ARE irrational.
I still don’t see how the heck it is anybody’s business what someone decides to do with the interior of their own building as long as their renovations are up to code and not a hazard to the public…
This is beyond ridiculous.