All stories about "Japantown"

Socket Site picked up the scent on the latest deets on the Japantown redevelopment effort. What started out as truly nabe-centric project is now beginning to smack of "big business," as it were: Local residents are feeling the rub of developer The ADCO Group's proposed 38-story, elliptical shaped phallus tower at 1481 Post Street. The scheme allows for market-rate units built atop tennis courts, with 5 levels of underground parking beneath it all— all well and good, right? What Japantown really has on its hands, however, is a bona fide Catch 22. Though logic dictates that with increased height yields greater density— along with more room for more bells, whistles, and most importantly, units— the nabe is nevertheless uneasy with the idea of such a tall tower setting a precedent for future development in the area. A shorter building will yield a decrease in the number of affordable housing units however, which in turn will give those displaced by redevelopment efforts less to come back to. Sure, the redevelopers have offered to reconsider the plans. But let's be honest: for better or worse, tall buildings tend to beget tall buildings. Looks like Japantown is about to feel the Rincon Hill Effect, no?
· J-Town Concerned About High-Rise Plans [Asian Week]
· 1481 Post Street [website]
· Japantown Plans Revealed [Curbed SF]
· Japantown Revamp: We Smell Condos [Curbed SF]

[Image courtesy The ADCO Group]

As Japantown continues its slow transformation, one Japanese businessman is making sure the neighborhood stays true to its name. More than just another movie theater, the forthcoming j-pop center is "an historic opportunity to show the true value of Japan." At least according to Japanese manga mogul Seiji Horibuchi, who promises a pop-culture paradise of food, fashion, toys, magazines, movies, and—yes—manga. Despite a Shinto purification in November (seriously), it seems like there's a bit of a construction delay on the new center, which is now slated to open in 2009. Oh, and one more thing—we've been scorned before so we don't want to get our hopes up, but Horibuchi also said the new center "might even have high-tech robots." First comes the neighborhood revolution, then the robot revolution. Robots, if you're reading this: 000110011001110011 0011.
· Manga magnate aims to redraw San Francisco [Daily Yommiuri Online]
· Japantown Plans Revealed [Curbed SF]

[Image via j-pop center website]

Geary Street pedestrian bridge. The Berlin Wall. Pedestrian bridge. Berlin Wall. Pedestrian, Berlin . . . logical connection there, right? And yet we are truly oppressed by that overpass. Haven't seen our friends in years. You? Supe Ross Mirkarimi will not be fenced in by the Geary Boulevard arterial— you know, the overpass where one may endure a Godot-like wait for the elusive No. 22. No, he damn well will not. “Geary Boulevard has been the invisible Berlin Wall that’s separated Japantown from the Fillmore,” he has said about the overpass, which city planners hope to raze and redesign during their overhaul of the Japantown area. New traffic signals and pedestrian crossings will be installed while streets will rise to ground-level. We're sure they'll be some landscaping scattered about, too— anything to rid the area of its "sketchy" feeling (as Better Neighborhoods project leader Rosemary Dudley describes it). West side, here we come.
· City may topple Japantown’s ‘Berlin Wall’ [SF Examiner]

2007 saw two new Kabuki-branded developments in Japantown: The Sundance Kabuki Theatre and the Hotel Kabuki. The latter that gets a little love from the Grey Lady herself this weekend. In "The Basics" breakdown, rooms, amenities, and location are reviewed in a just-the-facts kind of style: With it's uniquely Japanese offerings and up-and-coming locale, the verdict is generally positive. "It is efficient, comfortable and friendly yet, with its multifarious bathing options and Japanese touches, genuinely reflects the character of its neighborhood." Previously known as the Miyako Hotel, Hotel Kabuki was renovated and rebranded by Joie De Vivre, proprietors of such San Francisco hotels as the video-game centric Hotel Tomo (or as we like to call it "HOTELTOMO!"), Hotel Adagio, Hotel Del Sol, and many others throughout the Bay Area. Regardless of which scheme is selected, the Hotel Kabuki tower is the Post/Laguna anchor for the new J-town redevelopment.
· Hotel Kabuki [NY Times]
· Curbed Inside: Sundance Cinemas Kabuki [Curbed SF]
· Japan Town Plans Revealed [Curbed SF]

[Image Courtesy NY Times]

Two of the most trumpeted features of the new Sundance Cinemas Kabuki are the green aspects of the design and, if our commenters remarks are any indication, the availability of alcohol. Rest easy, you eco-friendly drunks, the Chronicle reveals a few more details today.

Not only does the new theatre use the more obviously recycled materials shown in our previous photos, but the stadium-style seats will be made from recycled plastic, while the food containers "will be served in compostable corn-based containers and eaten with 'spudware' utensils made from potatoes." And yes, the Chron points out, this means it is possible to digest your fork.

As for the alcohol? The Kabuki will be the only theater in town with a liquor license. Drinkers are invited to enjoy the film from a reserved seat in the balcony and encouraged enjoy the bar or lounge afterwards for some enlightening Post-Cinema Discourse (not included as part of the $3 per ticket amenities fee). The Sundance Kabuki— whose name, now that we think about it, sounds like a sequel to Jackie Chan's "Shanghai Noon"— opens to the general public this Friday.
· Kabuki upgrades the moviegoing experience with dinner, drinks, art [SF Gate]
· Curbed Inside: Japantown's Sundance Cinemas Kabuki [Curbed SF]

This week will see the public opening of the new Sundance Cinemas Kabuki theatre. Rebranded and renovated, some already consider it the most attractive movie house in San Francisco. Designed by Berkeley-based ELS architects, the renovation of the former AMC Kabuki 8 utilizes post-consumer recycled woods, repurposed metals, locally reclaimed resources, and live bamboo plants. And although they're not LEED accredited, the theater strives to maintain an eco-friendly facility by recycling and composting its waste. Complementing their slick new look, the new Sundance Cinema offers some hoity-toity perks targeted towards the more discerning moviegoer: reserved seats, 2 restaurants, live film introductions, and a special over-21 seating area where guests can pair their fine films with fine wines. Intrigued, Curbed stopped in this weekend to grab a few preview snaps.

With Friday's grand opening coming hot on the heels of last week's unveiling of the preliminary plans for the J-town Center, it looks like the much anticipated / much dreaded Japantown rebirth is finally underway. Kanpai!