24th Street running through The Mission from Mission Street to Potrero Avenue has long been the center of San Francisco's Latino culture, history and business. Many businesses that still exist today opened in the 1940's and 50's when Mexican workers began settling in the city, drawn by jobs in shipyards and factories. Today, Supervisor David Campos will introduce a resolution to designate the area as the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District. Campos is working with the local merchants and residents association, also called Calle 24, to initiate a series of public meetings about the future of the district. Ideas that come out of community meetings would be combined with information from an in-the-works citywide Latino historic context statement to develop new city laws including zoning restrictions and protections for local murals and businesses. There are now more than 130 storefronts along the 12-block stretch of 24th that is known as Calle 24. These businesses include taquerias, Mexican bakeries and colorful specialty stores and comprise the greatest concentration of Latino businesses in San Francisco. Cultural highlights include the Brava Theater, which hosts plays primarily written by women and minorities, the Precita Eyes Mural Arts and visitors center that takes visitors on mural tours through the neighborhoods, especially Balmy Alley, and the bright, sculpture and mural enhanced 24th Street Mini-Park.
· A Mission for the Mission: Preserve Latino Legacy for the Future [SFGate]
· Calle 24 [Official Site]