Curbed SF: All Posts by Susie CagleLove where you live2010-06-11T16:00:00-07:00https://sf.curbed.com/authors/susiecagle4811979/rss2010-06-11T16:00:00-07:002010-06-11T16:00:00-07:00Potable Quotables to Round Out the Week
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<p>· <a href="http://www.sfbg.com/2010/06/09/when-rich-can-sit-sidewalks">"San Francisco is increasingly <strong>giving public streets and sidewalks away to large corporate festivals</strong> where rich, mostly white people stumble around with open containers, drunk and disorderly."</a> [SFBG]<br>· <a href="http://theoutersunset.com/2010/06/11/do-you-want-fries-with-that/">"Whenever I look at Art Deco homes a <strong>part of me thinks of fast food</strong> as well."</a> [the Outer Sunset]<br>· <a href="http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Historic-items-sold-to-benefit-academy-96119284.html">Alamo Square's Sacred Heart Church <strong>"continued its spiral into cultural oblivion."</strong></a> [Examiner]<br>· <a href="http://vegansaurus.com/post/677052975/beehive-market-berkeley">The Beehive Market is a weekly <strong>"green lifestyle market" launching tomorrow in Berkeley</strong>.</a> [Vegansaurus]</p>
https://sf.curbed.com/2010/6/11/10511906/potable-quotables-to-round-out-the-weekSusie Cagle2010-06-11T15:15:04-07:002010-06-11T15:15:04-07:00To-Do: Muni Art Show
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<p>Another afternoon event: <a href="http://www.munidiaries.com/2010/06/04/were-going-outbound-to-secession-art-and-design-next-friday/">Muni Diaries is sponsoring an art show</a> "in which a group of artists will render their views of our beloved public transit in the form of paintings, graffiti, and more." <em>Beloved</em>, hm? It all happens tonight, <strong>6:30 p.m., at Secession Art and Design, 3361 Mission Street</strong>. [Muni Diaries]</p>
https://sf.curbed.com/2010/6/11/10511914/to-do-muni-art-showSusie Cagle2010-06-11T14:30:00-07:002010-06-11T14:30:00-07:00My Mid-Market Madness
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<p>I thought I'd close out my run here as guest editor with something of a guest editorial. With <a href="http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2010/06/07/everyones_got_midmarket_madness.php">all the coverage lately of Mid-Market</a>, and the newly recycled obsession with how we're going to fix it, I'm afraid we've overlooked one of the root causes of the place's problems. Yes, minor crime, not to mention the social service ghetto, really takes a toll on the neighborhood. But <strong>sometimes the red tape and San Francisco's </strong><a href="http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2010/05/17/second_times_the_charm_for_midmarket_plan_sans_stubborn_supe.php"><strong>obsession with planning perfection</strong></a><strong> can be even more detrimental</strong>. Mid-Market has suffered for decades because no one can agree what to do with it. Why would property owners want to fix up and rent their spaces if the city's about to decree a redevelopment zone and they could just sit, wait and cash in instead? For all the excitement around <a href="http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2009/12/11/cityplace_now_open_to_comments_will_underground_parking_survive.php">the CityPlace mall project</a>, <strong>those same developers, CFRI/Urban, also control three parcels across the street -- that sit empty and in disrepair</strong>. I hate to think what might happen to <a href="http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2010/05/13/the_citizenry_speaks_up_on_cityplace_asks_to_save_old_buildings.php">those buildings on the east side of Market between 5th and 6th</a> if CityPlace isn't approved. Because the answer is: <strong>probably nothing</strong>.</p>
<p> In short, no, <a href="http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2009/10/05/storefronts_return_sort_of.php"><strong>murals and sculptures</strong></a><strong> and </strong><a href="http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2010/06/10/massaging_art_into_midmarket.php"><strong>"locative" map projections</strong></a><strong> alone aren't going to clean up the area</strong> and make it livable -- nay, enjoyable! -- for the local residents, let alone tourists, office workers and theater-goers. (Remember, I even called these things <a href="http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2010/03/10/another_magnifying_glass_on_the_various_failures_of_midmarket.php">"stop-gap measures that appeal to the city's upper cultured class"</a>!) But between <a href="http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2010/06/08/sfmta_calls_market_changes_a_success.php">new traffic rules</a> that create a more pleasant environment for restaurant-eating, window-shopping pedestrians, plans for additional event programming here, plus <a href="http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2010/03/04/midmarket_coming_attractions_include_strand_theater_ministudios.php">all</a> <a href="http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2010/05/19/warfield_condos_have_room_for_some_enterprising_residents_too.php">that</a> <a href="http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2010/03/11/new_trinity_place_resident_digs_nice_touches_and_spaciousness.php">new housing</a> in the pipeline, and even new places to sit down, it seems that finally a critical mass of people have taken an interest in improving Mid-Market without a Master Plan.</p>
<p> If Mayor Newsom wants his legacy to be a newly cleaned-up Mid-Market, he's got a long way to go. But for once, for this case, I am reserving some of my snark. Because I think something is happening there. Little things. <strong>Praise little things in San Francisco.</strong></p>
https://sf.curbed.com/2010/6/11/10511920/my-mid-market-madnessSusie Cagle2010-06-11T13:30:00-07:002010-06-11T13:30:00-07:00Weekend Open House Report
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<p><em>The weekend open house slog is nigh, and we're here to help! Agents, have a listing of your very own? </em><a href="mailto:sf@curbed.com"><em>Hustle</em></a><em>!</em></p>
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<p><strong>Location:</strong> <a href="http://sfarmls.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Sanfrancisco&PRGNAME=MLSPropertyDetail&ARGUMENTS=-N100055093,-N246688,-N,-A,-N23839559">584 Clipper Street</a>, Noe Valley<br><strong>Size:</strong> 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2,070 square feet<br><strong>Price:</strong> $1,395,000<br><strong>Pitch:</strong> "Very special view home in Noe Valley. Main floor is great for indoor/outdoor entertaining, modern kitchen opens to a large deck w/ outstanding views. Charming house, w/ b'ful period details. 2 BRs upstairs, 2 BRs (or 1 BR + family rm) + office down. There is a second spacious deck off the 4th BR/media room & outdoor spa adjacent to the gorgeous landscaped garden and koi pond. Lots of storage, washer/dryer, tons of natural light & great loc'n - footsteps to 24th St, Douglass Pk, easy hwy access."<br><strong>Open House:</strong> Sunday, June 13, 2-4 p.m.</p>
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<p><strong>Location:</strong> <a href="http://sfarmls.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Sanfrancisco&PRGNAME=MLSPropertyDetail&ARGUMENTS=-N100055093,-N248618,-N,-A,-N23839559">540 Delancey #402</a>, South Beach<br><strong>Size:</strong> 2 bedroom, 4 bath, 2,900 square feet<br><strong>Price:</strong> $2,995,000<br><strong>Pitch:</strong> "Penthouse warehouse. Single level living space extends to large terrace thru mutiple glass doors to enormous patio. Corner unit, sunlight on all sides. Exposed beams, reclaimed gymnasium wood floors, soji-style walls, glass barn slider doors, custom cabinetry. Stylized remodeled flows thru every room. Separate bedroom suites each w/ ensuite bath. Excellent South Beach location in boutique building @ Historic Cape Horn brick warehouse. Close to Embarcadero, restaurants, cafes."<br><strong>Open House:</strong> Sunday, June 13, 2-4 p.m.</p>
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<p><strong>Location:</strong> <a href="http://sfarmls.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Sanfrancisco&PRGNAME=MLSPropertyDetail&ARGUMENTS=-N100055093,-N244789,-N,-A,-N23839559">2308 A Divisadero</a>, Pacific Heights<br><strong>Size:</strong> 2 bedroom, 2 bath, 1,900 square feet<br><strong>Price:</strong> $1,140,000<br><strong>Pitch:</strong> "Motivated seller wants it DONE! Nu price redux, NOW DOWN 180k! HIP loft-like VIEW condo; penthouse unit in 4-unit bldg. has it all: elevator, 2BR, 2Ba, 2FPL, master-suite, sxs parking, in-unit laundry, wonderful light and tons of gorgeous SPACE! Updated kit. w/ Wolf range and new apps, new ba, new hardwd flrs, new carpet, new lighting, new central heat, new laundry, new doors/ hardware, new gas fireplaces, new sound sys. , and stunning new finishes. Lovely city views space, space, space!"<br><strong>Open House:</strong> Sunday, June 13, 2-4:30 p.m.</p>
https://sf.curbed.com/2010/6/11/10511934/weekend-open-house-reportSusie Cagle2010-06-11T12:45:10-07:002010-06-11T12:45:10-07:00Lil' Richmond Destructoporn
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<p><a href="http://richmondsfblog.com/2010/06/11/long-vacant-property-at-fulton-5th-avenue-under-development/">It looks like things are moving at 2900 Fulton and 5th Avenue.</a> A four-story mixed-use building is taking over where an old laundromat sat vacant for nearly a decade. No word yet on what might occupy the ground-floor commercial space. [Richmond SF Blog]</p>
https://sf.curbed.com/2010/6/11/10511940/lil-richmond-destructopornSusie Cagle2010-06-11T11:40:00-07:002010-06-11T11:40:00-07:00$35M Drama Plays Out at 351 California
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<p>J.K. Dineen at the SF Business Times reports on this <strong>"opera ready to be written."</strong> Yesterday morning Istanbul-backed Polidev International obtained their first SF property by plunking down <strong>$35 million</strong> for the commercial real estate at <strong>351 California Street</strong>. There were no other bidders and the auction was over in a <strong>minute and a half</strong>. It seems a fitting conclusion for the property, which from 1997 to 2009 <strong>belonged to troubled 'mogul' Luke Brugnara</strong>. Brugnara lost the property last year, well before he went to prison this May, when 351 California defaulted to the mogul's lender, Danny Pang. A couple months later, the SEC, claiming he'd defrauded investors out of millions, seized Pang's properties. A few months after that, <strong>Pang committed suicide</strong>. Said Grubb & Ellis managing director, <strong>"It’s like a Danielle Steel novel right here.”</strong> Now, a new chapter opens in that novel, as Polidev dips its toe into the SF market, with plans "to acquire multiple Bay Area properties."</p>
<p> Was it worth the <strong>$250/square foot</strong>, though? The Bay Area Commercial Real Estate Blog (you guys need a catchier title) calls the building "very tired" and "overpriced" -- and, perhaps, not in the best state to fill its 30% vacancy. There's currently <strong>18,000 square feet of retail space</strong> up for grabs.<br>· <a href="http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2010/06/07/daily66.html?s=industry&i=commercial_real_estate">Turkish buyer nabs 351 Cal for $35M</a> [Business Times]<br>· <a href="http://bayareacomre.wordpress.com/2010/06/11/sourced-351-california-transfers-ownership-to-polidev-international/">351 California Transfers Ownership to Polidev International</a> [Bay Area Commercial Real Estate Blog]<br>· <a href="http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2010/05/25/real_estate_mogul_sentenced_for_tax_evasion.php">Real Estate 'Mogul' Sentenced for Tax Evasion</a> [Curbed SF]</p>
https://sf.curbed.com/2010/6/11/10511946/35m-drama-plays-out-at-351-californiaSusie Cagle2010-06-11T10:35:08-07:002010-06-11T10:35:08-07:00Protest Watch: Pop-Up Park Today
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<p><a href="http://aggressivepanhandler.com/2010/06/10/protest-a-bunch-of-stuff-and-make-a-park-at-the-felldivis-arco/"><strong>This evening at 5:30 p.m. join the effort to create a wee pop-up park</strong> at the Arco Station on Fell and Divisadero.</a> Bring your own potted plants, seating, sod and picnic supper. We'll spare you our own politicking over BP/Arco -- we just like the form this protest is taking. [Aggressive Panhandler]</p>
https://sf.curbed.com/2010/6/11/10511958/protest-watch-pop-up-park-todaySusie Cagle2010-06-10T15:30:00-07:002010-06-10T15:30:00-07:00Thursday By the Numbers
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<p>· <a href="http://www.berkeleyside.com/2010/06/09/mr-mopps-toy-store-formally-on-the-market/">The beloved Mr. Mopps' toy store in Berkeley is up for sale, along with the rest of the property: <strong>$1.17 million.</strong></a> [Berkeleyside]<br>· <a href="http://7x7.com/events/showdogs-shindig">There's a fundraiser tonight for the Tenderloin National Forest at Showdogs: <strong>$20 at the door.</strong></a> [7x7] <br>· <a href="http://sfist.com/2010/06/10/north_beach_boogeymen_intimidate_no.php">And Nevius is none too pleased about the supes' <strong>8-3 vote to reject sit/lie this week.</strong></a> [SFist]</p>
https://sf.curbed.com/2010/6/10/10512028/thursday-by-the-numbersSusie Cagle2010-06-10T14:30:01-07:002010-06-10T14:30:01-07:002055 Bush Swings Both Ways
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<p><script type="text/javascript" src="/gallery.js.php?url=<%24MTEntryPermalink%24>&set=72157624246988446"></script></p> <p>It seems <strong>2055 Bush Street</strong> isn't sure what it wants to be. The <strong>3-bedroom, 3-bath condo, priced at $1.16 mill</strong>, hit the market about a week ago, and in the rush to get here, there seems to have been a bit of confusion. At first we were into the "early era detailing" and "built-in cabinets," along with the penny tile in the one bathroom and that stove with the exposed brick in the kitchen (bordering on adorable). We were all ready for claw-foot tubs and then -- what? What happened to that other bathroom? And those kitchen cabinets? Then again, we suppose at <strong>$458 per square foot</strong>, you can put your savings right back into the place, right?</p> <p>· <a href="http://sfarmls.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Sanfrancisco&PRGNAME=MLSPropertyDetail&ARGUMENTS=-N650609304,-N248336,-N,-A,-N23826495">2055 Bush Street</a> [MLS]</p>
https://sf.curbed.com/2010/6/10/10512034/2055-bush-swings-both-waysSusie Cagle2010-06-10T13:30:00-07:002010-06-10T13:30:00-07:00Fun with Public Art? on McAllister
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<p><a href="http://sfcitizen.com/blog/2010/06/10/frequent-flier-yet-another-new-piece-at-the-open-air-1269-mcallister-gallery/">Who needs an NEA grant? This Western Addition house boasts rotating outdoor crafts.</a> Having seen some of those Art in Storefronts projects, we're going to go ahead and call this art, too. If nothing else, it's nice to see bottles hanging up in this neighborhood as opposed to littering the ground. We're curious to see what they come up with next. [SF Citizen]</p>
https://sf.curbed.com/2010/6/10/10512054/fun-with-public-art-on-mcallisterSusie Cagle