The Newfillmore
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NEWS LOCALS FOOD & WINE High-rises in In the habit Sushi to go Japantown plan for 50 years in a tiny shop PAGE 3 PAGE 5 PAGE 12 THE NEW FILLMORE SAN FRANCISCO ■ JULY 2009 Jazz on the ’Mo Fillmore’s annual street party set for July 4 and 5 or the 25th consecutive year, the Fillmore Jazz Festival brings the neighborhood’s jazz Fheritage out onto the street on Saturday and Sunday, July 4 and 5. Th e largest free jazz festival on the west coast features three stages of music both days from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Th e entertainment schedule includes established local favorites Kim Nalley, Marcus Shelby, Lavay Smith and Bobbie Webb, as well as a number of up-and-coming musicians performing all manner of jazz, blues and fusion. In addition to the music, Fillmore from Jack- son to Eddy Streets will be fi lled with arts, crafts, food and drink. For the second year, a chef ’s stage at Fillmore and O’Farrell will feature cooking demonstrations by chefs and proprietors of some of the neighbor- hood’s top restaurants. INSIDE: JAZZ FEST 2009 Fillmore’s own Bobbie Webb has seen it all and played with the greats during his long career. PAGE 7 At age 20, piano prodigy Sam Reider is making his mark on the national scene. PAGE 8 Fillmore’s Church of St. John Coltrane brings its music ministry outside to the festival for the fi rst time. PAGE 9 PAGE 7 Entertainment Schedule PAGE 10 Chefs Stage POSTER DESIGN © PAUL SCHULTE POSTER DESIGN © PAUL PAGE 11 After-Party at Yoshi’s FURTHERMORE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Everybody Loves James ‘Acknowledged,’ Not Endorsed he news that I’ll be right back.’ No James Moore problem, but after Japantown plan’s height limits, cultural sensitivity get more study Twould be retir- about three minutes I ing from the express started to think, this line at Mollie Stone’s isn’t like James, going n ambitious three-year ef- on June 30 after 31 AWOL from his fort to create a plan to deter- years at the store station. Finally James A mine the destiny of Japan- prompted an unprece- returned, smiling, and town for the next two decades will dented outpouring of handed me a $20 bill, continue, the Planning Commission aff ection from neigh- saying, ‘Th is is yours. decided June 25. borhood residents. You dropped it the Initially the objective was to ap- All month long, other day, so I put it in prove the plan, which was developed people stopped by the the safe.’ ” after a series of community meetings store, some not to shop ■ and workshops. But concerns about but just to wish him O’LEARY KATHI Wrote Marilyn the eff ects on the special character well. Many brought James Moore: He’s going, Kelso: of the neighborhood and the exist- cards and gifts, which but he won’t be forgotten. “When James ing merchants in Japan Center — as he stowed away on a learned I was col- well as a proposed series of high-rise shelf to be opened on his fi rst offi cial lecting the new statehood quarters, he residential towers along Geary Bou- day of retirement. made a special point of always saving levard — led the commission merely “I’m gonna have a sore neck a couple for me and presenting them to “acknowledge” the plan. tonight,” he said near the end of his when I came through the line. Just this “It’s not endorsed, it’s not adopt- fi nal day as a long line of customers week he surprised me with a couple of ed, it’s merely acknowledged,” said and well-wishers stopped to hug him the newly minted District of Columbia Rosemary Dudley, a Planning De- goodbye. quarters.” partment staff er involved in develop- All month long, he basked in the ■ ing the plan. In “the most likely fi nancially feasible scenario” in the draft plan for Japantown, new construction could rise from 75 to 250 feet along Geary Boulevard. glow of his many well-wishers. He Anna-Marie Booth wrote: “Th e Planning Commission ac- even sent out copies of the June issue “I send my best wishes to James. knowledges public comment that has of the New Fillmore bearing his smiling What a delightful person! He always been received regarding concerns over diff erent aspects of forcibly removed them from the neighborhood. Later the photo on the front page to his entire asked me, ‘How are the boys?’ Amazing the draft plan,” according to a resolution adopted unani- redevelopment of the area again removed many Japanese- Christmas card list — dozens of people that he never forgot me over almost 18 mously, including “cultural preservation, the provision of American residents. including cousins, friends from church years. I hope his retirement is all that mixed-income housing, the retention of existing mer- Th e draft plan also identifi ed an expansive area of the and neighbors from his hometown of he wants it to be.” chants, structural analysis on Japan Center garage, mitiga- neighborhood as part of its vision for Japantown, extend- Stephens, Arkansas. ■ tion of neighborhood impacts during potential construc- ing beyond the heart of the neighborhood clustered around One copy was postmarked to his Evelyn Nixon wrote: tion, proposed tower heights and the need to provide more Post, Buchanan and Sutter Streets all the way north to eighth grade teacher, Miss Hunt, who “I just wanted to say congratula- direction for the implementing organization.” California Street. Th at prompted concern, especially over now lives in Los Angeles. tions on what you have accomplished the plan’s design guidelines, from other neighborhood or- “I called her up and told her, and you will always have a place in my he effort began as a way to protect the character ganizations. ‘Th anks for doing a good job,’ ” he said. heart.” of Japantown — one of only three remaining in the “We’ve got a lot of really nice Victorians around here,” “And she told me, ‘I can still see you ■ TUnited States — after a developer bought most of said Paul Wermer, a director of the Pacifi c Heights Resi- now, trying to hide behind some other Rebecca Abad wrote simply: Japan Center and nearby commercial property in 2006. 3D dents Association. “Are we really saying we want to replace kid in class because you didn’t have “James is a great person and I have Investments, a shopping mall developer based in Beverly a Victorian row with Japanese designs? Th at makes sense in your homework done. But I knew even always enjoyed his charisma and smile Hills, acquired the Miyako and Kintetsu malls, the Kabuki Japantown, but not on California Street.” then you weren’t a bad kid.’ ” in the express line at Mollie Stone’s.” and Tomo Hotels and the Sundance Kabuki Th eaters. As a way of increasing public space, the plan contem- It wasn’t until the morning of his ■ After the economic downturn began last year, 3D In- plates closing two lanes of the four-lane Webster Street last day on the job that reality hit. For all the accolades and urgings vestments announced it would not undertake any major between Geary and Bush and creating a “linear park” with “It’s a diff erent story today,” he said, to stay, James says he has no second changes for at least two years. landscaping, playgrounds and a Japanese garden. just before his fi nal shift started, as thoughts about leaving his post. But the development of a Better Neighborhood Plan tears fell from his eyes. “What do you “I might be looking good, but on continued and identifi ed four overarching goals to secure y the time the Planning Commission held its do when you can’t go to work? You the inside it’s a diff erent story,” he says, The proposed Webster Street Linear Park, seen from Japantown’s future as: fourth public hearing on the plan on June 25, it was feel good — and you feel sad. Th ere’s cupping an aching knee. “You know, above and at street level, would close two lanes of ■ the historical and cultural heart of Japanese and Japa- Bclear that more work was needed. So the commission something missing in your life.” you see those old people at the drug- Webster from Geary Boulevard to Bush Street. nese American community acknowledged the draft plan as “a signifi cant milestone” and Many Mollie Stone shoppers store buying that rubbing stuff . Th at’s ■ a thriving commercial and retail district directed “further modifi cation and study of the draft plan” lamented that something will be miss- me now — rub, rub, rub.” ■ home to residents and community institutions, and and an environmental review when funding is available. ing in their lives, too — James, and his “And now that it’s my last day at the ■ a physically attractive and vibrant environment. “Th is acknowledgment of the draft plan does not en- friendly greeting that made the day store, it’s going to be hard but it’s going But when the draft plan to achieve those goals was re- dorse any parcel-specifi c rezoning or parcel-specifi c height seem a little brighter. Many wrote to to be good, and it’s…” His voice chokes leased earlier this year, it called for residential buildings limit,” the commission’s resolution notes, discouraging de- share stories and warm memories. and more tears fl ow. “You can’t let time along Geary Boulevard — including several towers rang- velopers from citing the plan to justify taller projects while ■ hold you back.