The New Fillmore
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RETAIL REPORT FOOD & DRINK REAL ESTATE New shops, A new bar, and Home sells for medspa open it’s a long one under a million PAGES 5 - 7 PAGE 10 PAGE 14 New FILLMORE SAN FRANCISCO ■ AUGUST 2008 A Good Egg For 40 years, Phil Dean and drives along Golden Gate Park as he makes his way back to Fillmore Street. was Fillmore Hardware. He retired two and a half years ago, He’s retired now, but he but he’s never really gotten away from the neighborhood where he worked for most still delivers fresh eggs of his adult life. As he looks for a parking on Friday afternoon. space near Fillmore and Pine, he can glance out the window and see his fi ngerprints B B K R on nearly every Victorian on the block T R — lumber he sold, paint he mixed, repairs made according to advice he dispensed. ’ on a Friday afternoon, For an hour on Friday afternoon, just and Phil Dean, longtime manager before closing time, he’s back behind the of Fillmore Hardware, gets into counter of the hardware store, still greeting his truck in Pacifi ca and makes the customers and occasionally giving advice or drive he’s made so many times: up cutting keys — and delivering eggs, some ISkyline Drive, onto the Great Highway, of them gathered from his henhouse earlier S B past Ocean Beach. He turns right on Fulton that day. TO PAGE 8 4 LOCALS NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Good Riddance, Say Locals, as Redevelopment Ends B D G “In the early days,” said executive di- But by this time, the African American destroyed a community, a way of life.” rector Fred Blackwell, “there is much that community had had enough. Th ey fought He called for a public apology from city of this year, the long people were not proud of.” Rather than at- back, held meetings and made human offi cials to mark the end of redevelopment. and troubled tenure of San Fran- tempt to tell redevelopment’s early history chains to stop the bulldozers. Th ey sued the “Th e commissioners and the director Acisco’s Redevelopment Agency in in words, Blackwell showed the public tele- Redevelopment Agency and won. need to hold a press conference with the the Western Addition will come to a close. vision documentary, “Th e Fillmore,” pro- But for the homeowners and businesses mayor and give an offi cial apology to the A July 10 meeting at City Hall, with 150 duced in 1999 by KQED. In grim, graphic already displaced during phase A1, it was black community for what you did to us,” citizens packing the grand chamber of the stills and archival footage, the documentary too late. Many of the lots would remain Townsend said to sustained applause from Board of Supervisors, was “the fi rst large describes how the Japanese American and empty for decades, and many of the resi- the audience. “Tax funds for the city should public meeting at the sunset of tenure,” said African American communities were sac- dents had moved away, never to return. Th e not be used anywhere else except for housing Redevelopment Agency president Francee rifi ced to urban renewal. scars remain visible and tender to this day. in the Western Addition. You just can’t run Covington. “Today we’ll look back and as- During phase A1 of redevelopment, 100 At the July 10 meeting, neighborhood out after closing all those businesses. Good, sess where we are and determine how to acres of Victorian homes were torn down activist Rev. Arnold Townsend told Re- right-thinking folk won’t let this happen.” move forward.” and in their place arose the Japantown Cul- development Agency offi cials, “It’s pain- Much of the public infrastructure put While many neighborhood leaders are ture and Trade Center with its Peace Plaza. ful to know you are leaving. But it’s good in place by the Redevelopment Agency LUCY GRAY happy the agency is leaving — and believe Two-lane Geary Street was widened into you’re gone. Th ere has never been a check needs maintenance and repair. Th e agency Food Runners founder Mary Risley and her shaggy pal Maddie. many of its actions were colored by racism six-lane Geary Boulevard and the Fillmore that bounced higher in America than the also has a number of major construction — some are concerned there will no longer Street bridge was built. promises made to this community.” projects under way that will not be com- be adequate city funding to complete and Phase A2 of redevelopment, which be- He added, “Redevelopment succeed- pleted when redevelopment offi cially ends One-Upping Robin Hood maintain projects the agency launched. gan in 1964, encompassed 60 more blocks. ed in only one thing: Negro removal. It on January 1, 2009. B M L F from her home. Now there are 450 volunteers. Th eoretically there are two R H and his band paid employees, volunteer coordinator Presidio Trust of merry men, Mary Risley and Nancy Hahn and a truck driver Lher crew of Food Runners take — except that he’s no longer driving, Gets an Earful from those who have too much and so now Hahn drives the monster, give to those who don’t have enough. growling, “I am woman, hear me roar!” It all started when she realized she Th e shiny white truck was donated About Museum had a problem at Tante Marie, her by the UPS Foundation. Another cooking school: Her student chefs supporter donated an offi ce on Union ‘Listen to us — or there couldn’t eat as much as they cooked. Street. Some expenses are covered by Tante Marie had too much food various foundations. Chuck Williams, will be a lawsuit’ — really good food — while people all founder of Williams-Sonoma, is a over San Francisco went hungry. major supporter, and many others B D G One day Risley found herself with contribute as well. fi ve wedding cakes. She took them Th e businesses that give food — of the public got to Glide Memorial Church, and Rev. restaurants, hospitals and markets — their fi rst opportunity July 14 Cecil Williams nearly fainted. Another also benefi t, fi nancially and otherwise. Wto air their views to the direc- Sunday she took him seven boned One big downtown hotel saves $750 a tors of the Presidio Trust, more than 500 ducks stuff ed with veal pate. month by donating unused ingredients concerned neighbors lined up outside the Th en she got the idea for Food and unserved dishes. Otherwise it Herbst Exhibition Hall an hour before its Runners. would pay a penny a pound to compost doors opened and then quickly overfi lled It started small in 1987 in her little it — or 5 cents a pound to have it the hundreds of seats. Many stood, pack- Victorian just off Alta Plaza Park. She taken by the trash collector. ing the aisles and lining the walls, while and some friends in the restaurant Th e lift in employee morale frustrated latecomers cooled their heels world devised a way to deliver about is another benefi t. When a Food outside. 50 pounds of food a week to people Runner steps in, the parking valet, the For hours, the board listened as people who needed it. Now, two decades later, dishwasher and the person fl ipping vented their ire or off ered enthusiastic sup- Food Runners delivers more than 2,000 pizzas leap to open doors and hoist port for the massive modern museum pro- pounds of food each week — and cartons into the car. Grins stretch their posed for the Presidio’s Main Post. Drawn to Alta Plaza Plaza Park, where he was captivated by these Scott Street sometimes a lot more. Every time faces and many say, “It’s great what Responding to the explosive public re- Victorians. An exhibition of Levigoureux’s recent paintings and there’s a street fair, there’s a truckload. you’re doing.” Between the lines they’re sponse to the museum and other projects French artist Daniel Levigoureux made his fi rst visit to the drawings continues through August 30 at the Thomas Reynolds neighborhood last month and quickly found his way to Alta Gallery at Fillmore and Pine. After the last Bay to Breakers race, the saying, “It’s good what we’re doing.” proposed for the Main Post, offi cials agreed harvest was 2,000 pounds of edibles; Every day Mary Risley and her to double the public comment period — later that day, Food Runners picked up merry band of Food Runners get 2,000 extending it until September 15 — and to to showcase the Presidio’s history back and a new lodge will be constructed. the private modern art collection of Gap a second ton from a catered event. meals to citizens of San Francisco who hold another public board meeting. to the arrival of the fi rst Spanish colo- But it was the proposal for the sleek, founder Donald Fisher. Such a feat takes a substantial otherwise might not eat. Somewhere Much of what the Trust plans for the nists in 1776. Th e International Center to modern museum — a 100,000 sq. ft. struc- One point of agreement is that the network of volunteers. At fi rst there Robin Hood is smiling. heart of the Presidio is not controversial. End Violence and a museum dedicated ture of glass and white masonry that would Main Post needs to be revitalized; many of were few enough that Risley could To volunteer or contribute, visit Improvements already under way include to the life of Walt Disney will both be sit at the top of the main parade ground the distinctive and once dignifi ed buildings coordinate their pickups and deliveries www.foodrunners.org or call 929-1866.