CASTRO/EUREKA VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER Eureka! THE SUnnY HEART OF The neighborhood association for the Castro, Upper Market and all of Eureka Valley since 1878. SAN FRANCISCO Distributed to over 3,500 residents and businesses in central Castro/Eureka Valley WWW .EVN A . ORG Volume 137, Issue 2 March - April 2015 www.evna.org www.PinkTrianglePark.org Castro/EVNA’s Agenda EVNA Board and Committee Announcements Human Interest Topic Public New Restaurants finally Create a new and interesting foodies scene in the Castro by Mat Schuster Castro Streetscape Project Meeting Project Manager John Dennis will give an update Castro Cares & Jane Warner Plaza Update on the Launch of Castro Cares and issues MARCH 25, 7-9 PM surrounding Jane Warner Plaza Umpqua Bank NOTE NEW LOCATION: A representative will discuss their plans for a Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy Castro location Auditorium Public Forum 19th and Collingwood A time set aside to discuss neighborhood issues PLANNING UPDATE LET’S SHOW THEM WHAT WE’VE GOT! By EVNA Planning Committee By Mat Schuster, Canela Bistro 2254 MARKET STREET (SULLIVAN’S FUNERAL HOME) Its no secret that the Castro is not the first neighborhood The Prado Group (http://www.pradogroup.com), who you think of when choosing your dining destination. Many built the Whole Foods building at Market & Dolores, is people first think of Valencia, Fillmore or Union Streets proposing a plan to build 45 units (including 2 townhouses which spent years establishing themselves with popular on 15th Street) at the former Sullivan’s Funeral Home restaurants to meet growing demand. However, demand has location. The current plan is to preserve the original also been bubbling up in the Castro for new dining options, building. The project would include 24 underground even before the parking spots, and 60 spaces for bicycles. The preliminary neighborhood plan has been shown to the DTNA and EVNA Planning started a major and Land Use Committees. Also, a public pre-application growth phase meeting was held on February 24th. about 4 years ago. Before the The Prado Group has been in discussion for years with the last recession, Sullivan family. A website will be put together by the sponsor new and exciting to facilitate neighborhood commentary. Sullivan’s Funeral Beso on 17th at Hartford restaurants were Home started out as 2 buildings that were later combined. introducing themselves in the Castro such as Poesia, Frances There is no plan to demolish the existing building. The and L’ardoise. The wheels were set in motion to offer more plan is to keep the existing facade and clay tile roof. The elaborate meals in the hood. new project plans to use tile facing on the new building to reflect the original building’s tile roof. At the end of last year, we gathered together some of the neighborhood full service restaurant owners at our The project is hoping to get Leadership in Energy and restaurant, Canela Bistro and Wine Bar on Market Street in Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification the Castro. The purpose was two fold; we wanted to meet (http://www.usgbc.org/leed). The structure would be a Planning Update continues on page 6 Restaurants continues on page 7 WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE 2301 Market Street 4072 18th Street NEIGHBORHOOD? Weaver’s Coffee New street level space By Mark D McHale, EVNA Board Member Open for business! Unknown status An unofficial update on what’s coming 2337 Market Street 4079 18th Street and going in our commercial spaces. Taco Orgasmico Happy High Herbs Under construction Open under different name 160 Church Street Former Blockbuster 2500 Market Street (upstairs) 4122 18th Street Proposed cross-fit training center. Zephyr Real Estate Magnet moving to 474 Castro (Previously Tower Records) combined Proposed Umpqua Bank 2100 Market/15th Streets their Market and 17th Street locations Former HOME restaurant 4230 18th Street Proposed 64-unit condo development 3970 17th Street Former La Taza Restaurant Formerly Pica Pica Now Vero Restaurant 2101 Market Street Manos Nouveau now open! Veo Optics 506 Castro Street Now vacant 376 Castro Street Former Body Shop RC Gas Station Artist Coffee (coming soon) 2175 Market Street In litigation New 88-unit rentals, farmers market 518A Castro Street concept planned in the commercial space 400 Castro Street AHP Pharmacy/Clinic Complete Formerly Diesel In permitting process Approved Soul Cycle Fitness 2198 Market Street 531 Castro Street GreyStar 410 Castro Street Hamburger Mary’s Construction just started, 87-rentals, Formerly Sprint Seeking conditional use permit for unknown commercial space plans Vacant entertainment 2202 Market Street 417 Castro Street 549 Castro Street Brewcade Formerly The Bead Store Philz Coffee Open for business! Dapper Dog now open Relocating from 18th Street 2254 Market Street 474 Castro Street Sullivan Funeral/Parking lot Formerly video store 43-rentals in the entitlement phase SF AIDS Foundation, opening soon THE BEST WAY TO Build a CREATE COMMUNITY bundle. IS TO BE A PART OF IT. Save a EUREKA VALLEY | MORE THAN HOME bundle. Traci Hollander, Agent Bundle auto, home and life Insurance Lic#: 0C19063 for big State Farm® discounts. 556 Castro Street [email protected] So let me show you how Bus: 415-575-3775 State Farm can help protect all the things that matter most – for a lot less than you think. GET TO A BETTER STATE.® CALL ME TODAY. Mark D McHale 415.735.8037 BRE# 01243912 FB: sfrealtor 555 Castro Street San Francisco, CA 1203025 State Farm, Bloomington, IL www.vanguardsf.com Castro/Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association March - April 2015 Page 2 UmpQUA BANK’S PLANS TO COME as well as a space for local merchants to operations based on community input TO THE CASTRO showcase and sell their products. – for instance, the hours they are open, noting that they can stay open later. By EVNA Planning and Land Use Committee Umpqua offers all the services of other In November 2014, Umpqua Bank banks, but tries to deliver it differently. Umpqua has between 380 and 390 (https://www.umpquabank.com) first One presenter says employees are branches, in 5 states. There are 2 in SF, presented to the EVNA PLUC, its plan empowered to make their own decisions. 3 more including this one in the works. to set a new Umpqua branch They try to hire After reviewing the proposed project, at 4122 18th Street (Magnet). from within the PLUC voted to support the proposed the community. Umpqua Bank has been project as presented at the time. Since There is a budget in business for 60 years this meeting in November, Umpqua did at the store originating in Southern acquire Sterling Bank (https://www. (branch) level for Oregon. Now it would umpquabank.com/hello-sterling/). It giving, and also like to move in to 4122 is unclear if Umpqua is going to keep a regional-giving 18th St., between Castro the Sterling branch on Market street, or allocation to the & Collingwood (currently merge the two stores. Umpqua needs local community. Magnet) Umpqua would a conditional use permit to proceed on They also have a like a space that people the Magnet location. would enjoy coming to, with program whereby Note that the San Francisco AIDS an open design. The bank employees get 40 Foundation that currently uses the wants to be deeply engaged hours paid for Magnet location, has since built a larger in community as well. It believes that volunteer work. facility on Castro street. It is possible it has a unique culture and model for Umpqua presented some preliminary that the SF AIDS Foundation might banking. For instance, the presenters of designs, but they also mentioned at the still need the Magnet location. the project mentioned that they would time that they didn’t have actual plans like to set a café area within the bank, yet. They have the ability to change BECAUSE PAINTING IS PERSONAL™ At CertaPro Painters® of San Francisco, we understand painting is personal for you, because it’s personal for us and we have a system to ensure your satisfaction. NOW OFFERING COLOR CONSULTATIONS! Free for the fi rst hour and $50 for each additional hour. Don’t Wait. Call Today! INTERIOR & 1-800-462-3782 Or visit us online at EXTERIOR http://san-francisco.certapro.com/ Residential Painting Castro/Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association March - April 2015 Page 3 is committed to ensuring that the Castro has a vibrant and active nightlife and a peaceful neighborhood. All who live, work and play in our neighborhood deserve a positive and healthy community. We are proud to help set the tone for working in partnership with fellow businesses, neighborhood leaders and residents. It’s about respect. It’s about partnership. It’s about fun. CafeSF.com • Facebook.com/TheCafeSF • Twitter.com/TheCafeSF The Café • 2369 Market St., San Francisco, CA 94114 • (415)834-5840 Castro/Eureka Valley Neighborhood Association March - April 2015 Page 4 LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE and offer our individual strengths and resources in finding By Mark McHale, EVNA Board Member the solution to our needs and the issues we face. Wow! It Takes a Village Another cool insight! The community meeting called last month by Andrea Aiello, Hearing those comments during the meeting went a long executive director of the Castro/Upper Market CBD, to way to help repair some of the alarm and deep sadness I discuss the recent goings-on in our neighborhood and at feel most days when I walk past the troubled JWP and down the Jane Warner Plaza (JWP) in particular, was well-attended the sidewalks on the way to work. Hearing that we are a and the discussion lively.