SFist: Blocker: 1800 Haight

davey k

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:08:15 -0800

Hanging around and living near this block in its recent rock heyday, circa 1988, and seeing the way it is now is just proof that this town is dying. For me, walking this block and remembering the way it used to be is almost guaranteed to put me into a depression. I even miss Rockin Robbins! THAT"S HOW BAD IT IS!

Belgand

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 10:09:09 -0800

Man, while it would be great to have a grocery store there Whole Foods really isn't the best choice for it. We really don't need to further gentrify the Haight with yet another overpriced, yuppie-focused, pseudo-hippie store. TJs would be great, but yeah, it would all too easily become a complete and utter nightmare. I can't believe the traffic at their store in Daly City.

brokenlogin

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 07:07:01 -0800

If memory serves, the McDonald's there was intended to be a drive-thru; they had built the lanes and all, when the neighborhood finally won the inevitable pitched battle to prevent its completion. Thus denied, McD's tore out what they'd built, replaced it with a generic little store with a huge parking lot, and never improved it again.

Brock Keeling

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:11:46 -0800

charles, you're making me miss this area to an extend i didn't think possible. also, i was in two earthquakes while drinking at the trophy room. love that place, earthquake activity and all.

Hodge

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:53:36 -0800

I still want to know who that third guy in the mural is.

redseca2

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:30:11 -0800

The land is owned by the same developer who has infilled the north side of Haight from Cole heading west with the "Goodwill Building" and those cartoon apartments. Based on the very long approval and construction times for those projects, I have heard of two year BEFORE construction can begin. Whole Foods seems to be the only grocer they have negotiated with that can think in those time scales.

Jas

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:59:21 -0800

And the whole foods website at least confirms it's in the works: "San Francisco (Haight) Whole Foods Market 39,550 sq. ft. Opening date to be announced."

Jas

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:54:41 -0800

here's what I read: Whole Foods plans store on Haight Street

DC1974

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:50:14 -0800

I don't think TJ's owns any of their own property. They rent. Some enterprising developer needs to get in their and come up with a plan that also includes space for a grocery store. It can't be that hard. It's done all the time. Even in San Francisco.

foobaresef

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:47:32 -0800

The former Cala Parking lot is now a pay lot. I suppose it's handy for the out-o-towners who don't know about the lot at Kezar or who don't know how to parallel park.

Jas

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:44:44 -0800

I thought whole foods was going to buy it and build a garage/store/apartments monster there... at least that's what the local haight street paper was writing about a few months ago.

Ciaran

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:53:02 -0800

Yeah, I agree - I'm assuming that someone is going to take over that lot. Even with the mixed use/affordable housing requirements that's got to be a valuable piece of real estate, no?

jt

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:41:58 -0800

Exarctly

mattymatt

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:36:58 -0800

I bet TJ's would have made a better neighbor than an empty lot does.

jt

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:55:29 -0800

Ciaran - fair enough, I'm not advocating that we need a TJ's or other-type grocery there, but allowing that lot to remain empty is not acceptable.

seamus_furr

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:53:55 -0800

Have you been inside that McDonald's on a Saturday afternoon? It's a mob scene. A fetid mob scene. But great point: the size of that lot is absurd. My prediction for the former Cala in the year 2010: Still vacant. Maybe squatted.

MalcoveMagnesia

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:43:16 -0800

McDonalds provides a invaluable service: Cheap, predictable food for tourist and homeless people alike.

Ciaran

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:42:09 -0800

TJ's can get lost. Like Haight needs a continual line of traffic waiting to park there.

jt

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:33:46 -0800

Mattymatt - I believe TJ's declined interest in the site because they weren't interested in purchasing the parcel with the stipulation of building a mixed-use facility as had been recommended by neighborhood groups and the planning commission. I could be wrong about this site, but TJ's has a history of claiming interest in a parcel only to back out because they don't want to be responsible neighbors. Too bad cuz I agree, we need something at that site. Different issue, why the hell does McDonald's have such a bloody huge parking lot? How did that ever come to be? Its never full and who the hell eats that shit anymore?

mattymatt

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:14:29 -0800

Christ, I can't believe that former Cala is still an empty lot. How I long for a Trader Joe's.