My Changing Neighborhood(s): March 2015

Sunday, March 29, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD REMODELINGS 2015 – SROs (#4 in a series)

This is the Sonoma Inn Hotel at Bush and Van Ness.

It used to be an SRO where drug addicts lived. I remember the day it closed. A meth-head couple, their dog and few meager possessions were huddled in the doorway, taking a final hit on the pipe before trying to find someplace else to live.

This is the Dorel Hotel, another SRO, at the corner of California and Larkin.

I remember a time when it was much more habitable; only in the last several years did I notice how much disrepair the owner had allowed it to fall into. For the longest time, until just recently, it seemed to have only one or two tenants. Whoever they were, they’re gone now, and the hotel being remodeled.

There’s also the New Pacific

and the Marathon

sfhomeless.wikia.com/wiki/Marathon_Hotel

former fleabag SROs where the skid row population lived, are empty and being remodeled.

Where did the people go who lived in them? Fern Alley, Civic Center, Mission, Castro...

Photo by Michael short, SF Chronicle 1-7-2014

San Francisco isn't the only city to destroy skid row housing for money and create a homeless population, but those cities, however, have much more land space to endlessly move the homeless around in.

This is why, outside of re-building SROs (or ‘cash-up-front-no-questions-asked’ housing) I don't think San Francisco will not be able to solve its ever-escalating homeless situation anytime soon.

Postscript: Does that mean I would re-open those SROs so that derelicts can live in them? As opposed to having those same derelicts urinating, defecating, using drugs openly where I live? ... Absolutely.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD JOB CREATION – #5 in a series

More current job postings from around the neighborhood where I live.

Han's Coffee Shop, 900 Sutter Street

Flour & Co, 1030 Hyde Street

Fresca Pizza, 1338 Polk

Cup-A-Joe Coffee House, 896 Sutter

Monday, March 23, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD OPENINGS 2015 – 2C4S CUTLERY & GALLERY, UFORIA STUDIOS (#8 in a series)

Recently opened at 946 Geary between Polk and Larkin is 2C4S Cutlery & Gallery (now there’s a mash-up).

2C4S means ‘too cool for school’ and ‘cutlery’ does not mean kitchenware.

There’s also a small selection of camouflage gear and art gallery in the back of the store (not pictured).

Also opening within the last month is Uforia Studios at 1561 California

Gym or alien portal?

another gym for the young and toned. (Gyms in my neighborhood are becoming as ubiquitous as consignment shops and nail salons.)

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD MURALS – CAT MURAL, HEMLOCK ALLEY (#13 in series)

Recently painted, it can be seen at the intersection of Polk and Hemlock Alley.

Monday, March 9, 2015

CITY MURALS I LIKE – DON'T MIND ME, or NEVER SAY NEVER (#2 in a series)

This mural isn’t in my neighborhood. I first came across it last month. It’s located at the Mission Street end of Washburn Alley between 9th and 10th Streets.

In last week’s "Know Your Street Art" section, SF Weekly featured another owl mural by the same artist, known as Never, located at 42 12th Street. (click here for link:http://www.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/know-your-street-art/Category?oid=2254072

Friday, March 6, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD JOB CREATION – PART 3

Last month I wrote a couple blogs about neighborhood job creation that I’ve since had second thoughts about.

Almost all of the jobs featured in those blogs were from locally-owned neighborhood businesses, from new start-ups to long-established ones. The fact that they have jobs to offer is much better than having none.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

NEIGHBORHOOD MURALS 2015 – JUST ANOTHA DAY ... IN THA T.L. (#12 in series)

This colorful mural, by artist unknown, is located around 940 Geary between Larkin and Polk.

Just for historical purposes, it replaces the one below: