Rendering via Mission Local

According to SF Business Times, a proposal was “quietly submitted” to San Francisco's Planning Commission last week profiling the build out of a 10-story, 351-unit housing development abutting the 16th and Mission BART Plaza. The project would stretch from Mission to Capp Streets, replacing Walgreens, Burger King, City Club, Hwa Lei Market, and the parking lot that sits along Capp.

The proposal calls for airy plate glass storefronts, with 14-foot floor-to-ceiling heights, which would wrap around the BART plaza and continue along Mission and 16th streets. The group says the blank facades currently ringing the BART Plaza on Mission and Capp streets represent “a significant contributing factor to the high crime rate at the intersection of 16th and Mission.”

“The retail spaces will feature welcoming high ceilings and a large expanse of display glass to spark pedestrian interest and provide a safe and engaging revitalization of the BART plaza,” the proposal states. […]

The developer has not yet determined how it will meet the city’s affordable housing requirement. It could build 12 percent on site, 20 percent off site, or pay a fee that is the equivalent of 20 percent of the total project cost. It could also carve out a piece of the land and give it to the Mayor’s Office of Affordable Housing, which would then pick an affordable housing developer to build it.

“What an opportunity for an amazing transformation of a corner,” said Chris Foley, a partner with Polaris Pacific, which markets new condos across the city.

It's unclear if this development has anything to do with the nebulous “Clean Up the Plaza” astroturfing campaign that sprang up this summer, but the timing is particularly curious.  And the goals?  One wants to make it safe and appealing for 'commuters', while the other needs it to be safe and appealing for sales.

But make no mistake, this development has nothing to do with the “transformation of a corner,” even if that is its inevitable outcome.  Former Jack Spade lobbyist Phil Lessor said it best:

There is only one neighborhood in the Bay Area that has two BART stations and that’s the Mission. That is absolute gold. It doesn’t get any better than that. What you are seeing on Valencia Street and 24th Street — those are sideshows compared with Mission Street. Basically what you are starting to see is what Mission Street will look like in the 21st century.

According to the Biz Times, the property is already in contract for $25 million awaiting city approval.

Welcome to the “neighborhood.”

[SF Biz Times]

Linea Caffe, which translated from Italian means “coffee line,” is already open for business at 18th and San Carlos and teasing their queuing customers.  But the name isn't totally without merit—Linea is run by veteran line-makers and foodie founders Andrew Barnett of Ecco Cafe and Anthony Myint of Mission Chinese Food.

Yes, these guys known a thing or two about getting people to stand around for rare commodities like “coffee” and “breakfast.”

The coffee is sourced from Brazil and Ethiopia through a litany of prize-winning coffee producers (and Barnett himself is a judge of World Barista Championship), further adding to the appeal of standing in Coffee Line's coffee line.  But, as Spurdge notes, there'll also be food (food!):

While this is most definitely Linea Caffe, it also plays host to both Lt. Waffle and GreenSalads.org in true Mission Street Food restaurant-in-a-restaurant style. Salads and waffles are available, to-go or to stand – an outdoor seating area and standing bar are still in the works (that’s what the Kickstarter paid for.)  Also like other Mission Street Food related endeavors, this one has a charitable streak: GreenSalads.org, the salad side of the menu, will donate $1 from each salad to 350.org, a non-profit that seeks to build a grassroots movement to solve climate change.

It's unclear if the name is self-aware nod to the owners' skill at squeezing patience from their customers, or an oblivious homage to the La Marzocco Linea espresso machine sitting on their counter.  Either way, if the alluring stink billowing out their door is any indicator, they'll have no problem living up to their name.

When it comes to being potty positive, Valencia Street has been long known as the Mission's premiere place to plop out a pound or two.  But Viracocha’s spacious den of a bathroom really stands out. It's host to a plush armchair, ample lighting, the occasional sleeping cat, a sink so big a small person could bathe in it, and a vintage bathtub for people who need to take their restroom experience to the next level. It's quite lovely, really. (In fact, there have been many times your gasbag editor has stumbled into Viracocha to “check out their typewriters,” only to beeline it straight for the office.)

So it's no wonder that Viracocha's fantastic flush has been named one of “America's Best Restrooms” in this year's annual “America's Best Restroom® Contest.”  And the contest holders think quite highly of the bathroom!:

From the outside it’s an inviting, rustic looking boutique. Once inside, Viracocha’s quaint and cozy charm come to life beneath the high-beamed ceilings that house vintage clothing, antique furniture and other unique collectibles. Nestled in San Francisco’s oldest neighborhood, Viracocha is a haven for local artists, writers and musicians. This eclectic vintage store has become one of the Mission District’s most popular destinations – predominantly for its posh potty – which patrons say resembles a “Zen retreat” so magical you will wish you could live in it. Featuring Tiffany table lamps, a Victorian bath tub full of stones, and a cozy white arm chair, it comes as little surprise to locals that Viracocha’s ornate, spacious bathroom has been called “one of the top 10 places in the city to take a date” by several San Francisco bloggers and named as a finalist in this year’s America’s Best Restroom contest. “We regularly have to tell visitors to hurry up the tour, ” joked store owner, Jonathan Siegel.

That's right, Viracocha's shitter is on of the best places in the city to take a date (especially one you just met on OkCupid).  And, remember, you heard that from several San Francisco bloggers.

Should you want to vote for Viracocha in the contest (or ogle at Ground Kontrol's Pac-Man mosaic on the floor of their bathroom), the ballot box is open until October 31st.

[Photo by CateyCate] [via SFist]

Renting an apartment in San Francisco is hard work.  First, you need to blow an entire lunch hour hiring a Task Rabbit to scour Craigslist for suitable apartments that match your lifestyle and bottomless budget.  But the first set of potential domiciles (“deliverables”) might not be to your liking, so could be forced to hire another lowest bidder to get the job done right.  Then you need to enlist some humanities majors to go to relevant open houses, inspecting the grout and networking with prospective landlords in your place.  Finally, after all the arduous legwork has been taken care of and you've Squared all your bunnies for a job well done, you'll have to negotiate with the chosen landlord on just how much over ask you'll have to pay to lock down the housing contract.

But there's a way to disrupt the whole inefficient housing search process.  Just glance over Craigslist, find the ideal grainy picture in either the Mission, Lower Haight, or SoMa (you guess) and submit a preemptive offer.  No need to go to an open house, no need to scrutinize the place you'll spend your between Mountain View hours.

Besides, if your new apartment turns out to be a lemon, you can just forfeit your security deposit and Roll The Dice Again.

[Photo by Generic]