I don't think before I type's Comments

In "17 Reasons Why You Should Never Trust An Anarchist" news, we feel obligated to post an update and partial retraction of our previous story on the 17 Reasons Building.

A few days after we published, an artist in the building sent us this note:

I have a studio in the building above thrift town...

the building did sell. they did change the locks, though most everyone got new keys. the people circulating that letter were living in the space as well...which is against the lease, and I believe that is why they are being evicted. I don't have any info on what the future will bring but just giving you some more info...

This, of course, directly contradicts the story we were told by other tenants, never mind the fairly incendiary tone of the letter anonymously circulated around the neighborhood.  Fortunately, the building's new owner wrote to us today to clear up the situation:

Open letter to the Mission and San Francisco from the owner of 2102 Mission Street

Neighbors:

I’m Rick Holman. I am a fifth-generation San Franciscan and I have recently purchased the Redlick Building at 2101-2125 Mission Street (you may know it as the 17 Reasons Building.). We’re pleased to own this well-known San Francisco building. We plan to maintain it as it is: bustling with unique, San Francisco and Mission-oriented businesses. However, I’ve been distressed by some rumors that are being spread. I’d like to set the record straight.

We have no intention to tear down the building, convert the building to lofts or condos, or otherwise change its fundamental character or use. Some have pointed to the soils testing currently underway as evidence that we’re about to convert the building to condos. The soil is being tested to better understand the Building’s significant seismic issues. We intend to address the issues once we fully understand them. We want the tenants and visitors to be safe when they’re in the Building. Also, there is no intention to build an underground parking structure. The Building sits on Mission Creek, making the construction of an underground parking garage at the site nearly impossible.

Let’s be clear: we didn’t buy the Redlick Building to leave it completely alone – that would be a disservice to our tenants. We are making positive changes. The Building was porous; there were many ways for unwelcome visitors to get inside. Locks and doors didn’t close correctly, and the parking lot gate was broken and would not close. So the faulty door has been fixed. The numerous broken locks have been replaced with locks that are the same as the ones on the Mission Street doors. We have distributed more than 70 new keys to our tenants, free of charge. The Building now has security personnel in the Building to discourage the unwelcome visitors. We’ve replaced over 100 burned-out lights in stairwells and hallways, cleaned the storefront windows and cleaned out drains. We have started the process of investing a significant amount of money in improving the Building elevators and HVAC system – money we want to spend to make this Building better.

We have heard we replaced the management of the Building. T and Aldo are still here, and Julio has joined the management crew. I am also here almost every day. There are now twice as many people in the Building to assist the tenants combining the old with new energy.

There are rumors that we are planning to evict all of our tenants. This is completely untrue. Let’s be clear: I have indeed initiated one eviction, for a group of people illegally occupying one of the units. (This is the first eviction process I have ever engaged in, by the way.) But we are already in conversation or negotiation with many of the other tenants regarding the extension of their leases and tenancies. The ground floor retail tenants, Thrift Town, Fabric Outlet and A&A Bargains, are important Mission District businesses. We hope that they remain tenants here for many years to come.

I regret that some have chosen to spread unfounded rumors about the future of the Redlick Building. However, we’re confident that the changes we’re making will provide a better, safer, and more positive experience for our tenants and visitors.

Thank you for taking the time to read this note.

Rick Holman
Mission Street SF LLC

So there it is, a ITW is being evicted for living in their office some nebulous, undisclosed reason, and the building isn't going to be razed as they claimed.  Good news all around!

(And, for what it's worth, I apologize for taking them seriously.  I had felt the letter was very drastic and paranoid sounding, but the tenant I spoke to the longest seemed very calm, collected, and honest.  Despite my attempts to reach out to other organizations in the building to verify the claims, I failed to successful reach anyone and decided to publish the story anyway.  That was a mistake, which I regret.  I will do better next time.)

Previously on Uptown Almanac

• 17 Reasons Building Poised for Demolition and Condos, Tenants Fear

In "17 Reasons Why You Should Never Trust An Anarchist" news, we feel obligated to post an update and partial retraction of our previous story on the 17 Reasons Building.

A few days after we published, an artist in the building sent us this note:

I have a studio in the building above thrift town...

the building did sell. they did change the locks, though most everyone got new keys. the people circulating that letter were living in the space as well...which is against the lease, and I believe that is why they are being evicted. I don't have any info on what the future will bring but just giving you some more info...

This, of course, directly contradicts the story we were told by other tenants, never mind the fairly incendiary tone of the letter anonymously circulated around the neighborhood.  Fortunately, the building's new owner wrote to us today to clear up the situation:

Open letter to the Mission and San Francisco from the owner of 2102 Mission Street

Neighbors:

I’m Rick Holman. I am a fifth-generation San Franciscan and I have recently purchased the Redlick Building at 2101-2125 Mission Street (you may know it as the 17 Reasons Building.). We’re pleased to own this well-known San Francisco building. We plan to maintain it as it is: bustling with unique, San Francisco and Mission-oriented businesses. However, I’ve been distressed by some rumors that are being spread. I’d like to set the record straight.

We have no intention to tear down the building, convert the building to lofts or condos, or otherwise change its fundamental character or use. Some have pointed to the soils testing currently underway as evidence that we’re about to convert the building to condos. The soil is being tested to better understand the Building’s significant seismic issues. We intend to address the issues once we fully understand them. We want the tenants and visitors to be safe when they’re in the Building. Also, there is no intention to build an underground parking structure. The Building sits on Mission Creek, making the construction of an underground parking garage at the site nearly impossible.

Let’s be clear: we didn’t buy the Redlick Building to leave it completely alone – that would be a disservice to our tenants. We are making positive changes. The Building was porous; there were many ways for unwelcome visitors to get inside. Locks and doors didn’t close correctly, and the parking lot gate was broken and would not close. So the faulty door has been fixed. The numerous broken locks have been replaced with locks that are the same as the ones on the Mission Street doors. We have distributed more than 70 new keys to our tenants, free of charge. The Building now has security personnel in the Building to discourage the unwelcome visitors. We’ve replaced over 100 burned-out lights in stairwells and hallways, cleaned the storefront windows and cleaned out drains. We have started the process of investing a significant amount of money in improving the Building elevators and HVAC system – money we want to spend to make this Building better.

We have heard we replaced the management of the Building. T and Aldo are still here, and Julio has joined the management crew. I am also here almost every day. There are now twice as many people in the Building to assist the tenants combining the old with new energy.

There are rumors that we are planning to evict all of our tenants. This is completely untrue. Let’s be clear: I have indeed initiated one eviction, for a group of people illegally occupying one of the units. (This is the first eviction process I have ever engaged in, by the way.) But we are already in conversation or negotiation with many of the other tenants regarding the extension of their leases and tenancies. The ground floor retail tenants, Thrift Town, Fabric Outlet and A&A Bargains, are important Mission District businesses. We hope that they remain tenants here for many years to come.

I regret that some have chosen to spread unfounded rumors about the future of the Redlick Building. However, we’re confident that the changes we’re making will provide a better, safer, and more positive experience for our tenants and visitors.

Thank you for taking the time to read this note.

Rick Holman
Mission Street SF LLC

So there it is, a ITW is being evicted for living in their office some nebulous, undisclosed reason, and the building isn't going to be razed as they claimed.  Good news all around!

(And, for what it's worth, I apologize for taking them seriously.  I had felt the letter was very drastic and paranoid sounding, but the tenant I spoke to the longest seemed very calm, collected, and honest.  Despite my attempts to reach out to other organizations in the building to verify the claims, I failed to successful reach anyone and decided to publish the story anyway.  That was a mistake, which I regret.  I will do better next time.)

Previously on Uptown Almanac

• 17 Reasons Building Poised for Demolition and Condos, Tenants Fear

In "17 Reasons Why You Should Never Trust An Anarchist" news, we feel obligated to post an update and partial retraction of our previous story on the 17 Reasons Building.

A few days after we published, an artist in the building sent us this note:

I have a studio in the building above thrift town...

the building did sell. they did change the locks, though most everyone got new keys. the people circulating that letter were living in the space as well...which is against the lease, and I believe that is why they are being evicted. I don't have any info on what the future will bring but just giving you some more info...

This, of course, directly contradicts the story we were told by other tenants, never mind the fairly incendiary tone of the letter anonymously circulated around the neighborhood.  Fortunately, the building's new owner wrote to us today to clear up the situation:

Open letter to the Mission and San Francisco from the owner of 2102 Mission Street

Neighbors:

I’m Rick Holman. I am a fifth-generation San Franciscan and I have recently purchased the Redlick Building at 2101-2125 Mission Street (you may know it as the 17 Reasons Building.). We’re pleased to own this well-known San Francisco building. We plan to maintain it as it is: bustling with unique, San Francisco and Mission-oriented businesses. However, I’ve been distressed by some rumors that are being spread. I’d like to set the record straight.

We have no intention to tear down the building, convert the building to lofts or condos, or otherwise change its fundamental character or use. Some have pointed to the soils testing currently underway as evidence that we’re about to convert the building to condos. The soil is being tested to better understand the Building’s significant seismic issues. We intend to address the issues once we fully understand them. We want the tenants and visitors to be safe when they’re in the Building. Also, there is no intention to build an underground parking structure. The Building sits on Mission Creek, making the construction of an underground parking garage at the site nearly impossible.

Let’s be clear: we didn’t buy the Redlick Building to leave it completely alone – that would be a disservice to our tenants. We are making positive changes. The Building was porous; there were many ways for unwelcome visitors to get inside. Locks and doors didn’t close correctly, and the parking lot gate was broken and would not close. So the faulty door has been fixed. The numerous broken locks have been replaced with locks that are the same as the ones on the Mission Street doors. We have distributed more than 70 new keys to our tenants, free of charge. The Building now has security personnel in the Building to discourage the unwelcome visitors. We’ve replaced over 100 burned-out lights in stairwells and hallways, cleaned the storefront windows and cleaned out drains. We have started the process of investing a significant amount of money in improving the Building elevators and HVAC system – money we want to spend to make this Building better.

We have heard we replaced the management of the Building. T and Aldo are still here, and Julio has joined the management crew. I am also here almost every day. There are now twice as many people in the Building to assist the tenants combining the old with new energy.

There are rumors that we are planning to evict all of our tenants. This is completely untrue. Let’s be clear: I have indeed initiated one eviction, for a group of people illegally occupying one of the units. (This is the first eviction process I have ever engaged in, by the way.) But we are already in conversation or negotiation with many of the other tenants regarding the extension of their leases and tenancies. The ground floor retail tenants, Thrift Town, Fabric Outlet and A&A Bargains, are important Mission District businesses. We hope that they remain tenants here for many years to come.

I regret that some have chosen to spread unfounded rumors about the future of the Redlick Building. However, we’re confident that the changes we’re making will provide a better, safer, and more positive experience for our tenants and visitors.

Thank you for taking the time to read this note.

Rick Holman
Mission Street SF LLC

So there it is, a ITW is being evicted for living in their office some nebulous, undisclosed reason, and the building isn't going to be razed as they claimed.  Good news all around!

(And, for what it's worth, I apologize for taking them seriously.  I had felt the letter was very drastic and paranoid sounding, but the tenant I spoke to the longest seemed very calm, collected, and honest.  Despite my attempts to reach out to other organizations in the building to verify the claims, I failed to successful reach anyone and decided to publish the story anyway.  That was a mistake, which I regret.  I will do better next time.)

Previously on Uptown Almanac

• 17 Reasons Building Poised for Demolition and Condos, Tenants Fear

Update: This story has been partially retracted.

Following on the heels of the hostile eviction of Adobe Books on 16th Street comes news that the tenants of the 17 Reasons Building is facing a very similar fate.

According to a flyer being circulated anonymously by occupants, the building housing Thrift Town and many other businesses and non-profits at the corner of 17th and Mission has been purchased by Asher Insights--a company whose owners have a track record for razing buildings and constructing high-priced condos in their place.

The flyer alleges a bunch of foul behavior on the part of the new owners, including a "hostile an aggressive visit" from Asher Insights' managing partner Rick Holman (a former Bank of America executive), changing the building's locks without notice, and shutting down Thrift Town's loading dock for a site assessment:

Tenants we spoke to would only do so on condition of anonymity, fearing further harassment for the landlords.  However, one occupant described the "aggressive visit" by Holman as "scary," noting he paraded around, yelling out leaseholder's names in an attempt to locate them, and rattling off concerns with the building's integrity.

Following Holman's "hostile" visit, he allegedly then fired the property's maintenance staff and changed the locks to the building's gates, causing employees for the businesses inside the premises to not be able to go to work.  We're told he still hasn't provided tenants with new sets of keys.

And to make matters worse, at least one business received a notice earlier this week that Asher Insights filed paperwork to have them evicted.

In The Works, an art and activist collective in the building (which also happens to be responsible for the "Google Bus Pinata" Anti-Gentrification Block Party), described the situation in a mass email:

On Monday, April 8th, Rick Holman paid a hostile visit to ITW, demanding to meet with the lease-holding collective members and an inspection of the premises. Rick Holman and his architect wife Toby Levy play a part of the gentry leading the gentrification of the Mission District by pushing out low-income families and community-oriented people. Rick Holman is currently collecting soil samples from 60 feet under the building, indicating that he is interested in building a parking garage for a new condo development.

One occupant stressed how important the building is to the local economy, "there are dozens of [Mission] jobs at risk here. There's two textile manufacturing shops, art studios, Thrift Town, the fabric store... Headline Shirts... we cannot afford to lose this place."

The Homeless Children's Network also maintain's their offices in the building. Perhaps ironically, they too might lose their home in the Mission.

Previously on Uptown Almanac

• Anti-Gentrification Block Party to Provide Rare Opportunity to Beat Candy Out of Google Buses
• Liz Claiborne Pushing for Adobe Books' Eviction
• Statement from Adobe Books on Their Eviction