The owners of 930 Cole Street are giving the building "a thorough overhaul" to accommodate one or more new commercial tenants, according to a recent Craigslist ad. In November 2014, the property was purchased by HC&M Commercial Properties for approximately $2.85 million; the former tenant, Cole Garage, lost its lease at the end of May, causing owner Dirk Spencer to hurriedly relocate vehicles and equipment. Since then, a crew with a 60-day permit has been at work renovating the 9,640-square-foot space.
After Cole Garage departed, venture-backed AltSchool briefly considered moving into the space, a move that attracted the attention of the Planning Department and neighbors with concerns about traffic congestion. According to the ad, the owners are still open to "schools or other institutions," retailers, and "personal service businesses, including exercise studios."
A composite image of the makeover. (Rendering: Courtesy of HC&M Commercial)
According to a source involved with the renovation, the owners plan to install new windows and replace a rolling steel gate with new entry doors. The interior will offer multiple skylights and sandblasted wood trusses, along with new sprinklers and ADA-compliant restrooms.
It's unclear whether the mural on the facade that depicts beloved neighborhood pets will be preserved, as the plans call for enlarging the entry doors and front windows. Our source said that the owners are interested in keeping the mural, but that the new tenants' requirements will factor into that decision.
Although the space operated as a garage for nearly a century, because Cole Garage lacked aboveground or underground storage tanks, no special work is required to clean up hazardous waste or materials. Instead, workers are sanding and polishing existing cement floors.
Depending on interest, 930 Cole will either be rented to a single tenant or divided into three sections, with two retail tenants in the front and a smaller space in the rear. Based on the current timeline, the property should be ready for new occupants in November or December.
Because 930 Cole lies within the Haight Street Neighborhood Commercial District, zoning controls restrict a new restaurant, bar or cafe from opening in the new space. Burger Urge, The Ice Cream Bar, Padrecito and Kezar Pizzetta are the last four restaurants to have been approved within the district; before a new eating establishment could open, another would have to close.
An interior view of the garage in May 2014.
Despite the zoning restrictions, many Cole Valley residents still hope it might become a new food option. "I would love to see the space turned into some sort of brewery with really good, affordable food," said Daisy Barringer. "I'll be really bummed if it ends up being a yoga studio. Barf."
Dana Smith said she hopes the new space becomes a market hall, like Second Act on Haight. "I'd like to see the space shared by a variety of vendors centered around healthy living. Organic produce, meals, snacks to go, dance and other playful movement, maybe a small community space for events," she said.
Neighbor Josh Berkus speculated that the new tenants could pay up to $30,000/month, but "on the positive side, the neighbors are very happy that the new owner is making an effort to preserve the facade of the building, especially the mural. That mural is a memorial for a lot of local pets."
