Yesterday's Planning Commission meeting was a long one, addressing two important Divisadero issues. After Supervisor London Breed released a statement refusing to rescind her Divisadero rezoning plan, newly formed local group Affordable Divis responded by taking the issue directly to the Planning Commission hearing. Meanwhile, plans to renovate the Harding Theater into an arcade bar and to construct a five-story residential building around the corner were approved. 

Affordable Divis Argues Against Rezoning

A rendering of a new development at Divisadero & Grove. (Image: Forum Design)

Affordable Divis is a neighborhood coalition formed after two large development projects announced plans to move into to the neighborhood. Both projects would take advantage of new zoning laws in the Divisadero corridor to construct denser buildings with dozens of units. 

In response, Affordable Divis issued a letter to Supervisor London Breed requesting that she rescind the rezoning, but she turned down their request. In her response, she told the group that rescinding the legislation "would mean dramatically more expensive condos and dramatically fewer affordable units in developments on Divisadero—without requiring their building size to change at all."

Last night, Affordable Divis took its concerns directly to the Planning Commission. Although the group was not formally on the agenda, several members spoke during the first round of public comments.

"The approval of the rezoning by this Commission and the Board of Supervisors has been characterized by even your own staff as 'not the Planning Department's greatest moment,'" said Calvin Welch, a longtime Haight-Ashbury activist. "This represents an egregious error, and we invite you to work with us to correct this error." 

One speaker also argued against Divisadero being labeled a 'transit hub,' which Breed has cited as a justification of the higher-density projects. "It's easy to call a neighborhood a 'transit district,' said Gus Hernandez, who's lived in the neighborhood for ten years. "But we're not a major transit artery; we're not near a BART station. There's one bus line that runs down Divisadero." 

"This rezoning is the most significant change to the neighborhood in the many years I've been there," said Richard Kay, who's lived in the area for more than 15 years. "We ask that planners spend more time with our community, to listen to our concerns." 

Affordable Divis will be hosting a community workshop on neighborhood development on Saturday, December 5th from 10am-2pm at the Independent. We'll share more information on the event closer to the date. 

Harding Theater, 1282 Hayes Condos Receive Approval From Planning

Image: Topetcher Architecture

Also on last night's Planning agenda was a request for a conditional-use authorization for the renovation of the historic Harding Theater. Brothers Danny and Doug Marks hope to convert the ancient theater into the third location of their Chicago-based arcade bar, Emporium. 

Danny Marks outlined his plan at the meeting, which remains largely the same as when it was presented to local neighborhood groups. The one significant change: in response to some neighbors' concerns about another nighttime-only venue moving in, the Marks brothers have decided to extend Emporium's operating hours, so that it will open at noon each day. Whether the space will be 21+ during daytime hours remains to be determined. 

Architect Mark Topetcher was also on hand to answer a number of questions related to the leveling of floors in the Harding, interior renovation, and storefront appearance and function. He also addressed questions about the five-story condo building planned for 1282 Hayes St., adjacent to the theater. 

Public comments on the issue were brief, and after many detailed questions, the Planning Commission voted to move forward with the plans as they stand. 

"I am thrilled to see the historic Harding theater being activated again," Breed said in an email statement after the meeting. "After over a decade of boarded-up doors, graffiti, and blight, we are moving forward with a plan the whole community can support."

"Most of all, this couldn’t have happened without the dedication—and monumental patience—of community members who fought to make the Harding great again," she wrote. "This historic jewel will once again be the anchor of a thriving Divisadero corridor."