Back in June of 2015, we wrote about an effort to protect street-level retail in SoMa, using interim zoning controls. This week, we checked in on one building from that story that was converted to offices, to make sure things are on track.
Last summer, we looked at 101 Townsend, a former furniture store turned into offices. The building's owner, Doug Dahlin, rented most of the space to tech firm CloudFlare, but he told us he was also going to directly rent out part of the storefront, noting that interested tenants included a coffee shop and sandwich shop.
We noticed recently that nothing has moved in, so we checked in with the landlord and a couple of neighbors. Dahlin said that finishing up tenant improvements for CloudFlare has taken longer than anticipated, and city inspections are just now wrapping up. "We’re continuing to talk to several prospective corner vendors … all food of some sort," he told us via email, adding that he's working through the utility needs for a food vendor, including gas, electricity, cook line hoods and venting, grease traps and more.
Meanwhile, neighbor Alice Rogers wrote a letter of support for CloudFlare's recent application to add an outdoor patio next to the space, which the Historic Preservation Committee approved 7–0 on Feb. 17th. "I think it will add interest to an otherwise dead spot," she said in an email.
She's also happy CloudFlare created a meet-up space in its offices, which is available for community groups at no charge if it's not already booked. The South Beach Democratic Club had a senatorial debate there in January, she said, and "it was a wonderful space to meet."
Rogers' letter included this passage:
The building tenant, CloudFlare, is an unusually ‘outward-facing’ technology company. Their un-frosted windows and lively ground floor meet-up space have been welcome additions to our local streetscape, and the company has been generous in allowing local community organizations use of their meet-up space at no charge for events.
When used for evening meetings, or for employees working late, the activated meet-up space adds light and interest to our too-dark, too-quiet (in non-baseball season) neighborhood retail corridor. The outdoor patio will extend the effect.
Street improvements are in the works as well in front of the building, which will be coordinated with city agencies.
