that would be our primary goal. and certainly whether or not it is approvable at the staff level or provable before the commission, this meant -- this commission may look at it slightly differently, but that would be at your discretion. >> thank you, i appreciate that. i share commissioner permanent ' concerns about i don't want to place the property owner in a catch-22. i'm so sorry that the gallery has moved to a location -- a new location, and i fully support the recognition of the importance of this structure, and what occurred for many, many years, but i don't want to place a property owner in a catch-22 where it is so onerous or complicated to attract new tenants that the space becomes virtually on leasable, and now,

of course, setting forth in motion the continuing problem of having to maintain a naked structure. that's all for now, but i share that concern. >> yeah, i think, first of all, i think it is a really, really important structure, and i thank you can thank staff for bringing it forward, but i do share some of the concerns about the interior, and mostly from a process point of view, i disagree with commissioner perlman that the interior is just not as important as a space or they have moved on, i do think that somebody could come by and see into it and say these things happened here, and that it is important to that, but knowing how the process works with the retail tenants, he would have a tenant who maybe interested in the space, and that's great, but they will have to get a certificate of

appropriateness which might take nine months, and we can't say for sure whether the program they have will actually be improved -- approved or not. just wait, we have to spend thousands of dollars planning for this certificate and going through this whole process and hiring a consultant to prepare the materials for the events, and i think the process is drawn out, and i think most tenants would walk away and find another space. my concern is that in the length of time it takes to get the approvals, you will have lost the tenant. i agree with commissioner perlman. i would not be supportive of the designation of the interior as part of this. >> thank you. with the changes, i anticipate mr. gang will produce to make sure that we are not attempting to regulate the content of what

goes up in that mural space. i am very happy to support this. i do agree with the comments made by commissioner perlman and commissioner black and with the heart of the comments that were made by commissioner will from. i would not support a restriction on the interior of the space. >> commissioner perlman? >> i wanted to make a quick response. but i thank you make a point that is a problem with how we landmark buildings, is that let's say the space is retained, and a retail store, a clothing store goes in there. so they put their racks out with all the clothing, someone could look in and they would have no idea what that space was, just because it is a tall and open space, they would not have any

idea that that space had the characteristics that miss castro had talked about because even if you just put things out in that space, it would not carry the spirit of the gallery. unless there was a big plaque there that told the story, the space itself doesn't tell the story, so i wanted to ask then, what do we do now? it seems like there is reasonable consensus, at least there's four of us who have voiced this issue, can we amend to this to say, you know, or make an amendment that removes -- if there is number 3 on page 7. >> i don't think that we are all in consensus about that. >> okay. >> maybe we can -- >> i'm just saying, can we make a motion that that would be an amendment? >> the ordinance here is up for

your adoption for recommendation for approval, so the motion or resolution that would be forwarded on to the board of supervisors which then include your recommended amendments to the ordinance. >> okay. okay. >> we can change this however, we like in terms of the motion that goes forward. >> that is what i am asking. >> you could add language or take language out. >> that is what i am asking. so it would be, you know, i would ask that part to be stricken, but obviously not everyone has spoken, so we would have to vote on that. >> right. >> i'm coming at this from a couple of different angles. i have to say that the most immediate concern that i have, and i am influenced by the temple of the times of what is happening in san francisco with

the storefronts and the issue of the tax, it is very disturbing, and i have to say that i think the argument about him not to land marking the interior space is legitimate, and i would be in favor of removing the interior land marking from it, just from -- more of a practical standpoint process, and i think that is the right thing to do. the other idea that i have, i do think the land marking that we are about to embark on for the exterior, that is sufficient to cover what i think is a very innovative, historical, and cultural expression of what has happened in the neighborhood, and the building reflects that, and i would also recommend that we do add mural frames rather than signs. i think it enhances our

designation. as i say, it is not just practical, but i do think the exterior land marking is sufficient to recognize the significance of what has happened there, i would be in favor of removing the interior and designation and adding the word mural substituting for sign to the resolution. >> i guess i am the lone person who would be in support of the designation as it stands now to look at both the exterior and to the interior i did briefly read the office of historic preservation try to report and rationale for looking at this and i think that is a compelling arguments that they have made and just as mr. frye had mentioned earlier, there is precedence to look at the volume , and i strongly believe in that. this is, as was mentioned in public comment, this was the first landmark designation that

will happen in this neighborhood , and i feel it is important to preserve both both. stories happen inside, and to me , that is just as important as what we are preserving outside. suggest for the record, i believe that both interior and exterior should be preserved and should remain, and the language, except for the areas that we talked about earlier, you should go through, but i guess we need to take a vote. is that correct? >> we need a motion first. >> i want to make a motion to -- are we recommending or adopting? >> we are adopting a recommendation. >> commissioner black? >> i just wanted to say, i'm very torn about this. i think we all are. i'm very concerned also about the mural. i think that is so important to the neighborhood, and i would be

very concerned to see a geico ad go up. >> we can't. >> if we can't regulate the content -- >> as a business sign, it does not meet the general advertising >> i'm very torn, but i do think that i fall more on the side of giving the property owner opportunities to make this viable both for the neighborhood , as well as the property owner. it doesn't do the neighborhood any good to have a property that is vacant for any time. i fall more on that side of the line it is a difficult decision. >> i would like to make a motion to rip adopt a recommendation for approval, changing the word

sign, to mural, and utilizing the term mural frame, as well as >> i think we talked about it being a community mural or a rotating mural. >> it is on page five, where it says sign measuring, if we say mural frame measuring, ten by ten. >> with the corrected dimensions , whatever those are. if we say that, i think that will address the issue. >> but then also, on page 5, on page 8, instead of saying sign, permit covering of the mural frame. >> i would suggest mural frame and canvas because it is a mural frame but the canvas -- >> that is fine. i think we just want to define

it. >> yeah, and earlier in the same paragraph, it says within the sign. i think it would say it within brain street mural frame. >> with respect to a mural or artwork. >> in that same one, the next to the last line, line four, and other change there. >> the word sign, you mean? >> a mural frame. >> and then the other change i would ask for -- >> wait a minute. if we say mural frame they're, we should eliminate the last line containing the mural or artwork because we don't want to get ourselves in a position where we are regulating the mural. >> so that would end with only

for the proposed removal demolition or permanent covering of the mural frame. >> you lost me. >> i'm sorry. this is the last paragraph on the last page. >> page 8. >> right. >> the last page. >> right. >> so it is the last. >> it is eliminating containing a mural or artwork. >> and covering of the mural frame. >> right. >> i know this is getting very messy. >> no, it isn't. we are cleaning it up. >> we are inserting canvas there as well. >> and then the second thing would be to remove number 3 on page 7, the following interior features. >> to be keep the window display area? >> it is fine.

it is a typical detail within any retail. >> so then removing three a. >> i think the window displays -- >> that is a typical feature of any retail or historic retail storefront. >> can i ask a procedural question, jonas? if you are in support of one change, but not in support of the other, how does that work in terms of a vote? >> we have multiple amendments to any kind of an ordinance or modification if you so choose. you can take them up one at a time, and then the staff could then transcribe what the vote was on each of the amendments. i also recall the commission having a conversation about clarifying for content of the mural. is that part -- >> i think we have resolved that with the terms. i think we resolved that issue.

>> very good, there are 20 oh, amendments that you are proposing. >> when would be for the mural frame -- >> one is for the wording in one is eliminating the term on page 8. >> can we take that separately? >> sure. >> do i hear a second? >> second. >> thank you, commissioners. we will be calling two questions on the same matter regarding the two separate amendments. there is a motion that has been seconded to adopt the recommendation for approval with two amendments. the first being modifying or replacing the term sign with mural in a mural frame and/or canvas, on that amendment... [roll call] -- >> a report voting on the amendment or the whole motion? >> we are voting on the motion to adopt a recommendation for

approval with amendments, and the first amendment being the one i just read into the record regarding the language replacing the word sign with a mural and providing mural frames as well as canvas and the first amendment. >> no, i don't think we replace the word sign with the word mural. i think we replaced it with the word mural and frame. >> mural frame. >> on that motion... [roll call] >> so moved. that motion passes unanimously so adopting -- again, the second question will be, on the motion that has been seconded to adopt a recommendation for approval with the second amendment to remove the interior space space from landmarks status specifically, item three a...

[roll call] >> so moved. that motion passes 5-1. is that clear? we will be sending one motion with two separate votes on the amendments. very good, that will place us in item nine. 2031 bush street. this is also a landmark designation. >> we need a motion to recuse -- >> we need a motion to recuse me , and it is my understanding from the sunshine law that for the record -- >> let me explain. the ethics commission has made changes to legislation that requires you, when you need to

recruit suggest recuse yourself from certain items, they need to explain, state wide, and they are developing a form that you must then submit within 15 days. that form must be submitted even if you are not present at the hearing, for any item that you could recuse yourself from. so please keep that in mind, and i will try to remind you when the form is generated to submit. >> bring the forms. >> the form does not exist yet. >> but the law does, so doesn't preclude you from it. >> commissioners, i wish to recuse myself from this agenda item because of the fact that my residence falls within the 500 feet to rule. >> i make a motion to recuse the commissioner because her residence falls within the 500 feet law. >> thank you. on that motion to recuse her... [roll call]

>> i would like to appoint commissioner will from to be the chair. >> wonderful. >> i can stay here -- >> you actually need to leave. >> get out. >> good afternoon, desiree smith , plenty department staff. the item before you as a recommendation to the board of supervisors to designate 2031 bush street, known as -- as an article ten landmark. the building was added to the h.b.c. work program in 2016 as part of the san francisco civil rights project funded by an underrepresented community grant in the national park service. the h.p.c. initiative designation of a property at the 2019 hearing. the department has received six letters in support of landmark designation. there is no known public or neighborhood opposition.

staff has shared the landmark designation with the property owner who supported designation as did the district five supervisor, vallie brown. since then, the draft landmark designation report has been revised to include more photos and significant diagrams as well as more context related to the japanese language schools in the united states, california and san francisco san francisco, as well as more history relating to [speaking foreign language] post war. i will discuss this additional content in my presentation today i would first like to thank the commissioner who was a student his there herself. she conducted a number of oral history interviews with fellow graduates of the school and those were included in the appendix of that report as well as in the text. i would like to thank our department in turn.

a history of the building was presented during your initiation hearing. i will provide a brief overview today. the earliest japanese language school began to appear in the mainland united states in 1902, including at least two here in san francisco and one in seattle the schools which operated out of private residences or churches were destroyed and disrupted during the 1906 earthquake and fire. in 1911, the japanese american association formed new japanese language school which he named -- [speaking foreign language] -- which means in english, golden gate institute. they began operating out of a rented space at 2031 bush street in 1926, after years of fundraising from within the community, they purchased the property and constructed a new purpose built school on the site today, the property represents one of only four purpose built community facilities in japan town whose construction was funded by and for the local

japanese-american community. the japanese language schools, including that school operated within an environment of intense discrimination. san francisco, in particular, was a hotbed of anti- asian sentiment for much of the 19th and early 20th century. the city attracted national attention in 1906 when the san francisco school board band students of japanese descent descent from attending public schools, causing a diplomatic emergency between the united states and japan that resulted in an intervention by the u.s. president, theodore roosevelt. numerous additional laws are passed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries that aim to curb japanese and asian immigration to the united states the building is also associated with the evacuation and relocation and incarceration of u.s. citizens and residents of japanese descent during world war ii. following the signing of the executive order numbered 1966 by

president franklin roosevelt, they were seized -- they are forced to cease operation and to the building was seized by the government for used -- use as eight used as a process centre where citizens were required to report before they were incarcerated and relocated to concentration camps around the united states. the building is also associated with community organizing and activism, among african-americans in san francisco during the mid-20th century, as home as the booker t. washington community centre were from 1942 to 1952, which provided neighborhood african-american youth with a space or social educational and recreational opportunities. during world war ii, and the african-american population grew exponentially as many relocated from the south here to san francisco to take up work in the shipyard. a severe housing shortage meant many newcomers ended up in

residence and the had been vacated by japanese americans who have been relocated to the camp. in addition to safeguarding the building during this period, the booker t. washington community services centre also supported japanese americans upon their return to japan town, establishing hostels for those in need of housing. they reoccupied the building in 1952 when booker t. washington moved into its new permanent location at 800 presidio avenue. for over a century, they served as an important community anchor and gathering place. it had a popular movie night held in its auditorium in the fifties and sixties provided opportunities for multiple generations of japanese americans to socialize and view asians on the big screen. other events such as speech contests, talent shows, yearly summer camps, camping trips to russian river, enriched the lives of san francisco japanese-american youth. it was also consistently the first destination for japanese

royalty during visits to san francisco. a clear demonstration of its significance. today, they continue to offer classes in japanese language, martial arts and culture, and in the process of planning doing upgrades to ensure his long-term preservation and use. yesterday, commissioners conducted a visit with staff. we discussed adding two additional interior character defining features which would include the existing window openings on the interior at the second floor, and that includes windows. staff proposes amending the ordinance to include those features. if designated, the building would become the first landmark in the city associated with san francisco's japanese-american community and the history or -- of japan in the western addition , which itself is only one of three remaining japan towns in the country. the department determined the building meets established eligibility requirements and that landmark designation is

warranted. the department recommends the h.b.c. recommends landmark designation with the amended character defining features to the board of supervisors. this concludes my presentation and i'm happy to answer any questions. >> thank you. any questions for staff? at this time, we will take public comment on this item. does any member of the public wish to speak? if so, please come forward. >> good afternoon. richard hashimoto, i am one of the board members. i have with me today the board president, and a board member at large, and unanimously we did approve to go ahead and move forward with the landmark designation. i also want to thank all of you

and thank commissioner johns and president hyland for attempting yesterday's site visit. to see the school and what impact it has in our community, and simply we are asking for your support in the approval so we can move on and further protect and preserve this historic building for our community. thank you very much. >> thank you very much. >> good afternoon, commissioners , mr. frye. my name is sandy and they chair the board of directors for the japan town task force which is a a nonprofit community-based organization based in japan town whose mission and purpose is to preserve one of the japanese towns that we have left in america. at every report -- at our board meeting, we recommend to this

particular commission to move forward with this landmark designation. the role of the building of the japanese school is a important. it is a very important value in our community. one of our board members, it was his grandmother that ran the school. site was used as a processing center when our community was sent away to the concentration camps back in world war ii, and most of the people from san francisco were sent to topaz, utah, and as you saw in the presentation, this site was also a center for the booker, tee washington centre for a period of ten years during the war and after the war. the japanese-american community has a close relationship with the african-american community, and to this day, we still do. thank you for your consideration i urge you to move forward with this landmark designation. thank you. >> thank you.

>> good afternoon. my name is grace, i am the executive director of the japan town community benefit district. i'm here to share my support for the landmark designation. i too was a student of the school. i remember as a child, going to school monday through friday, each day every day until high school. and when i was young i would complain about going, but as i grew as an adult, i really am grateful for my parents for letting me go, and also for the teachers that gave me a great education, because what i have learned there is what i am using today to be able to communicate with our japanese and japanese-american community to be that bridge. my mom was a former principal. i do encourage you, and i have nothing but support for this

school. >> are there any other speakers who wish to speak to this matter we are closing public comments. commissioners? >> i did go through the building yesterday, and in certain respects, it is remarkably ordinary, however in other respects, it is unbelievable because of what happened there. it has at least three really important aspects to its. one is the fact of how culture is transmitted from generation to generation, and foreign land, and that is just part of it.

then there was the other part, becoming the booker t. washington centre, but part of that, which is perhaps of greater significance is the way the african-american community that took it over protected it and was a steward and later returned into its original owners, and that is important in san francisco because unlike in other communities, we have had a tradition here, ethnic groups

working together to help one another. but it has been the general history of san francisco and not the exception, and then of course, there was, some people, and i think it is the least important, but i think it is perhaps the most important is that franklin roosevelt's order was not the high point in american history, but it is extremely showing to walk through the building knowing that it was the center for the removal of our japanese citizens , american citizens who happen to be japanese during a dark hour, and for that reason

alone, it is of extraordinary significance. excuse me. i very much support it moving forward of this historical landmark. >> thank you. >> i would like to ask the commissioners if you would consider giving the sterling history, sterling is quite the word, i guess what i am trying to get at is this extraordinary significance of the landmark and if you could comment on whether whether there something more that we could do in this landmark designation beyond the plaque, there will be a plaque,

if there is something in the interior or exterior that could be done with having this information imparted to the public, and perhaps that is a rhetorical question for myself and for the public and for the commission as well, but i think this is absolutely wonderful that we are finally bringing this to the attention of the public so i certainly support this designation. >> to answer your question, architecturally speaking, this building is not of particular note or interest in my opinion. it has some interesting features , but it is not really the whole thing that is important. it is what has happened at the

building, and it is how the building was treated. it is almost like a time capsule of the 1920s school, and it is a bit down at the heels. it has a lot of problems because doorways are narrow and there are steps in the middle of the bathrooms. there are a number of things that are challenges to any use of the building reuse. the organization said that it is trying to find uses for the building, which would allow it to be financially viable.

i am not as familiar of my architect friends from my point of view, i would not want to do anything which might inhibit the changes to the interior of the building which would be necessary to accommodate a new use because if a new use can't be found, or the school can't be revitalized somehow, then i feel we would have a building to slowly deteriorate, which would be quite unfortunate. did i answer your question?

>> well, not exactly. at a similar dimension to this discussion, i guess, i just wanted to, for the record, just speak about the value of this that needs to be enhanced in some way, maybe it is the benefit, maybe the japanese task force can come up with something , but i feel like that would be my comment if i could add anything to it. >> there is already an interpretive program in japan town signage. >> about this already? >> i believe it includes this as well. >> okay. >> there are a couple of signs that are up in the front that total to history, but we have talked about property owners about our programs. they provided examples of other recent landmarks that held a dedication ceremony.

we are aware that it happened, but we could support it, but it is not something that is automatic. we would work with them to do that if that was of interest to anyone. >> commissioner perlman? >> this is pretty remarkable. i wanted to respond to two things. one is i think it is ironic that when we tear down a building, we require public displays of the history of the site that explains everything about the site. when we landmark them, we don't require that, so people don't know what happens there. relative to the last one we just discussed, without extensive, you know, text and photographs, no one his really going to know unless they personally know that history, so i think that's a little bit of an ironing because it is addressing what you are saying about there is that big front wall with the stairs, when a great place to put a good display of information, and i

don't know if that's possible, but that would be great. i also wanted to address concerned about the deterioration of the building. i think as a landmark, whether the organization survives there or they'd have to sell the building and someone else would come to it, there's a california building code, historic building code, which would allow a significant number of these things that may not need to current code to remain in the building where, you know, you could create some accessibility, but it would not be that every single bathroom might have to be -- sergeant doorways, as long as they are a minimum width could remain, even though they seem narrower than what would be in a new building today. i think the labs marketing is an important step to helping preserve that building, whether it's this particular use, or a future use. i'm very supportive of this as well.

>> may i move this? >> second. >> thank you, commissioners. if there is nothing further -- >> i mentioned something. in my presentation i mentioned after a site visit, we discussed adding two additional defining features and commissioner highly does not here today, but we did talk about adding existing window openings on the inside and the glass open changed out so we are not necessarily talking about the glass, just that those openings remain. >> i think that those ought to be added. >> very good then. thank you. there is a motion that has been seconded to adopt a recommendation for approval as has been amended by staff. >> so moved, commissioners, that motion passes unanimously 5-0.

>> i need a motion to be recused for the 900 northpoint item because -- i am requesting a motion to be removed from the 900 northpoint item because the firm i work for is doing -- i work for the same -- >> very good. is there a motion? second. >> a motion to recuse him. >> second. >> on that motion to recuse him ... [roll call] >> so moved, that motion passes unanimously 6-0. >> good afternoon, commissioners i'm with planning staff. before you is a request for a certificate of appropriateness for alterations to 900

northpoint street, also known as ghirardelli square. located on the north side of northpoint street between polk street and larkin street. the property is city landmark number 30. the proposed work is located at the noncontributing addition to the historic building that was constructed in 2007. the proposed scope of work includes a partial reconstruction of the existing building to accommodate a new use for the one-story building, consisting of a single restroom and a retail space. on february 6th, 2019, the review committee reviewed a project. at the meeting, they determined the proposed project appears to be compatible with the overall form and continuity, fenestration, and materials, texture and details found at the subject property. to allow the project to be more compatible with the scale and proportion of the subject property, the a.r.c. recommended they be roof detail shall be modified to have a stepped facia referencing the historic facia of that nearby pleasantly and --

pavilion building. it would provide a more gradual transition from the addition touch at roof to the building's roof and would allow the reconstruction addition to more clearly read as a later addition to the historic building. staff finds the proposed work will be in conformance with the requirements of article ten and the secretary of the interior his standards for rehabilitation staff finds a proposed alterations to the existing not historic building will make it more compatible with the site and will result in a building with greater transparency and engagement with visitors. the proposed work will not remove any historic a character defining features associated with the landmark. and a steel channel detailing found at the lower placenta elsewhere at the site. the overall design has a contemporary appearance i will not create a false sense of historical development, while

remaining compatible with the landmark site. the preliminary recommendations for these projects for approval with conditions. staff recommends three conditions of approval to acquire the project sponsor will be provided with the door front framing, no public comments have been received since packets were submitted. this concludes my presentation. and the project sponsor also has a presentation. >> thank you. >> hello, joshua callahan with the jamestown, the owner of ghirardelli square. we do not have a formal presentation, we just wanted to thank a.r.c. for its feedback during the february meeting. we want to thank planning staff are being in support. this will activate an inactive corner of the square. we are pleased to report we are

out of the basic your daily square. we are 100% leading a letter of intent. this will help activate an inactive corner of the square, but provide space when we are out of space to bring more particularly small and local businesses. this is a small space that will be -- we'll be adding as we have done recently, recruiting local businesses to the square to help interact and revitalize the square. thank you for your support. >> great, thank you. any comments or questions from the commission? opening it up to public comments does anybody wish to make public comment? closing public comments. bringing it back to the commission. >> i moved to approve with additions. >> second. >> thank you, there is a motion that has been seconded to approve this with conditions. [roll call]

>> so moved. that motion passes unanimously 5 -0. >> thank you. >> i will place us on all items 11 a and b. in 20 -- properties at 200 cap street and these are legacy business applications. >> hello, commissioners. i'm here for preservation staff. we have 20 applications before you today. the first is the uptown at 200 cap street. the bar was opened in late december, 1984 by scott ellsworth. the building reconstructed and the immediate apt -- aftermath of the earthquake and is believed to have solved -- held a neighborhood bar since its construction in 1910. the intention for the part was to create a true community-wide public health. they resisted making physical changes to the bar is a city in the neighborhood change, making

patrons appreciate uptown as an anchor to the mission. when ellsworth passed away suddenly and april 2014, his sister, executor as his estate, understood her brother wanted the business to be a community gathering spot and she made it possible for the four long-term employees at the close friends to buy uptown and continue its neighborhood character and place in the mission. staff supports the application and we are recommending the following features to be safeguarded. the full table at the lounge area, the jukebox, the stained-glass window above the bar, a large canvas painting, and other works by local artists , the exterior sign, the december crafts fair, the buyer touchup birthday and the celebration events. we are also recommending to add storefront windows.

i unfortunately omitted to add that to the draft resolution because if you would like to include that, that would help us thank you. i will move on to the second application. it is for san francisco world his jim. it was established in september, 1988 by joe and robin. the san francisco royal jim is a franchise of royal jim international. they're over 220 franchises worldwide located across six continents, 20 countries and several territories. the world his jim branch began with joe gold in the 1960s during the glory days of muscle beach. he opened to the gym in 1975 for the equipment he had entirely handmade. before long, the world his jim was the fitness destination for bodybuilding for the former

governor, arnold, schwarzenegger -- arnold schwarzenegger. we are recommending the following features to be safeguarded. the tradition of supporting neighborhood events, the original world logo and colors, specialized exercise equipment, excellent trainers, nutrition program, their targeted program for established athletes, and their unique programs including suspension training, timed interval training, and powerlifting. that concludes my presentation. i believe some of the business owners are here to speak for themselves. >> great, thank you. >> i would like to open it up for public comments. i have some speaker cards.

>> good afternoon, commissioners , i am peter turner i have one correction. we are actually six of the original staff, and one close friend. many of us are here today. >> welcome. >> we are very grateful when scott ellsworth passed away that his sister, next of kin, worked with us to make it possible to carry his legacy forward and keep the bar as much as possible how it has been for 35 years. people constantly tell us, thank you so much for keeping this place the same when they come back from other cities that they have moved away to, and they come back to san francisco, and it is a place that people can hold on to what they remembered about san francisco. is a place where people meet work and -- and working-class folks come to talk and all

different cultures and political backgrounds. we are proud to have it still moving forward. it has been a challenge with the economic pressures in the city, and we are hoping that being a legacy business might, at some point, provide assistance or guidance in moving forward with it. i guess that probably wraps up what i want to say because i don't want to talk all the talking points, because other people have stuff to say too. >> thank you. >> thank you, commissioners. i am kent cone, i'm also another one of the owners of uptown. i just want to add to that we appreciate your commission's recommendation that our bar be included in the legacy business registry. we have been a neighborhood bar

for 35 years. it is one of the dwindling numbers of such -- such establishments. legacy status helps all businesses like ours fend off predatory landlords, and the often irrational commercial gentrification that is rapidly diminishing the legacy in the mission. i would like to thank -- we also would like to thank our supervisor and staff for helping us support this, and for supporting our application. our manager is also going to speak to the business, but we have a number of our patrons and long-time community members who are here to support us, some of whom will also like to speak to the application. thank you very much. >> thank you. >> good afternoon, commissioners my name is jennifer. i am the current manager and

very long standing employee of uptown. i started working for them in 1998. when scott ellsworth, the original owner of uptown passed away, our uptown community in the mission and beyond where it immediately and bravely where each. the concern was that the uptown character as an old-school neighborhood dive bar it would change. when scott arrived in san francisco, they were overwhelmed by the love and support scott scott had accrued over the 30 years of uptown. furthermore, he was also encouraged by the decades of experience of his long-standing employee is. i was not the only person who still works for scott he was hired in 1998. scott was a special guy, and he built a special place. he was highly educated and astonishingly well read. he believed his bar worked as a

salon for lofty principles and thoughts. there's always a great conversation happening at the regulars corner in uptown, and probably even in the lounge area too. and he measured all of his employees and his customers on great books, and respectful discourse especially. he attracted the same in other people. he attracted people who wanted to work for him and talk about books. i think i probably would not have been tired had he not been wildly intriguing by the book i was reading at the bar that day. on a personal note, since he did attract people like that, uptown is known as a place where a woman can go alone, or maybe just with one of her friends, and sit and take -- and be respected, and not harassed. that is not always the typical experience for young women in bars, but it is encouraged and demanded that the uptown.

uptown is a great dive barber you can get a solid cocktail, or if you just prefer, a shot and a beer. we are really proud of the fact that we make really good margaritas with no sweet-and-sour, and awesome manhattan. we do more than just sling drinks. we also support the community in many ways. we host a hockey league that is a little bit of the bad news bears of the hockey league, but we also are the champions of the pool league. we are well known for our epic playoff games, but we also have had fundraisers for local politicians, as well as for community members that have fallen on hard times. we have watched countless elections together, and we offer promotions if you turn in your vote sticker. we want our community members to be involved in politics and the community at large.

we also support local artists. >> sorry, your time is up. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> hello. thank you all for being here. thank you for that amazing presentation from my world his gym. i want to let you know, it is a licensing, and not a franchisee. we are a licensee. we opened our gym in 1989, and we take pride in giving back to the community. not only do we have all these amazing people come to the gym, we furnished the san francisco police department, the fire department, the spot -- swat team. every time we have traded our equipment, we have given to all of the schools. we have free membership for all of the students. it is important to have health and fitness for all students and that is what i personally take pride in. it has been a -- our family business for 31 years and we are

excited to be part of this designation. thank you. >> thank you. >> hello, my name is rosemary. i have been a resident of potrero hill 473 years. i have known robin and joan for many, many years. they were born and raised on potrero hill, and i have watched them and their children grow up. it was an early dream if there is to open a gym, and when that dream became a reality, robin took me into the empty space and it showed where everything would be. that was 32 years ago, and i have used their facility ever since, and they must add that this is one of the things that has kept me healthy. there jim was one of the first

gems, if not the first in the city, and it has truly been a mom-and-pop organization. robin and joan georgia fathers were involved at the beginning, at all three of their children have -- still work at the gym. not only for the service it provides, but because of what robin and joan do with it in the community. they have put on events for nonprofits, and the underprivileged. they hold events that bring the community together, and they join in other neighborhood activities. they have provided jobs for many , many people. over the years, they have made the gym very accessible to youngsters and seniors, and robin is very active in other neighborhood organizations. over the past 32 years, the

neighborhood has gone from what felt like a small town to a bustling, crowded, gentrified one. the gym has gone from a small space to a large establishment that consistently must change and bring in new equipment and different services to meet the needs of their clients. they have withstood incredible competition and rising costs, is one of the original businesses in the neighborhood, they are a bedrock of potrero hill community. in spite of this, they have maintained an atmosphere of a small town neighborhood business , and a mom and pop operation. the contributions to the neighborhood and the city deserved recognition, and they definitely deserve to be included in the legacy business

registry. thank you. >> thank you. is there any other member of the public who wishes to make public comment? now is your chance. [laughter] >> good afternoon, commissioners my name is barbara. i am a second-generation san franciscan. my grandchildren are fourth-generation san franciscans, and haven't been in the city for all these years, my mom still loves to go have a banana split on 24th street at -- what is the name of that place? st. francis, and she loves seeing the roxy and the victoria theatre, so i just want to say that the legacy status is really important. i am so glad you were doing it. i was here for the bay view boat club a while ago, and i just want to say, shout out to world his jim and the uptown bar,

which is what i am here to speak about. the uptown bar is really a community bar, and i think other people have spoken to that. i love that bartenders from the lexington bar come and have a wild lesbian night once a month at the uptown. my daughters come have had drinks at the uptown with me. she has grown up, don't worry. a lot of people have had weddings and baby showers at the uptown. couples have met there, we have had wakes, we have had funerals, we have had community events. it is a great community space, and really deserves legacy status. i know it is difficult for businesses to stay in neighborhood like the mission, like potrero hill because of rising rent,