When an architectural firm decided to locate their office in the Tenderloin District in San Francisco, residents vowed to keep the gritty integrity of their neighborhood from changing.
The Tenderloin District is perhaps one of the last areas in San Francisco to offer affordable housing. Yet, to residents of this area, the battle cry isn't to keep low-income residents. Rather, "they are fighting for the neighborhood's gritty ambience."
"Often described by tourist guides as San Francisco's worst neighborhood, the Tenderloin has for years been a gathering point for pimps, drug addicts and transvestites and transgender residents, some of whom work as prostitutes. Some residents say that's what gives the Tenderloin its personality and makes it a crucial piece of San Francisco's diverse cityscape. Cleanup efforts, these residents contend, threaten to destroy an atmosphere that welcomes people on the fringe of society, who otherwise could find no refuge. And it distracts from the issues the neighborhood really cares about, such as safety for sex workers and affordable housing."
"Wanted" posters emerged throughout the district featuring the firm's owners' name on it. Her goals were to plant 400 trees and beautify the area. However, fierce opposition to this effort has made her think otherwise.
FULL STORY: San Francisco's red-light denizens fight to stay seedy
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Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
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Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits
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Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.
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This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
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Harvard GSD Executive Education
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NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
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