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Commission recommends legacy-business status for six firms and highlights Cafe Sapore—s displacement risk
Summary
The commission unanimously recommended six legacy business registry nominations—Cafe Sapore, Courtney—s Produce, Eclectic Cookery, GameScape, Lorna Kohlmeier Ornamental Plaster and the Potrero View—calling attention to Cafe Sapore—s imminent lease termination and a legal notice question that staff advised would not bar the commission from proceeding.
The Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously on Dec. 18 to recommend six businesses for the city—s Legacy Business Registry, drawing particular attention to Cafe Sapore, whose owner faces an imminent lease termination.
Staff presented six nominations and recommended support: Cafe Sapore (790 Lombard Street), Courtney—s Produce (101 Castro Street), Eclectic Cookery (103 Horn Avenue), GameScape (333 DeVividero Street), Lorna Kohlmeier Ornamental Plaster (Hunters Point Shipyard, Building 115) and the Potrero View community newspaper (1459 18th Street). For each nomination staff listed the features to be safeguarded (for example, Cafe Sapore—s Mediterranean-influenced menu, murals and original hardwood floors; Courtney—s neon sign and fresh produce; Lorna Kohlmeier—s plaster mold archive).
Janet Crane, a long-time neighborhood resident, told commissioners she had gathered 1,984 signatures in support of Cafe Sapore and urged the commission to grant the legacy classification to help preserve the neighborhood—s remaining small businesses. Elias (who introduced himself as the owner of Cafe Sapore) described operating the cafe for 22 years and said it has been "a community cafe supported by a lot of people." Other owners and partners—Robin Courtney for Courtney's Produce; Tom Hamilton for GameScape; Scott Madison for Eclectic Cookery; Lorna Kohlmeier and Mike Dyer for the ornamental-plaster shop—spoke about their business histories and neighborhood roles.
Commissioner Jones raised a letter from the law firm Zacks, Freeman & Patterson claiming insufficient notice for the Cafe Sapore item. Victoria Wong, deputy city attorney, told the commission she had briefly reviewed the letter and advised that the commission—s action was advisory (a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors) rather than quasi-judicial and that the administrative code governing legacy business designation did not require a particular form of notice, so the commission could proceed.
Commissioners praised the value of legacy businesses, discussed marketing and plaque plans and noted staff capacity constraints for processing a queue of applications. Staff said an RFP for plaques and a marketing push are planned for spring and that they are considering hiring a position funded by the Board of Supervisors to assist with marketing and outreach.
On the motion to recommend approval (with corrections noted by staff for property references in the Eclectic Cookery and GameScape case reports), the commission voted unanimously to forward the nominations to the Board of Supervisors for final action.
