Entertainment Commission conditionally grants Hibernia Bank venue permit with outdoor sound limits

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission on Tuesday conditionally granted a permanent place‑of‑entertainment permit to the owners of the restored Hibernia Bank at 1 Jones Street, allowing the operator to use multiple floors for events and to permit amplified sound on the penthouse outdoor deck daily between 9 a.m. and midnight.

Applicant representatives described the four‑level space as able to hold about "1,000 people" depending on configuration and said they have held one‑day events there for years with no recorded sound complaints. The staff memo cited Municipal Police Code 106060.16(b)(1), which generally caps outdoor amplified sound no later than 10 p.m. unless the commission permits otherwise; the applicant requested an allowance to midnight and staff and the Tenderloin station provided recommended conditions.

Commissioners probed operations, asking about final fire‑department capacity, security staffing and plans for managing large departures onto nearby sidewalks and curbside pickup. The applicant said they are drafting security standard operating procedures, will outsource security and plan perimeter checks; they also told the commission they have been in contact with the Tenderloin station and are planning transportation and cab staging to reduce neighborhood disruption.

The commission’s approval included the staff‑recommended good‑neighbor policy, a sound‑limit for the outdoor deck, submission of a revised, venue‑specific security plan (for staff review), and an outdoor lighting plan. Commissioners also noted the police recommendation on cameras (minimum four in the written materials) as advisement. The motion passed on a roll‑call vote with Commissioners Thomas, Vice President Dori Camino, Commissioner Lee and Commissioner Falzon recorded as voting "aye." The motion and final conditions were handled at the staff level; the commission directed the applicants to follow up with the deputy director for next steps.

The applicant team included individuals named in the record as Mark Rennie (the file also contains a reference to "Mark Granite" in the public remarks), Jerry Tassen (event facilities manager) and Oona Fannin (communications). The record shows the ABC liquor license type 47 is still pending, and the applicants said ABC posting drew minimal opposition.

Next steps: the permit is conditionally granted pending staff review of the submitted security and lighting plans and any final fire‑department determinations.