Entertainment Commission grants permits for Charmaine’s rooftop, Redford Lounge, Papi Rico and Burning Man decompression

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission voted unanimously on a slate of permit actions and a recommendation to planning on projects across the city.

At the meeting the commission recommended that Planning approve a four‑story addition to the Holiday Inn at 1300 Columbus, with standard entertainment‑related conditions. The motion to recommend the project passed on a roll call in which Commissioners Perez, Camino, Thomas, Blyman/Bridal, Tan, Lee and Falzon recorded aye votes.

The commission granted a one‑time permit to the Burning Man Project for its nineteenth annual decompression event at Potrero Power Station. Justin Katz, representing the applicant, said the event would run 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. with outdoor sound requested to be extended to midnight; Katz said the organizers had conducted neighborhood outreach and were coordinating security and a Bayview Station contact. Commissioners approved the permit and instructed the applicant to follow up with staff on police conditions.

The commission approved a limited live‑entertainment permit for Papi Rico at 544 Castro Street. Owner Richard Hamer described mitigation measures including daily sound tracking, added tectum and curtains, a replaced speaker system and landlord plans for new double‑pane windows for affected tenants. Staff noted neighborhood support and two tenant complaints that staff had addressed in conversation.

A Place of Entertainment permit for Charmaine’s rooftop at the San Francisco Proper Hotel (Seventh and Market) was approved. Applicant Alex Samick described a rooftop designed for seated, ambient live music with three exterior speakers oriented toward Market Street and interior speakers; staff read a police recommendation for approval. Commissioners requested a calendar of outdoor events and discussed ABC liquor conditions and DPW sidewalk/table plans.

The commission also approved a Place of Entertainment permit for Redford Lounge (673 Geary), subject to two police recommendations: (1) that employees with patron contact receive LEADs training and (2) that no exterior speakers be used unless the commission later approves a change. Central Station officer Steve Matthias told the commission the exterior speaker had been the subject of previous complaints and that removing or prohibiting exterior speakers would reduce noise incidents.

All permit approvals were accompanied by standard good‑neighbor conditions and instructions to follow up with Director Weiland for next steps.

Votes at a glance: 1300 Columbus (recommendation to planning): unanimous aye; Burning Man decompression permit: approved; Papi Rico limited entertainment permit: approved; San Francisco Proper Hotel (Charmaine’s rooftop) POE permit: approved; Redford Lounge POE permit: approved.

The commission closed the items with directions to staff to continue interagency coordination on policing and permitting for large events and to collect calendars of outdoor events from new POE permittees.