City presents nightlifesf.org to Entertainment Commission as central resource for nightlife businesses

The Entertainment Commission heard a presentation on nightlifesf.org, a new online resource assembled by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development to support nightlife and entertainment businesses in San Francisco.

Ben Van Houten, OEWD business development manager for the nightlife sector, said the site includes a Nightlife Business Handbook, maps of live-music venues, guidance on permits and limited live performance, late-night transit links and a repository for economic-impact studies. “The Nightlife Business Handbook is one of the main resources…soup to nuts best practices, in terms of starting a business,” Van Houten told commissioners, describing the site’s intent to collect best practices and to help new and existing businesses navigate permitting.

Commissioners asked whether the site would include practical steps for developers (for example, condominium CC&Rs and soundproofing) and about outreach to venue operators. Van Houten said the controller’s office is partnering on surveys to capture festival economic impact and that OEWD will continue to add resources such as best-practice guidance for mitigating development-related noise conflicts.

Van Houten said the site is live (nightlifesf.org) and that the mayor’s office issued a press release when it launched; the Business Times ran a story, he said. Commissioners encouraged staff to promote the site to venue operators and planning stakeholders and to return with updates when new materials are added.

What happens next: OEWD will continue to expand the site’s content and return to the commission periodically to report progress and uptake among business owners and producers.