Create inventory of existing businesses and develop plan to attract wider variety of businesses currently not available to the community. 

 

In fall 2014, our office worked with the Planning Department to develop a survey on design and land use in the Sunset. The survey was designed to get public input from residents and visitors to the Sunset on building design and different types of development in commercial areas. Through this survey, our office was able to see what types of businesses people frequent most, what types of stores or services are missing from the Sunset, and what features and qualities people like in their business corridors.

 

To view the survey results, visit http://www.sfbos.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=53075

 

• Business people frequent most: restaurants, Safeway, Walgreens, produce/grocery

• Stores/services that are missing: restaurants, shops/stores, grocery, clothing

• Features/qualities that people like: variety, shops, diversity, trees, restaurants, clean

• Respondents also value ground floor transparency and outdoor seating.

 

In addition to this survey, we received feedback during our Blueprint outreach about the types of businesses residents would like to see in the Sunset District. Desirable businesses include fitness and gyms, clothing stores, healthy food and grocery, thrift shops, yoga, art and theater, and family activities such as bowling or skating. People also continue to express the desire for a variety of retail shops, as many of our corridors lack retail.

 

Many business owners reach out to our office when they are looking to open their first location or expand to a second, as our office can provide assistance connecting small business owners with the appropriate city departments and resources. Since the publishing of our Blueprint, small business owners have been very interested to hear our thoughts on where they should locate. With a combination of community feedback and the undiscovered potential of some of the corridors, we have been focusing our business attraction efforts in the corridors with the most vacancies, namely Taraval Street. With the Taraval Streetscape Improvement Project complete, the western edge of the street has become a more desirable location for prospective business owners, and we are excited to see how this area evolves over the next several years to better serve the residents of the area.

 

Many business expansion efforts are still underway, but one example we are excited to share is that the Riptide owners, Dave Quinby and Les James, have secured a lease for 3657 Taraval Street, where they plan to open a restaurant. The former shop at that location became a public safety issue for the surrounding community. Our office worked closely with nearby merchants and the local police station in assisting the landlord with removing illegal squatters from the building. Dave and Les were tirelessly dedicated to ensuring this block remains a safe, neighborhood-serving area. We are excited to share in the coming success of their new venture and continue to assist them as needed during construction and renovation.