the Ball may fall---on good old Fillmore West

This has been in the works for a few years now. The building is going down for more (high-priced) apartments. The Honda dealership that was there for decades bailed out last year, and a special events company took it over and refurbished the ballroom, but they rarely use it.

fw4.jpg

There are some people trying to fight the demolition of the ballroom by incorporating it into the new building, but we know how that will go.

oh no!  I hope they do try to save it under some historical preservation thing. 

They don't need an empty ballroom more than they need housing. 

Former city planner fights to save Fillmore West from wrecking ball

https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/music/former-city-planner-fights-to-sav...

Fill that ballroom with tasty jams...if you open it, they will come. 

They don't need just housing, they need housing that regular working people can afford.

They don't need an empty ballroom more than they need housing. <<<<<<<<

 

correction

---ridiculously OVERPRICED housing

They just need more ways to collect taxes. Expensive housing does that. 

We're never going back to working class homes. They're bad for the environment. 

where do the busboys live in sf?

the maids?

how do they get in/out of the city?

Thx for the classic photo Klondo.

Whether or not you're a fan of the 'Dirty Harry'  series of movies,  there are lots of '70's-era SF street scenes.

Record of times gone by.

bay area needs less people. the infinite growth model is absurd. lets downsize. every time a family moves or a business closes in the bay area, an angel gets its wings.

The whole west coast is exploding. Showbox in Seattle is under the gun, Portland has towers going up left & right, and don't get me started on Vancouver BC - so many live music venues and landmarks have been lost to density 'housing' it's nauseating. Folks are starting to push back, but too little too late in most cases.

My first husband and I went to concerts in SF til we moved to Humboldt in 1969. We went to hear Bay Area bands, British bands, blues bands, anyone with a bass player he liked, and the other bands on whatever the bill was. He introduced me to electric bass players with a new appreciation. I'd gone to GD and other shows before we were together, but never focussed on the bass playing til then. I am forever in his debt for that (and many other things). He died yesterday, and I'm much sadder than I'd thought I would be. This thread me gave a little additional context for that. Thanks, Dave.

My condolences, Judit.

I live two blocks away from the old Honda dealership/Fillmore West. It has been slated to be redeveloped for years, since that neighborhood was rezoned for taller buildings last decade. It was supposed to be 2 40 story towers but they are now considering scaling it back to one. This is sad but it is old news. The two blocks from Van Ness and Market to Gough is being heavily redeveloped. The entire block from 12th St. to Brady St. is going to be one enormous 6 building project.

The historical preservation angle might work, but since it hasn't been a venue since 1971 that may not work. Developers have too much power in SF for this to be stopped

Condolences, Judit. 

I'm sorry for your loss, Judit. Sending condolences to you.

{{{{{{}JUDIT}}}}}}

 

long live love

long live memories

Last time I walked on 2nd Avenue and Bill Graham Way, which I admit was at least 10 years ago, Fillmore East was an Apple Bank and the Tisch School of the Arts of NYUOh the nights I spent there, 16yrs old, late show Bobby Bland, Albert King and BB King on the ame bill!!! that was my first night of many. I never bothered to look, is there a plaque? 

So this has been SF Honda for years--got my car and our company car serviced there many times.  Last time, 6 month ago, they told me they are moving up further on Van Ness and that the place would be converted to a mix use office/housing but he (the dealer) said they would also have a club for music.  Didn't get the details on that in any more clarity

There was a hearing yesterday I think. Supporters to keep the ballroom were asking for comments to be sent to a public comments section of the city web page, so I threw in my .79 cents.

But that type of deal is always just an act to allow the serfs to believe we have a voice in things.

Regular people have voices, but it's always money that talks.

The building & ballroom will almost certainly go down.

 

IMG_0434_0.JPG

 

Fillmore West old entrance doors were chopped out of the the wall and it will be having shows and events as SVN West throughout the year (Ohsees ripoff band King Gizzard and Wizard Lizard playing 2 nights in August). This is from two months ago, meant to post 

Thinking of Van Ness, I recently remembered - IS OOKS - , a sweet chuckle from the '60s when we'd do acid and go to the luxury car dealerships to play around.