Potrero Hill Parklets, Here to Stay?

BY ODIN THIEN-AN MARIN

Amidst the pandemic numerous curbside parklets appeared along 18th Street, providing restaurants with a vital lifeline and customers the ability to dine al fresco. The emergency Shared Spaces program enabled eateries to occupy sidewalks and parking spaces, allowing them to remain open.

Last April, Shared Spaces became a permanent municipal program. Under new guidelines, some Potrero Hill parklets require major rebuilds, while others need only modest modifications to meet Fire Code or American Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.

The City has three Shared Spaces classifications: “public parklet,” “commercial parklet,” and “moveable commercial parklet.” A “public parklet” provides space for community use from sunrise until 10 p.m., similar to structures erected before the pandemic. “Commercial” and “moveable commercial” parklets are used by a company during business hours, with seating available to the public during non-business hours.

Establishments with curbside parklets constructed during the pandemic face charges which were previously waived. One parking space occupied by a parklet is assessed a one-time $3,000 fee, with each additional parking space $1,500, along with an annual $2,000 license payment. Businesses with less than $2 million in annual revenues are eligible for discounts.

Alimentari Aurora

The parklet outside Alimentari Aurora and Ruby Wine, 18th Street between

Missouri and Connecticut streets will remain. It’s the only public parklet on the Hill.

“We definitely plan to keep the parklet,” Dario Barbone, Alimentari Aurora owner, said. “We built the public parklet to give people a place to sit, relax and enjoy. During the pandemic, a lot of extension of tables and chairs allowed restaurants to create more seating for

PARKLETS continues on page 8

Vermont Cleaners Struggles During Retrofit

BY REBEKAH MOAN

Vermont Cleaners, located at 600 Vermont Street, has been in Benson Xu’s family since 1986. The business has survived an earthquake, recessions, and multiple robberies. Now as the building in which it’s housed is being seismically retrofitted, the venture faces an uncertain future.

Built in 1917, the almost 10,000 square feet multi-family building is being renovated to bring it up to code. The structure is being fortified with steel, shear walls, and extra concrete footings.

“I wish the City was more practical,” said the landlord, Roque Fernandes. “Potrero Hill is on a rock, it’s solid, but the building still needs to be brought up to today’s code.”

The retrofit includes installing a handicapped toilet in Vermont Cleaners, which’ll reduce the usable space from 650 square feet to 450 square feet to create a widened aisle that can accommodate a wheelchair, a requirement for com- mercial spaces. After the alteration, Xu worries his rent will increase, though Fernandes said he’ll be reasonable.

“I’ve always been more than fair to Benson, and I want to see him stay there,” he said. “[Vermont Cleaners] is his livelihood and I’m conscientious about that.”

The retrofit is slated to take a few months, but it could be longer as the construction workers juggle other jobs. Add to that the step-by-step process involved in the renovation, such as the need for inspections before concrete is poured, and time adds up. In the meantime, Vermont Cleaners isn’t generating any income.

“We’re completely shut down,” Xu said. “The water, gas, electricity, everything has to be cut and all the clothes were moved to the storage room.”

Even though the business is closed, Xu is at the shop every day at 7 a.m. to open the doors for construction workers. He’s even pitching in; moving dirt to the dumpster, distributing tools, and lifting materials. He hopes that by helping the work will go faster.

“I provide them coffee and lunch every day, which is around $1,500 to $2,000 out of my pocket every month,” he said. “I saw them working hard and some of them get really tired. They drink Red Bull for energy, so I went to Costco to buy them a case. It’s not easy. Whatever they need, I get it for them. If their fingers are bleeding, I find them Band-Aids. If I don’t, they use napkins and wrap them around with a rubber band.”

Xu, who lives in a four-bedroom townhouse in Daly City, said he’s not sleeping well because he’s so anxious. He and his family are living off savings. He has four children; two of them in college, one about to enter 11th grade, the other going into third grade. In addition, new immigrants from China with whom his wife is related depend on Xu to help them get jobs and settle into San Francisco.

“They only pay a little utility money

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