Bringing San Francisco's Sixth Street Back to Life

San Francisco's Sixth Street has been decidedly run-down for years. But redevelopment efforts -- including the likely seizure of a vacant and historic hotel building -- may be changing the face of the street for the better.

1 minute read

January 28, 2008, 9:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg

"Locals will recognize the Hugo, which has been vacant for nearly 20 years, for the colorful murals on the downstairs walls and the weird pieces of furniture, including a couch and a large wooden dresser, poking out the windows. It is a quirky eyesore, both full of potential and run down."

"Kind of like Sixth Street."

"Although it is grandly described as the "Gateway to the City," Sixth Street has been a run-down mess for decades."

"But even critics have to admit that there have been major changes in the last three or four years."

"'Look,' said John Elberling, president of Tenants and Owners Development Corp., which has developed a couple of housing projects in the neighborhood, 'Sixth Street today is no picnic. But it is still dramatically different than what it was.'"

"In some ways the best thing that ever happened to Sixth was the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The run-down hotels along the street were hit hard, forcing many residents out on the street and creating a focus for redevelopment funds to rebuild low-cost housing."

FULL STORY: Sixth Street keeps trying to make a comeback

Sunday, January 27, 2008 in The San Francisco Chronicle

History / Preservation Housing Urban Development California

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