THIS LAVISH oversized limited edition book brings together a collection of favorite photographs and stories from the pages of the New Fillmore. It tells the story of an ever-changing small town in the big city with a rich history and a strong sense of community.
Available exclusively at Browser Books on Fillmore, or order online.
THIS DOCUMENTARY — filmed entirely on Fillmore Street — tells the story of longtime Fillmore resident Kelly Johnson, who used a new California law to end his life on his own terms.
The 1882 home at 2660 California lacks a garage and needs significant renovations.
REAL ESTATE | CYNTHIA TRAINA
Typical of the holiday season, there was a slowdown in sales in December. Only four single-family homes closed in the neighborhood in December, compared to seven homes in November and 12 in October. Sales ranged from $2.4 million for 2660 California, which needs significant renovations, to $8.35 million for 2610 Pacific, a fixer-upper with bay views. The Pacific Avenue property was back on the market after selling for $50,000 more.
As for condos and co-ops, 20 units closed in December, with most selling close to or a bit over their asking price, except for those on the market more than several months. The least expensive was 2925 California #6, which sold for $750,000. The most expensive was 2955 Jackson, which sold for $3.3 million.
Fresh listings: In early January, inventory remains limited, with many sellers reluctant to put their properties on the market during the holidays. There are 11 single-family homes listed. Of the 30 condo and co-op listings, 11 have come on the market within the past 30 days, or are coming soon. Noteworthy is a $30 million penthouse at The Pacific at 2121 Webster, the former dental school, now a luxury development. Despite its high price, this penthouse faces south and east, with no views of the bay.
Cynthia Traina is a residential realtor with Vantage Realty. Contact her at CT@cynthiatraina.com.
In the 1940s, 2660 California (right) and its neighbors still had their original details. [Photo from the San Francisco History Center at the San Francisco Public Library]
ST. DOMINIC’S CATHOLIC CHURCH is celebrating 150 years in the neighborhood — and 100 years in its landmark Gothic home — with the publication of a new book, Radiating the Joy of the Gospel in the Heart of the City.
The book captures key moments in the life of the church in words and photographs. These excerpts tell the story of the four buildings St. Dominic’s has occupied.
The First St. Dominic’s Church
As early as 1863, the Dominican Order bought a square block bounded by Steiner, Bush, Pierce and Pine Streets for $6,000. On June 29, 1873, Archbishop Joseph Alemany blessed the first St. Dominic’s Church at the corner of Bush and Steiner Streets, the site of the present church.
The original priory building was located at the corner of Steiner and Pine Streets, with the entrance on Steiner. This is where the Dominican friars lived as a community.
An article in The Monitor, the official publication of the archdiocese, described the territory around St. Dominic’s when the church was first founded: “At that time the Western Addition was a waste of sand dunes on the outskirts of the city. Of residents, there are very few in the district, and its houses, some of them small ranch houses, were far apart. Old fathers have told of how they went over the hills on horseback for provisions, and the old residents of the city of how they came to it from the Mission, in buggies and on foot, by ways made almost impassable by the drifting sands.”
The second St. Dominic’s Church was first authorized in 1880.
The Second St. Dominic’s Church
Within a short time, the area grew. The little church of St. Dominic, though still new, was proving inadequate for the growing needs of the people. Although the plan of the first church provided for the addition of a transept, the decision was made to move it to another part of the block and transform it into a parish hall, while an entirely new church would occupy the original site at the corner of Bush and Steiner Streets.
The second St. Dominic’s Church was first authorized on April 18, 1880. Even before the plans for the church had been approved, the first church was lifted and moved to about the middle of the Pine Street side of the block.
After the laying of the cornerstone in 1883, work on the new church languished for some time. These were years when money was hard to come by on account of the gradual depletion of the Comstock Lode in the Nevada mines and the consequent depression in San Francisco.
Archbishop Patrick Riordan blessed the new church on Sunday, November 13, 1887, although there were a good many parts still to be erected or installed. In September 1892, The Monitor reported: “During the past week, a number of plasterers have been giving the finishing touches to St. Dominic’s New Church. The church has a seating capacity of 2,000.”
By 1893, the church was essentially finished except for some proposed interior decoration and also for the organ. It would be five years before the organ was installed. The total cost of the church was $188,926.77.
Then catastrophe struck. On the early morning of April 18, 1906, came the disastrous San Francisco earthquake and fire. The church was destroyed. Part of one of its towers fell on the priory.
The Third St. Dominic’s Church
Less than three weeks after the earthquake, ground was broken in the middle of the Pierce Street block for a temporary church that would serve first as a church and later as a parish hall. By May 1907, the temporary church was ready for dedication.
In 1923, plans for the fourth — and current — church became final and work began.
The Fourth St. Dominic’s Church
The third church had always been considered a temporary church. As early as 1917, a sketch of the proposed interior of New St. Dominic’s Church was shown. In 1923, plans for the new church became final and work began. Early in the year it was generally assumed that at least some of the foundations of the old church could be used in the new one. In February the engineers convinced the friars that this was not feasible, so it was decided to have the old stones crushed and used in the new reinforced concrete walls.
Plans were made to lay the cornerstone on August 5, 1923. The cornerstone was a large block of granite, the same that had rested in the foundation of the church that was destroyed.
During the next four years, the construction of the new church was the most interesting aspect of St. Dominic’s parish. The gradually rising English Gothic structure on the old site at Bush and Steiner Streets was considered a truly international church. Craftsmen, artists and technicians from the United States and Europe collaborated in fashioning the parts which together created an exquisite whole.
On February 19, 1928, Archbishop Edward J. Hanna dedicated the new St. Dominic’s.
Copies of Radiating the Joy of the Gospel in the Heart of the City are available in the parish office or may be ordered online here.
Safeway and its sizable parking lot will be sold and redeveloped to include housing.
STREET TALK | CYNTHIA TRAINA
A year after first announcing it was closing its store near Fillmore and Geary — and over the impassioned pleas of its neighbors — Safeway has set a final day for the store: February 7.
The company cited “ongoing concerns about associate and customer safety, as well as persistent issues with theft.” Last year the store’s self-checkout kiosks were removed. There have been numerous reports of car break-ins and other criminal activity in the parking lot.
In a letter to Mayor London Breed, Safeway wrote: “We appreciate the time and resources you’ve invested in trying to help us find a way to stay open, but unfortunately, the challenges we face are too great to overcome.”
At a community meeting at SFPD’s Northern Station on Tuesday night, officers expressed concern about how effectively Safeway would secure the building and parking lot after the store closes. The company promised to “ensure a smooth and secure closure of the store, while allowing for continued access and traffic flow to neighboring businesses.”
Also closing: After 12 years at 2259 Fillmore, the high-end clothing boutique Alice + Olivia will close permanently on December 15. To mark the occasion, the store will host a neighborhood party starting at 3 p.m. on December 14. Longtime customers have also been sent coupons for last-minute deals. … After 32 years at 2401 Bush, Silver Glass and Mirror has closed. Owner Rosalba Martinez says the company will continue operations from its location at 715 Bryant Street. Hayes Auto Repair will remain in the building. It’s a historic structure designed by noted architect Timothy Pflueger as a Model T showroom and garage.
Hayes Auto Repair will remain in the historic building at 2401 Bush.
Restaurant news: Great gulps of relief greeted the news that La Mediterranee has finally reached an agreement with the new owners of its building to remain at 2210 Fillmore through 2028. Said one fan: “It wouldn’t be Fillmore without them.”
More details are emerging about 1800 Fillmore, formerly home of Pizza Inferno, where low-profile restaurateur Kevin Chen will further expand his empire. Chen’s Nono, which opened last year at 1730 Fillmore, has been so successful it will soon relocate to the much larger space on the corner. Chen plans to transform the original Nono location into a ramen bar, with both projects scheduled to open in early 2025. … Chen also owns Bubu at 2417 California and other restaurants in the city.
Notice that the liquor license of the shuttered Noosh, at Fillmore and Pine, is being transferred has been posted in the window, but details are still under wraps. The transfer is to Alphabet of the Trees, LLC. Cody Allen, project manager of what’s being called the Upper Fillmore Revitalization Project, which now owns the building, would give no clues. The SF Biz Times reports that Allen himself will be opening a restaurant in the space. … The delicious rumor that a return of super chefs Sayat and Laura Ozyilmaz was in the works is not true, Sayat says. The chefs — forced out of Noosh by their business partner, John Litz — are now being celebrated for their new and highly lauded Dalida in the Presidio.
Noosh is apparently becoming a new restaurant called Alphabet of Trees.
Legacy business: Russian Hill Dog Spa, located at 2178 Bush, has been listed as a legacy business. Owner Leonard Montgomery opened his dog grooming business on Hyde Street in 1994. The business kept its original name when it relocated to the neighborhood in 2008. … The spa is known for catering to high-profile clients including the late Senator Dianne Feinstein and George and Charlotte Shultz.
Still for sale: The Victorian at 2224 Bush — longtime home of Unity church — briefly became Liberty Cannabis during the early days of the cannabis gold rush following legalization. Now the building is a testament to the volatility of the cannabis market. Purchased by Liberty for $6 million, it’s now empty and listed at $3.9 million.
Next door, the building that once housed chef Charles Phan’s Out the Door restaurant and his family residence upstairs remains on the market for $5.5 million. The restaurant space is now occupied by Mattina restaurant, owned by chef Matthew Accarrino, who also owns SPQR around the corner on Fillmore.
Cynthia Traina is a longtime Fillmore resident and a residential agent with Vantage Realty. Send items and ideas for Street Talk to CT@cynthiatraina.com.
La Mediterranee has been a fixture at 2210 Fillmore for more than four decades.
LOCAL FAVORITE La Mediterranee cafe, which has been twisting in the wind since its building changed hands earlier this year, has a new lease on life.
“We are thrilled to be extending our lease on Fillmore Street as part of the Upper Fillmore Revitalization Project,” said Vanick Der Bedrossian, La Med’s owner. The extension ensures the restaurant will remain in its current home through the summer of 2028.
A statement issued jointly by Der Bedrossian and project director Cody White said that as part of the agreement La Med will again be open on Sundays beginning in late January. Hours of service may be extended further next year to help increase evening traffic on the street.
The Upper Fillmore Revitalization Project is a nonprofit funded by venture capitalist Neil Mehta, a neighborhood resident. Mehta bought a number of buildings on Fillmore Street this year, including the historic Clay Theater.
The statement marked a sharp turnaround in relations between Mehta’s project and La Med. Der Bedrossian had been publicly calling for months for the new owners of the building to address his restaurant’s future. Supervisor Aaron Peskin rallied supporters of the restaurant and introduced legislation that would help protect legacy businesses such as La Med.
Today’s statement makes nice.
“We look forward to working with Neil Mehta and Cody Allen towards their goal of bringing more vibrancy to the neighborhood,” Der Bedrossian said in the statement. “We support their vision for the Upper Fillmore.”
He would not go beyond the statement, except to say: “We are grateful for the outpouring of support from our customers.”
In the statement, White said he has been “overwhelmed with interest from potential tenants” interested in coming to Fillmore Street. “We live in and love this neighborhood, and we want to see it grow and prosper,” he said.
If there’s a secret to a good long life, local centenarians Ron Kay and Arthur Roth may have found it. They are, at least, both living it.
Roth, who celebrated his 100th birthday on November 16, lives on Post Street at The Carlisle retirement home. Kay, who turned 100 last year, lives across the street at The Sequoias.
A recent sale in Presidio Terrace (left) highlights the demand in this private enclave.
REAL ESTATE | CYNTHIA TRAINA
The local market shifted slightly in November, down from 12 homes closed in October to seven homes closed in November. There was a small uptick in condos closed, up from 18 in October to 22 in November.
Single family homes: Seven properties closed at a price range from $1,026 to $1,953 per square foot. Some highlights:
The most expensive home sold was 2480 Broadway, a grand residence that sold for $9.5 million — down from the initial listing price of $11.3 million after 247 days on the market.
A fixer-upper at 16 Presidio Terrace sold in just two weeks for $8.5 million, highlighting the demand in this private enclave.
The top price per square foot was the smallest home that sold: an 1,080 square foot Edwardian home at 18 Orben Place sold for $1,953 per square foot.
Condominiums: The condo market attracts both luxury buyers and those seeking affordability. Of the 24 units that sold during the month:
The priciest sale was a full-floor residence at 2207 Pacific with an elevator, bay views and 3,385 square feet of living space. After 135 days on the market, it sold for $4.85 million, or $1,433 per square foot.
The least expensive condo, sold for $750,000, was a 2-bedroom unit on Franklin Street with parking and a 24-hour doorman.
At 2740 Pierce, the two upper floors of a duplex sold for $4.2 million in just eight days for $1,620 per square foot — more than many single family homes.
Coming up: December began with many properties sitting for more than a month, perhaps creating some negotiating room before the end of the year. There are 29 single family homes for sale and 63 condos available in the greater neighborhood. Most agents are holding new inventory until after the first of the year.
Cynthia Traina is a residential realtor with Vantage Realty. Contact her at CT@cynthiatraina.com.
“I’m going to really miss our clients on Fillmore,” said shift manager Annabelle Cimino.
THE STARBUCKS at 2222 Fillmore Street is set to close its doors on December 1, leaving loyal customers and locals shocked and disappointed.
Annabelle Cimino, the store’s shift manager, has worked at the Fillmore location since 2017. Known for her personal touch, Cimino greets regulars by name and even hand-decorates their takeaway bags.
The building, one of several on the block now owned by venture capitalist investor Neil Mehta’s nonprofit, has faced its share of challenges. Last year, both the air conditioning system and the sewage line were replaced. But the introduction of Starbucks’ single-cup brewing machines, alongside the new air conditioning system, reportedly exceeded the building’s electrical capacity.
“We believe the building couldn’t support the electrical load,” Cimino said. “I’m going to really miss our clients on Fillmore Street.”
Staff members have been breaking the news to customers, many of whom frequent the shop daily. The location is particularly popular with students from nearby schools, including Convent, University High School, Hamlin and Stuart Hall, who flock to the shop for sweet drinks, cookies and K-Pops.
“This is my home,” said University High freshman Sofia Linadev. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
All of the employees have been offered positions at other Starbucks locations, Cimino said. Starbucks continues to have shops in the neighborhood inside the Mollie Stone’s on California Street and at Fillmore and O’Farrell.
As campaign season wraps up and the winter rains begin, Fillmore continues to see significant changes.
Nordstrom Local: Nordstrom wants to bring its first Nordstrom Local in San Francisco to 1919 Fillmore, the former Minted location. The shop would offer online shoppers pickup, returns and alteration services. Nordstrom will present its plans at a neighborhood meeting on November 14.
New restaurants: The former Pizza Inferno space at Fillmore and Sutter has a new tenant: a Japanese/Korean concept from Kevin Chen, who already owns Nono at 1730 Fillmore and Bubu at 2417 California. The new venue promises to be significantly larger than his two existing establishments. … Wise Sons has opened inside the Jewish Community Center at 2500 California from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. daily.
More jewelry: Rocksbox is set to open its first retail location at 2208 Fillmore, previously occupied by Little Words Project. The new retailer joins existing Fillmore jewelry businesses Eric Trabert Goldsmiths, Mureta & Co. Antique Jewelry, Catbird, Gorjana, Fiat Lux and Hi Ho Silver.
Real estate: The twin buildings at 2035-2047 Fillmore, formerly home to AquaItalia shoes, Apizza and Mio — now relocated a few doors south — have been sold. The asking price was $8 million. Real estate agent Pamela Mendelsohn would not disclose the new owner, but says it’s not venture capitalist Neil Mehta, whose nonprofit has bought a number of other properties on Fillmore this year.
Cynthia Traina is a longtime Fillmore resident and an agent with Vantage Realty San Francisco. Send items for Street Talk to CT@cynthiatraina.com.
The priciest neighborhood sale was 2855 Pacific, which closed at $15.25 million.
REAL ESTATE | CYNTHIA TRAINA
Cash buyers dominated local home sales in October. Of the 12 single-family home sales that closed in the neighborhood — in Pacific Heights, Lower Pacific Heights, Cow Hollow and Presidio Heights — 10 were cash purchases.
Three notable fixer-upper properties changed hands: 2245 Union, zoned commercial but convertible to residential, sold for $2.6 million; 2752 Buchanan sold for $3.1 million; and 2760 Vallejo commanded $9.5 million. The month’s priciest sale was 2855 Pacific, which closed at $15.25 million, slightly below the asking price.
November begins with 30 active single-family homes and 73 active condominiums on the market. Prices range from an entry-level condo at 2040 Franklin #1006 for $499,000 to the penthouse across from Lafayette Park at 2006 Washington #10 at $29 million. The least expensive single-family home is a 2-bedroom, 1.5-bath property at 18 Orben listed just under $1.8 million, while the highest-priced property on the market remains 2990 Broadway at $32 million, on the market for 123 days. Many ultra-luxury homes continue to await qualified buyers.
October brought the narrowest gap between condo and single-family home sales in recent months. Among the 18 condos sold, the top sale was a five-bedroom unit in a duplex at 2205 Pacific Avenue, closing at $7.28 million. The second-highest sale was a three-bedroom unit at The Pacific (2121 Webster), which sold for $3.5 million after 181 days on market. The month also saw three duplex sales. Currently pending sales for October include 11 condominiums and 6 single-family homes.
Cynthia Traina is an agent with Vantage Realty San Francisco. Contact her at CT@cynthiatraina.com.
Royalito Taquito with human friends at Harry’s on Fillmore.
SORRY TO REPORT that the Fillmore Halloween Pet Costume Stroll never happened. I hung around for about an hour and the only evidence of a pet walk was a Chihuahua with a taco outfit. That was it. I finally went into George, the pet shop, and was told there was supposed to be a pet walk, but no one showed up.
There was not much evidence of Halloween on Fillmore Street. Perhaps part of these crazy times.
