A reader asks, and I don’t have the answer. Anyone?
What’s the deal with the rumors about a Whole Foods on 24th St in Noe Valley? The Noe Valley Voice once again ran an article with shoddy reporting that doesn’t provide any answers. The Whole Foods website lists Noe Valley as a site with an open date “to be announced.” Sounds like the Haight location.
Anyone got the inside scoop? Is this really going to happen? Or is this just wishful reporting?
Nope, the Haight store will be pretty big (40k sqft) and the Noe store is listed at 17k sqft. Both are listed on wholefoods.com.
When is the Haight store planned for opening? That area needs a larger local grocery store, Real Foods on Stanyan is way too small and the local corner stores are complete rip-offs.
bell was a “good” store.
I would fight against a safeway, a TJs, a MollieStone etc.
RealFood not being anywhere in the radar, I’d welcome WF over any other option that involves a change (and the stand by doesnt look possible either).
Thursday I’m meeting someone. I’ll let you know what his/her rumors are.
As for WF, the grand opening in Potrero is announced by mail in my mailbox today.
http://gispubweb.sfgov.org/
address: 3950 24th street
block 3654 – lot 041 – volume #24
lot area 29,677
where can we find the building area? – anyway – it DOES fit.
lets’ not call it wishful thinking – but dream…
From an architectural perspective, the current Bell store and parking lot need to be torn down and rebuilt. they are a blight on the urban street pattern of 24th st.
here’s a great solution:
1. underground parking below a new store. this is complex but buildable.
2. bring the store front to the street edge. the current parking lot is a suburban style image for parking, and a serious conflict on a daily basis with pedestrians trying to walk the sidewalk. very dangerous!
3. create market rate and moderate rate housing on TOP of the new store…condos, open space courtyards..2-3 levels. this is creating positive urban architecture that is appropriate for 24th st.
Now that’s what good infill urban architecture is all about!
duggo, amen.
the only tiny problem would be that noe would loose BOTH stores during construction – a good 2-3years… :-(
yea, that is a VERY tiny problem…in the scheme of things…a small step in taking 24th street from a mediocre urban street to a GREAT place.
don’t you mean “lose” instead of “loose”?
Shouldn’t take that long to build. They just finished a 40,000 sqft store in Cupertino in less than a year… As for the store on top of parking garage, WF also just built a store in Mountain View with a garage underneath.
Dave:
thanks for saying that and supporting my original comment about the great potential of the Bell site.
As an architect, I ALWAYS try to focus on the positive potential of a project, and the benefits it would be to the community at large. Yes, construction takes time and is disruptive..yes, its costly..but taking the long view is the right way to think.
The original Bell building and parking lot are from another era..and that time has come and gone. Great urban streets require mixed use solutions that address parking, the pedestrian, housing and yes..even open space and landscaping.
Think of how awesome a project this could be, someday!
Duggo. if you want to go this line, dont forget that the NoeValleyVoice always welcomes some good articles.
Dave… in SF, it’ll take about 15 months at least just to get the plans approved… :-( between people who ask for hanging flower baskets to dog owners to tree huggers…. whoever would start the project would need a TON of cafeine a two TONS of Tylenol!
that said, if the project is reasonable, I would support it
sorry – couldnt get any info last week.
I am trying to find out who built the original Bell Markets in Noe Valley. (Or any other Basic building information, for that matter.)
I can find ONE photo on the internet of the old store, the year it was built: 1968, and that it has been renovated several times…
Any Suggestions would be great ~Thank you!
By Sophie on Sep 5, 2007 | Reply
Duggo. if you want to go this line, dont forget that the NoeValleyVoice always welcomes some good articles.
Dave… in SF, it’ll take about 15 months at least just to get the plans approved… between people who ask for hanging flower baskets to dog owners to tree huggers…. whoever would start the project would need a TON of cafeine a two TONS of Tylenol!
that said, if the project is reasonable, I would support it