McSweeney's On Market Street

Wikipedia Excerpt:

"McSweeney's is an American publishing house founded by editor Dave Eggers, author of the books A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Zeitoun... and the film adaptation of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are... Apart from its book list, McSweeney's is responsible for four regular publications: Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, the humor site McSweeney's Internet Tendency, the monthly magazine The Believer, and the new quarterly DVD magazine, Wholphin. The publishing house also runs two additional imprints, Believer Books and the Collins Library."

Indie Culture On Market Street makes sense. It's a comfortable step up from the current circumstances.

McSweeney's is located in the Mission District. They're expanding their offerings and so may need a bigger place for the 826 Valencia writing lab and other operations. To encourage a move to mid-market could be a benefit to the company and the neighborhood.

The Sex Theatre Issue

The Sex Theatre on Market Street is likely managed so patrons may come and go without fear of being witnessed. This means the development of business on the block must be dummed down to avoid creating a flow of people who might see who goes inside. For this reason sex theatres in SF should be consolidated with secret entrances and this one should be zoned out. There's no greater source of blight than this theatre.

Mid-Market Blog Proposal: Get rid of Sex Theatres on Market Street.

The UN Plaza Issue

Wikipedia Excerpt:

"The section of Fulton Street between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets has been pedestrianized and re-developed into a monument for the United Nations and the signing of the UN Charter in 1975, when the Bay Area Rapid Transit subway was constructed under Market Street. The 2.6-acre pedestrian mall was designed by Lawrence Halprin. It was rededicated in June 1995, by visiting members of the UN General Assembly as part of its 60th anniversary, and renovated and rededicated again in 2005 during the World Environment Day event."

Based on this Wikipedia description San Francisco does not need a UN Plaza. The plaza is inspired by the signing of a document not the presence of the UN; the inspiration is lacking. In New York there is a nice UN building and plaza. In San Francisco it's small and not much to look at; the fountain is shaped by oddly arranged slabs of stone and appear to be operated by drunks with garden hoses turned into jets by their thumbs. I've never looked down, but that's the impression.

Mid-Market Boom Blog Proposal: Get rid of the fountain or make it into a real fountain.

Plaza Name Change Proposal : Indie Culture Plaza.

Indie Culture Plaza makes more sense. It won't gentrify the area too much and will possibly bring a flow of people along Market Street as related businesses develop.

The UN Plaza Fountain.

The UN Plaza in the Mid-Market Area of San Francisco

Obama and Other Statues for Mid Market

The Obama Statues for Mid Market features local residents and how they change under the Obama statue's influence through the use of statues of the same person on different blocks of Market Street and in Civic Center Plaza.

The Obama Statues for Mid Market is a stages of change concept, but the statues will be further apart than in most other such displays.

Obama Statues:

1. Obama Marching the Kids to Higher Ground.

a. The kids include a few shaggy adults.

b. The shaggy kids look a little better.

c. The shaggy kids have gentrified.

2. Obama Pointing at Problem Child

a. Obama is pointing at Problem Child 1.

b. Obama is pointing at Problem Child 2.

c. Obama is pointing at Problem Child 3.

3. Problem Child Statues:

a. Problem Child 1 is aghast, in disbelief.

b. Problem Child 2 is looking a little more calm.

c. In Civic Center Problem Child 1 is going to work for the government.

d. Problem Child 2 is ignoring Obama.

e. Problem Child 2 is finally looking at him.

f. Problem Child 2 is listening to Obama .

g. Problem Child 3 is mooning Obama.

h. Problem Child 3 is pouting after Obama slaps him.

i. Problem Child 3 is pointing out a moon disapprovingly.

Obama Statues Are Being Made.

Obama Lenin with A Local.

Obama and His Ducks.

If the developers put in this building spanning Market Street then there is the opportunity to install a statue of a deprived local struggling with a smaller version of the building on his shoulders.

A Wrestling With An Angel Statue