Tide Turns In Favor Of More Restaurants In San Francisco Commercial Districts

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - San Francisco's commercial neighborhood districts are beginning to once again roll out the welcome mat for restaurants.

Bans are slowly being lifted to allow new eateries to open up shop.

KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:

It has been about 20 years since San Francisco enacted zoning controls that made it difficult, if not impossible, for restaurants to open in many neighborhoods. At the time, there had been concern about too many outsiders causing too much congestion.

Apparently, the tide has recently turned and several neighborhoods, including the Castro, Noe Valley and Union Street, want new restaurants to help the local economy.

This week, Supervisor Mark Farrell proposed lifting the ban on another popular shopping destination, the upper Fillmore.

"Like many merchant corridors throughout San Francisco, Fillmore St. has been hurt in the recent recession," he reasoned. "And what you're having is not only merchants that exist there, other restaurateurs and also neighborhood people from around the surrounding communities saying we want to lift this because we want to kick-start Fillmore as well."

Farrell's proposal to lift the ban on upper Fillmore St. was not open-ended, though. Even if approved, there would still be a prohibition on chain restaurants that could impact the unique character of Fillmore Street.

"But the core focus still stays the same. It's all about the neighborhoods. This is something where we can revitalize our community and Fillmore St. in particular, I think we should be doing that."

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