• Home
  • Articles posted by eastcutadmin
    • (Page 3)

eastcutadmin

Community Steps Up, Fulfilling Service Team Ambassador Wish List through Donations

Posted by & filed under Community.

A new fridge to store healthy snacks, a standing desk to relieve back pain, and (most importantly) an updated coffee machine to pump out warm cups of “Jo” all day long. These are just a few of the items East Cut Residents gifted to the Services Team this holiday season through generous tax deductible donations made to The East Cut CBD.

A newly installed air purifier courtesy of East Cut residents.

The CBD and the Services Team was impressed by how quickly residents responded to a call put out in the December 2020 district newsletter sharing the Winter Wish List that asked for donations. Within days, nearly every item had been fulfilled with additional donations coming in towards the Services Team Lunch Fund, a fund that was reactivated by the CBD during March 2020 so that the Services Team could be treated to lunch “on the district” at least once per week.

A Service Team Member poses next to the office’s new fridge, double the size of the Team’s previous one, which was a gift through donations made by East Cut Residents.

“We always appreciate positive feedback from residents” shared one Service Team member, “but the fulfillment of the holiday wish list really was such a nice surprise. It went above and beyond!”

So far, the Team has installed a new fridge, air purifier, and coffee maker in the East Cut Services Team Office and has ordered a washer and dryer and standing desks- much to the enjoyment of all!

A Service Team Member stops for a photo after making coffee on the new coffee maker gifted to the Team through donations by district residents.

If you missed your chance to contribute to the Ambassador Wish List but would like to support the Services Team through a donation to the Lunch Fund, click here.

The East Cut’s Public Art Grows with Heather Day Mural at the Dhal-Beck Electric Building

Posted by & filed under Public Realm.

Bay Area-based artist Heather Day is known for her vibrant, abstract paintings, often highly pigmented, which radiate energy. The artist notes that her “murals, large canvases, and intimate drawings study the mechanisms of sensory perception — mining what happens when the body interprets a sound as a texture, or a scent as a color.” The artist has a new work on display for the public at the side of 580 Howard Street. Commissioned by Adobe, the work joins a number of celebrated works of public art in and near The East Cut district.

Artist Heather Day begins painting of her mural at 580 Howard in September 2020.

The East Cut contains a high volume of public art due to the number of commercial properties in the area that are required by the City to dedicate a small percentage of their total construction budget to art. The program, called the 1% for Art Program, has resulted in the purchase, commission, and installation  of a number of iconic pieces throughout the district, about three dozen in fact, many of which have become popular with residents and tourists alike. 

A new mural by artist Heather Day was completed in October 2020 at 580 Howard.

The works have grown in number to an extent that in 2017, The East Cut CBD, in partnership with local artist Jenny Sharaf, launched a public art tour and website highlighting notable works and the artists behind them. 

A map from the 2017 Public Art Tour called out notable works of public art in and near The East Cut.


Several pieces of public art, among them several large sculptural heads created by Swiss-born mixed media artist, Ugo Rondinone located at 555 Mission Street, stop visitors and tourists alike and have garnered many photos over the years.

In the sculpture garden at 555 Mission Street, Swiss-born mixed media artist, Ugo Rondinone’s three heads stop visitors in their tracks.

Within the district there is a fair amount of art that lies within buildings, including a Liechtenstein in the JP Morgan building lobby at 560 Mission, an Anish Kappor piece in the CBS Interactive building at 235 Second Street, and a large Richard Serra work in the atrium of the Gap INC building at 2 Folsom Street. One of the most recent large scale installations was completed for the floor of the Grand Hall of Salesforce Transit Center.

Details from local artist Julie Chang’s terrazzo floor installation at Salesforce Transit Center.

The work is a terrazzo floor installation by Julie Chang spanning nearly 20,000 square feet. According to the artist’s website, the installation “invites viewers to explore the myriad of symbols and images layered within. Design elements are mined from local ecology and include California poppies, laurels and jewel-toned hummingbirds, which are highlighted by mirrored glass.”

Much like the neighborhood itself, the district’s public art scene is ever-evolving. Whether displayed in a building lobby, privately owned public open space (POPOS), or sitting prominently in a plaza, public art adorns nearly every street in The East Cut offering moments for conversation, reflection, and even laughter for all who live, visit, and work in our storied neighborhood.

East Cut Eats Concludes with Over $16,000 Raised for Local Businesses through Fee-Free Delivery Initiative

Posted by & filed under Events & Meetings, Retail.

On Thursday, October 29th, East Cut CBD staff and volunteers got together for the last time to offer free delivery within the district to residents in an effort to support area small businesses. The East Cut Eats program, which launched in July 2020, had the goal of increasing awareness to which businesses in the district were open and to encourage residents to shop “hyper local” by offering free delivery from a highlighted merchant each week.

Volunteers pose with the team behind Town Hall during a delivery event.

To achieve this end, each week The East Cut CBD partnered with a restaurant in or at the border of the district, announcing the partnership to a mailing list of over 2,000 residents and promoting the partnership through social media. The CBD recruited volunteers to deliver orders placed through a proprietary webpage thus eliminating commission fees restaurants are charged by delivery apps (up to 15%) along with delivery and service fees.

Staff from The Lightbox Cafe pause while organizing orders for delivery with The East Cut CBD staff.

In total, East Cut Eats partnered with 12 local businesses and helped them generate over $16,000 in gross revenue while saving them nearly $2,000 in delivery fees. The program collected and delivered a total of 260 orders over 15 events leveraging a total of 50 volunteers over the four-month period.

An East Cut Eats volunteers secures a pizza order from Local Kitchen to their bicycle for delivery.

The East Cut CBD was under no illusion that one delivery event per week would change the financial course of things for any given restaurant, but the CBD did hope to inspire community members to prioritize supporting local businesses over others by showcasing the importance merchants play in bringing vitality to the local community. By supporting local businesses, East Cut residents in turn support their neighborhood economy. As the local economy grows and sidewalk vibrancy increases through the attraction of new businesses and visitors, the district becomes a more desirable place to live overall which benefits all who live, work, and visit!

Staff from Loa Table pose with volunteers during a summer delivery event.

You can continue to support local businesses by calling directly when placing an order and choosing pickup over delivery. This saves valuable dollars on every order! You can also do your part by leaving positive reviews online so others are more likely to “find” and patronize the places you enjoy.

Encampment at 110 Main Cleared, Most Accept Stable Housing

Posted by & filed under Public Realm, Public Safety.

On Wednesday, October 28th, San Francisco’s Healthy Streets Operations Center (HSOC) addressed the encampment on Main and Mission streets. The East Cut CBD has done its best to provide service and cleaning to the encampment since March, while continually advocating for a better outcome for the neighborhood and the individuals living on the sidewalk. The heavy lifting on the day, though, was largely the work of City departments. The East Cut CBD and community are thankful for the City’s response. 

On Wednesday October 28th City departments arrived on Main Street to support encampment cleanup and offer stable housing to the individuals living at the site.

The encampment on Main and Mission Streets appeared this past spring 2020 and grew in size over the course of several months. At its height, the encampment had over 25 tents on a street that had previously been free from any established encampment.  

City crews remove bulky trash and debris from an encampment on Main Street after an individual at the site accepted stable housing.

The East Cut CBD regularly raised concerns for the safety of residents and unhoused individuals alike, advocating that access to sanitation be provided given the City policy under the Health Order was to not break up any encampments and access to these services was not available. Staffed, portable toilets were provided in June. However, as the encampment grew in size it continued to pose safety risks to the community, namely blocking pedestrian access on the west side of Main Street, among other issues documented regularly on the part of local residents and CBD staff with City officials and the SFPD. 

Two elderly residents enter oncoming traffic at Main Street upon realizing they are unable to use the pedestrian right-of-way due to encampments blocking passage.
Two disabled residents walk down Main Street in oncoming traffic unable to use the sidewalk due to the volume of encampments blocking the pedestrian right-of-way.

The CBD had been communicating with City agencies and staff for months that the tents and the congregation of individuals on Main Street was a public health and safety issue. The CBD made over 500 requests to the City, and sent approximately 60 emails directly to senior City staff and elected officials. As of September, The East Cut CBD began participating in a weekly call with City officials in an effort to see Main Street prioritized. 

The CBD is relieved that City departments were able to address the situation for the benefit of all. All unhoused individuals present on the day were offered housing alternatives, the majority of whom accepted the housing that was offered. In total, 15 of the 19 individuals present on the day relocated to some form of housing. Five individuals were moved into hotels, six into shelters, two to safe sleeping sites, and two returned to their own residences, four individuals declined City services.

The sidewalk at 110 Main was pressure washed multiple times by The East Cut CBD to lift stains. Regularly pressure washing will occur at two-week intervals.

Once the encampment was cleared, the CBD launched a cleanup effort to remove trash and debris from the area and wash the sidewalk. Power washing of the sidewalk to continue to lift stains will continue every two weeks. 

Howard Street Quick-Build Project Updates

Posted by & filed under Public Realm, Public Safety.

Photo courtesy of SFMTA

The SFMTA, as part of its Vision Zero Quick Build effort, will begin work on Howard Street between 3rd Street and the Embarcadero on November 16th, 2020. The work is expected to be completed before the end of the month and is part of the Howard Street Quick-Build Project. A summary of the project taken directly from the SFMTA website is below, along with a list of the project’s major improvements to improve traffic safety. Of particular note is that the project will extend the parking protected bikeway that currently exists on Howard Street between 11th and 3rd Streets to the Embarcadero as well as increase the number of yellow loading zones to improve loading for area businesses. Construction will predominantly involve scraping away the existing roadway markings and restriping the roadway and parking lane.

From the SFMTA Website: Howard Street Quick-Build Project

The Howard Street Quick-Build project is an effort to improve safety and comfort for all people traveling along Howard Street between 3rd Street and The Embarcadero. The quick-build project will include cost-effective improvements for bicycle and pedestrian safety and loading while also serving as a way to inform the design of the Transbay Howard Streetscape Project. The project will include a parking-protected bikeway, improved loading, and pedestrian safety improvements.

The project is part of the SFMTA’s Vision Zero Quick-Build effort, which stems from Mayor London Breed’s executive directive for faster traffic safety improvements on the City’s High Injury Network. It also builds on an additional executive directive to deliver higher quality bikeway facilities, such as protected bikeways, to prevent collisions and increase safety.

The current configuration and sense of safety along Howard Street indicate a need for upgraded bicycle, pedestrian, and loading facilities along the project corridor. Currently, the existing bike lane requires bicyclists to ride between vehicle traffic and parked vehicles and is frequently blocked by delivery trucks and vehicles picking up and dropping off passengers.

The proposed project will extend the existing parking-protected bikeway on Howard Street between 11th Street and 3rd Street by an additional ¾ mile to The Embarcadero, ensuring a consistent, predictable, and more comfortable transportation experience for all who use the street. Daylighting at alleys and intersections will provide more visibility between pedestrian and motorists and widened crosswalks will provide more space for pedestrians at intersections. Additional yellow loading zones will allow commercial vehicles to load at more locations and will be located with input from merchants and shop owners.

The project will implement the following quick-build improvements to improve traffic safety:

  • Upgrade the existing bike lane to a parking-protected bikeway in the westbound direction to provide a more comfortable and separated space for people riding bikes
  • Daylighting at intersections and driveways to improve intersection visibility
  • Increase the number of yellow zones to improve loading for commercial businesses
  • Traffic lane reduction to redistribute roadway space for all road users

These temporary improvements will inform the design for the Transbay Howard Streetscape Project which will further upgrade transportation safety improvements on Howard Street.

One Market Serves as Partner for Final Delivery Event

Posted by & filed under Events & Meetings, Retail, Uncategorized.

Last week, the East Cut CBD staff and its team of East Cut Eats volunteers gathered together at One Market to offer the final day of fee-free delivery to East Cut Residents. Seventeen orders were placed for dinner by district residents and were delivered by foot and by bike throughout the evening.

One Market launched a popup called Mark n’ Mikes: A New York Delicatessen to encourage lunchtime delivery orders during the pandemic which surprised even the restaurant’s team in how popular it has become! Many residents took advantage of the rare occasion to taste New York-style sandwiches by placing orders specifically for Mark n’ Mike’s items for Thursday delivery.

Chef holds a freshly prepared sandwich ready to package as part of the Mark n’ Mikes New York style deli-popup that has been extremely popular in The East Cut.

As part of the final delivery event, The East Cut CBD included branded spatulas for all orders placed, a special, “Thank you” for all who have and continue to support local restaurants.

East Cut CBD staff and volunteers pose in between deliveries for One Market

One Market is located 1 Market Street and is open for lunch and dinner delivery and pickup Wednesday through Friday from 11:30am to 7pm.

East Cut CBD Offers Social Media Tour of Newly Opened Clancy Hotel During East Cut Eats Event

Posted by & filed under Events & Meetings, Retail, Uncategorized.

The Clancy Hotel opened its doors on October 1st, 2020. The newest hotel in The East Cut, The Clancy boasts several attractive features for the district: The Radiator – a street-facing coffee shop offering locally sourced pastries and coffee, two public open spaces, and Seven Square Taproom, the hotel’s restaurant that offers locally-sourced, casual Californian cuisine.

During the Eats event, which brought in six dinner-orders, the CBD took the opportunity to showcase the hotel’s artistic and public-oriented features via its Instagram page.

Seven Square Taproom Executive Chef Dawn Taylor-Cole hand-wrote thank you notes to East Cut Eats participants.

In particular, highlighting the “outside in” and “transit” themed design elements of the hotel which resonates in The East Cut, San Francisco’s first transit-oriented district. These include painted crosswalks throughout the hotel’s entrance and lighting installations made to mirror the path of the F Muni line.

A lighting installation in the hotel lobby was made to mirror the path of the F Muni Train.

The Clancy Hotel offers two public spaces, Block 9 and a parklet. Block 9 is particularly impressive as it is the first privately owned public open space in the district to offer fire pits!

The hotel’s POPOS features stadium seating, cafe seating, a child play component, public art, fire pits, and string lights – an impressive feat for a moderately-sized space!

The Clancy is an Autograph Collection Hotel by Marriott. It is located at 299 Second Street. Seven Square Taproom offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner while the Seven Square Lounge offers craft cocktails and light bites. The Radiator Coffee Salon offers breakfast and lunch.

Salesforce Park Play Area – Open Again!

Posted by & filed under Parks & Greenspace.

Residents of The East Cut and visitors alike are thrilled that the children’s play area located within Salesforce Park reopened this week as San Francisco County continues to relax restrictions put in place by pandemic-related Health Orders.

The Transit Joint Powers Authority or, TJPA, has established guidelines for use of the play structure, with play rules clearly posted at its entrance. To further encourage use of the area, the TJPA also removed the fencing which partitioned the play structure from the rest of the park.

When East Cut CBD staff toured the park earlier this week, several toddlers were spotted gleefully heading over the the play area, with equally happy caregivers guiding them along!

Second Lao Table Delivery Event

Posted by & filed under Events & Meetings, Retail.

Last week, East Cut Eats volunteers and CBD staff met for a second time at Lao Table to deliver thirteen meals to district residents.

A still from The East Cut CBD’s Instagram Live Feed of the event showcases a smiling Lao Table Employee preparing an order for delivery.

Despite the sunny weather and indoor dining options newly available throughout the City, thirteen orders were placed for dinner at Lao Table.

Several indoor diners can be see at Lao Table, who is among many San Francisco restaurants serving indoors at 25% capacity.

The East Cut CBD and Lao Table staff were pleased with the number of orders, over half of what was ordered originally when indoor dining was not allowed in San Francisco, and parklet dining was rare. The continued interest in ordering through East Cut Eats despite the easing of restrictions suggests that residents still read and consider the weekly newsletter when determining their Thursday dinner options.

First Lunchtime Collaboration Features Spice Kit

Posted by & filed under Events & Meetings, Retail, Uncategorized.

On Thursday, the East Cut Eats team got together at 405 Howard Street to prepare for the first lunchtime delivery collaboration with Spice Kit!

Fresh salads are prepped in anticipation of the lunchtime delivery rush at Spice Kit.

Spice Kit has been a favorite local lunchtime location within The East Cut for many years offering a delicious, fresh selection of Vietnamese street food for residents and office workers alike.

A Spice Kit employee displays a lunchtime tray headed out to a customer enjoying lunch in the adjoining plaza.

Thursday’s delivery event brought in eleven orders however, several patrons showed up in-person to order from Spice Kit noting they were inspired to re-discover the restaurant by the East Cut Eats newsletter!

Outdoor seating in the plaza adjoining Spike Kit offers views of works of public art and a portion of Salesforce Park.

Spice Kit is located at 405 Howard Street and is open from 10am to 3pm Monday through Friday.

Waterbar and Socola Chocolatier Featured for a Smokey Edition of East Cut Eats

Posted by & filed under Events & Meetings, Retail.

The smog and smoke were thick on Thursday. The East Cut CBD suspended cleaning services to protect the health of Cleaning Ambassadors and similarly, East Cut Eats volunteers were asked to stay home. As a result, East Cut CBD staff stepped in to deliver meals ordered from Waterbar and Truffles ordered from Socola Chocolatier for the 11th edition of East Cut Eats.

Poor air quality in The East Cut meant volunteers were asked to stay home.

Despite the thick layer of smoke covering the sky, Waterbar was busy and due to its stunning views and ample outdoor seating, has fared relatively well during the shutdown. Waterbar is just across the street from The East Cut and is particularly popular with residents in nearby high rise buildings.

An East Cut CBD staff member works with the Manager of Waterbar to detail deliveries for East Cut Eats customers.
A bag from Socola Chocolatier, filled with assorted truffles, waits to be delivered along with Waterbar dinner orders.

San Francisco moved from the red to the orange tier that week as well which resulted in the approval of indoor dining at 25% capacity. East Cut CBD staff were curious to see if this would impact Eats orders which typically fall between 20-25 for a single merchant. On Thursday Waterbar welcomed indoor diners and it appears this may have impacted Eats orders which were about half the expected amount. Still, it was a welcome partnership with an iconic restaurant so near and dear to the district!

Seafood dishes, freshly plated, await delivery to customers who chose to dine-in at Waterbar on Thursday evening.

Waterbar is located at 399 The Embarcadero and is open daily for lunch and dinner service from 12:00pm to 9pm.

Socola Chocolatier is located at 535 Folsom Street and offers international shipping on all online orders. Socola is open for in-store pickup on Monday and Wednesday from 12pm to 4pm and also offers next-day local condo delivery within The East Cut.

Tuesday Event: Masks for The East Cut

Posted by & filed under Events & Meetings.

Join the East Cut CBD Tuesday, September 29th for our fourth Mask Distribution Event! Pick up a free face covering or purchase an East Cut branded face mask from our team or, simply stop by to say hello and let us know your thoughts on what’s going on in the district! 

East Cut CBD staff will be set up next to Philz at 300 Folsom from 9am-10:30am. Black face coverings are free of charge for anyone in need. For those interested in purchasing an East Cut Mask, available only at in-person events, the CBD accepts cash, paypal, ApplePay, and credit card. 

Proceeds generated by sales go towards the purchase of additional face coverings offered free of charge to anyone who is in need. These masks are available at mask distribution events and upon request via The East Cut Dispatch at dispatch@theeastcut.org.

We look forward to connecting with residents and visitors alike this Tuesday!

A Return to Local Kitchen: East Cut Eats Supports Rincon Hill Favorite, Again!

Posted by & filed under Events & Meetings, Retail.

East Cut Eats launched in July 2020 with the goal of increasing awareness on the importance of supporting in-district merchants, providing visibility into businesses open to residents during shelter in place, and to support the economic recovery of area merchants. Since the launch of East Cut Eats, the initiative has brought in nearly $12,000 for East Cut small businesses, delivered over 200 meals in the district, and leveraged nearly 40 volunteers.

East Cut CBD staff, Eats volunteers, and Local Kitchen Staff take a pause from deliveries for a group photo during Thursday’s East Cut Eats delivery event.
An East Cut Eats volunteer balances pizza boxes going out for delivery in the district.

Local Kitchen offered to be the flagship restaurant for the initiative back in July, so it was meaningful for The East Cut CBD staff and the Eats team of volunteers to return to Local Kitchen Thursday, September 24th, to support a second delivery event. 17 unique customers placed orders for delivery favoring the restaurant’s famed Singaporean dishes and wood-fired pizzas, both of which are offerings which will translate well for takeout and also for outdoor dining.

Local Kitchen prepares a wood-fired pizza with fresh basil for delivery.

Since the East Cut Eats program launched, many businesses throughout San Francisco have taken advantage of special permitting through the Shared Spaces program to allow for sidewalk cafe seating, in some cases on the roadway, however, Local Kitchen experienced delays in the process. After four months, the restaurant is finally able to setup outdoor dining, leveraging the calm of Guy Place, which will be set up next week.

Local Kitchen and Wine Merchant is located at 330 First Street and is open Monday through Friday 11am to 9pm and Saturday and Sunday 4pm to 9pm.

Savory and Sweet Collaboration Featured Town Hall and Socola Chocolatier for East Cut Eats

Posted by & filed under Events & Meetings, Retail.

The first East Cut Eats dual collaboration delivery event took place last Thursday from 5pm to 8pm. The event supported the reopening of Town Hall, closed since March and also featured chocolates courtesy of The East Cut’s premier chocolatier, Socola Chocolatier.

An employee of Socola Chocolatier displays a box filled with assorted artisanal truffles prepared as part of the East Cut Eats delivery event.

Residents could order from both merchants throughout the week for a “savory and sweet” Thursday evening dinner event. 23 unique customers placed orders, many of whom ordered from both businesses!

Delivery bags filled with southern-comfort style foods from Town Hall sit awaiting delivery by East Cut volunteers.

The East Cut CBD has been eager to find ways to expand the Eats initiative to support a larger number of district merchants and was pleased to test a dual collaboration during Thursday’s event. Chocolate orders were prepared prior to the 5pm kickoff time and brought to Town Hall, where CBD staff and volunteers coordinated with the Town Hall team to deliver both dinner orders and chocolate orders to area residents.

East Cut CBD staff, volunteers, and the owners of Town Hall, Mitch and Steve Rosenthal, pause during Thursday’s delivery event for a group photo.

Both merchants have tried a number of ways to attract customers and keep their doors open given the current Health Orders. Socola Chocolatier has expanded shipping and now offers next-day condo delivery for many buildings within The East Cut. Town Hall has made a huge effort to expand its outdoor dining space to accommodate a larger number of residents making use of the adjacent POPOS that offers a beautiful backdrop for outdoor dining. The restaurant is also now offering brunch, much to the delight of local residents.

In addition to a large patio and traditional outdoor seating areas, Town Hall has made use of the adjacent POPOS to offer creative seating that accommodates up to 50 guests at a time.

Socola Chocolatier is located at 535 Folsom Street and offers international shipping on all online orders. Socola is open for in-store pickup on Monday and Wednesday from 12pm to 4pm and also offers next-day local condo delivery within The East Cut.

Town Hall is located at 342 Howard Street and is open for dinner service Wednesday through Sunday from 5pm to 9pm. Town Hall is also serving brunch Friday through Sunday from 10:30 am to 2:30pm.

Transbay Block 3 Park Planning Continues

Posted by & filed under Community, Parks & Greenspace, Public Realm.

20_0909_Transbay_Park_CM2_Final

Last Wednesday, September 9th, San Francisco Public Works, along with the Office of Community Investment & Infrastructure (OCII) and the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department (RPD), held Community Meeting #2 for the concept development of The East Cut’s next public park – Transbay Block 3 Park. The virtual meeting was the community’s first opportunity to see design concepts for the park space, which will be located in the middle third of the Temporary Transbay Terminal site at Howard and Beale streets. Approximately 60 community members were present, with 63% indicating this was their first time attending a community meeting for the project.

Landscape Architects from Public Works presented three concepts for the park, including “The Clearing”, “The Commons”, and “The Ripple”. Each design follows similar design language that is responsive to community feedback conducted over the last year, and design elements include main gathering spaces, a children’s playground, a variety of vegetation, and multiple seating types. Sun studies for the site were completed, taking into account the future structures on Blocks 2 and 4, and the active gathering spaces are located where the sun exposure occurs throughout the day.

The East Cut CBD is currently working with RPD to determine roles and responsibilities for the future operations and maintenance of the park however, the CBD anticipates having a full-time steward to help with tables & chairs, park information and rules enforcement, and light cleaning and litter pickup. While the park itself will be owned by RPD, the CBD’s Management Plan dictates that funding be allocated for park programming and operations.

Public Works and OCII are now requesting survey input on the park designs, which you can access here, and it will be open through the end of the month. You can also access the slide presentation above, or view the full community meeting on Public Works website.

Feel free to reach out to The East Cut CBD at info@theeastcut.org if you have questions or additional comments. We look forward to welcoming you to yet another park in The East Cut in a couple of years!

East Cut Neighbor, EPIC Steak, Partners with East Cut Eats for Record-making Eighth Delivery Event

Posted by & filed under Events & Meetings, Retail, Uncategorized.

An EPIC Steak team member verifies order details with an East Cut CBD staff member during Thursday’s delivery event.

Epic Steak, the sister restaurant to Waterbar, is located on the Embarcadero at the border of The East Cut and is synonymous with quality. Fine cuts of meat, fresh fish, delectable cocktails, stunning Bay views, and exceptional service all embody this San Francisco favorite that so many East Cut residents value. That is why last Thursday, September 3rd, The East Cut CBD partnered with Epic Steak for its eighth delivery event and it is no surprise that the collaboration set a record in the number of orders placed for delivery.

A popular side dish, fries with truffle oil an parmesan cheese is prepared fresh for Happy Hour guests at EPIC Steak.

East Cut volunteers, East Cut CBD staff, and EPIC Steak team members collaborated to ensure orders went out on time and were delivered in under 20 minutes, with EPIC offering special discounts to East Cut residents that surely encouraged sales for this top San Francisco steakhouse.

Orders ready to be delivered from EPIC Steak to East Cut Residents. A delivery map outlining all order locations for the night was available for staff members and volunteers to reference.

The East Cut CBD has been thrilled with the number of volunteers that are returning week-after-week to support local merchants. Some reference the opportunity to socialize and meet neighbors having recently moved to the community, while others comment on the opportunity to both walk around the district while making a positive impact for small businesses they know and love. If you are interested in volunteering for 1, 2 or 3 hours at a delivery event, please contact eats@theeastcut.org.

A returning volunteer leaves EPIC Steak to deliver an order on-foot within the district.

EPIC Steak is located at 369 The Embarcadero and is open for patio dining or takeout Monday through Thursday, 4pm to 9pm, and Friday through Sunday from 11:30am to 9pm.

Launching the MEALS For T.E.A.M.S. Lunch Fund Supporting The East Cut Services Team

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

MEALS For T.E.A.M.S. Lunch Fund

(The Essential Ambassadors Maintaining Streets!)

Donate Now

In the spring of 2020, East Cut Ambassadors continued to perform essential cleaning and safety services in the neighborhood. To thank them for their commitment to the neighborhood, community members helped us raise a total of $3,165 for our Services Team Lunch Fund, used to purchase lunches from local restaurants to all our ambassadors, a couple of times a week over the course of three months.

In September 2020, The East Cut Community Benefit District is inviting community members to show support to our essential Cleaning and Safety Ambassadors and help us raise $5,000 so we may continue to purchasing lunches to all our ambassadors, regularly, from district restaurants.

This initiative is not only giving much-deserved benefits to our team members but also contribute to reinvesting into our local restaurant community.  

Four reasons to donate to the Meals For T.E.A.M.S. Lunch Fund:

1. It is a meaningful way to show your support to our essential workers, on duty throughout the shelter-in-place order.
2. It helps The East Cut Community Benefit District maintain good and positive working conditions for its essential workers.
3. Donations are used to purchase lunches from local restaurants and go to support small businesses directly.
4. Donations are tax-deductible.

$250 buys one lunch for the entire team (25 people)
$125 buys lunch for two shift teams (~12 people)

Thank you for your generosity!

Donate Now

East Cut CBD Welcomes The Lightbox Café to the District through East Cut Eats

Posted by & filed under Events & Meetings, Retail.

This August 17th, after some delays due to the global pandemic, The Lightbox Café successfully opened their doors in The East Cut! Given the slowdown in business to restaurants across the City, The Lightbox Café team put a lot of trust in the local community by moving forward with their launch.

A collage of light-themed images in the interior of The Lightbox Café.

The name drew its inspiration from the vivid light display of the DocuSign headquarters located at 221 Main Street. Inside, guests can appreciate the dedication to using local products, materials, and vendors in nearly every corner of the Café’s interior and throughout its menu.

Beautifully finished tables were crafted from Marin County Redwood trees for The Lightbox Café.

Their cafe-style menu features California-fresh cuisine with some delicious Mexican-food offerings thrown in. Beers on tap, Verve Coffee, and local wines make Happy Hour at The Lightbox Cafe truly enjoyable.

Avocado toast, banana bread, and breakfast sandwiches are displayed at The Lightbox Café, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner Monday through Friday.

The East Cut CBD and a team of volunteers were thrilled to support The Lightbox Cafe’s opening through the East Cut Eats initiative. A sign of the difficulty launching a brick-and-mortar business during these challenging times, orders did not meet expectations, but the owners were thrilled to be introduced to residents and appreciated that business will grow over time. Similarly, The East Cut CBD hopes that through events like East Cut Eats and the power of grassroots information-spread, residents of our district will begin to visit the Café and share news of its opening with their networks.

The Lightbox Café’s General Manager, Ritchie Palomo, confirms delivery addresses with an East Cut Eats volunteer.

East Cut Eats was launched to spread awareness about the importance of supporting hyper-local merchants. Small businesses help our community stay vibrant. They encourage a more diverse street life and attract newcomers and visitors alike. They serve as meeting places, serve basic needs, and make our neighborhood a more enjoyable place to live.

We encourage all who are able in our community to stop by Lightbox and welcome them to The East Cut; try them for coffee, breakfast, lunch or happy hour, or simply tell a friend that they are open! Thank them for investing in The East Cut.

Volunteers and The Lightbox Café team pose outside of the café entrance during the Thursday delivery event.

The Lightbox Café is located at 221 Main Street and is open Monday through Friday from 6:30am to 8:30pm. The café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is open for outdoor dining, pickup, and delivery.

Osha Thai Partners with East Cut Eats for Yet Another Successful Delivery Event

Posted by & filed under Events & Meetings, Retail.

On Thursday, August 20th, neighborhood volunteers helped Osha Thai increase revenue and profit margin through East Cut Eats.

Osha Thai normally located at 4 Embercadero offers a thoughtful menu inspired by the many cultural and historic regions of Thailand. Osha’s cuisine is an invitation to explore its culinary homeland through diverse soulful dishes that the kitchen prepares with passion and integrity. You may know of Osha Thai through Osha Express at One Market Plaza’s Plates food court, which always has the longest line out of all of the restaurants there! East Cut Eats is thrilled to be partnering with Osha Thai—the team, and culinary creative minds behind Osha Express. 

This week, our volunteers Adrian, Darrell, and Paul made 25 deliveries between the 3 of them! Behind every free delivery is a hard-working volunteer committed to making a difference for small businesses. We thank them dearly for their efforts.

Osha’s Manager Jess and Managing Director Paul prepare and inspect orders!
Take-out game strong at Osha Thai Restaurant & Bar

East Cut Eats was launched in July 2020 to support local restaurants by offering free delivery to their customers thanks to the help of volunteers. East Cut Eats handles the promotion and the processing of orders as well as the dispatching of deliveries, and do not charge a to the customer nor to the restaurant. To date, East Cut Eats has generated $8,500 for 6 restaurants and saved them a minimum of $960 in fees and commissions otherwise charged by delivery applications.

Are you wanting to make a difference in your community as well? Order from our next East Cut Eats menu or come volunteer with us and meet new people!

Information Regarding the Temporary Terminal

Posted by & filed under Public Realm.

UPDATE 14: On December 3rd, 2020, the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure (OCII) issued an RFP for the interim activation of the Temporary Transbay Terminal before the final development of housing and park space begins. Here is a link to the TTT RFP. The RFP is open until February 3rd, 2021. The CBD would love to see a robust group of bidders from which to choose; please shared the RFP with your network!

UPDATE 13: On Tuesday, August 18th, the TJPA Board of Directors unanimously voted to terminate the Safe Sleeping Site agreement between the TJPA and the City and County of San Francisco. The site was originally selected by the City as a potential Safe Sleeping Site location. The TJPA Board of Directors opened the conversation of having positive interim uses for the site. Please visit our dedicated post for more information and regular updates on the topic of Temporary Terminal Interim Uses and Advocacy.

Watch the recording of the board of directors meeting: https://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=29&clip_id=36390

UPDATE 12: On Thursday, August 12th, The East Cut CBD will be hosting a special Town Hall meeting with District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney, TJPA’s Executive Director Mark Zabaneh, and other City representatives, via Zoom at 6:00pm. This Town Hall will give the opportunity for the community and for stakeholders to discuss potential interim uses, challenges, and concerns or ideas from the public.

https://bit.ly/temporaryterminal 
(Zoom ID: 819 3062 5096; PASSWORD: Terminal).

UPDATE 11: While the agreement between the City and the TJPA for the Safe Sleeping Site still remains in place, OCII, who is responsible for the development of the Temporary Transbay Terminal blocks, provided the following updates to members of their Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) on July 6th 2020:

  1. Block 1 – Project has nearly all of its occupancy permits and sales have commenced on both market rate and below market rate units
  2. Block 2 – The affordable housing Request for Proposals (RFP) was released on Monday, 6/22. Submissions are due on Wednesday September 17th, 2020 at 4:00pm.
  3. Block 3 – Concepts are being refined and OCII plans to meet with The East Cut CBD to review the concepts and seek feedback prior to holding Community Meeting #2
  4. Block 4 – OCII and the Development Team (Hines/Urban Pacific/Mercy Housing) continue to negotiate the DDA and the project’s Schematic Design is still being refined

UPDATE 10: On June 22nd, 2020, The East Cut CBD learned that the agreement between the TJPA and the City that allows for the Temporary Transbay Terminal to be used as a “Safe Sleeping Site” has not been canceled, despite the previous announcement stating otherwise from TJPA. It now appears unlikely to be canceled as the City still seeks to protect the terminal as an option.

There is no known intention to use the location as a Safe Sleeping Site at this time. Supervisor Haney has also made it clear he opposes the safe sleeping concept and wishes to see other neighborhood-serving uses move forward. As the City begins efforts to safely reopen, the Temporary Terminal site has the potential to become part of a community program to support local retail, provide space for fitness classes, and more.

How can you help? You can provide public comment at Thursday’s TJPA Board meeting. This item is not on the agenda but you can make public comment during the general public comment period of the meeting (Agenda Item 8). 

WATCH LIVE ON SFGOVTV: www.sfgovtv.org/tjpa

PUBLIC COMMENT CALL-IN: 1-408-418-9388 — Access Code: 146 633 4383

If you or other members of the community are able, the CBD encourages you to share your desire to see the contract between the TJPA and the City terminated. Mayor London Breed has twice acknowledged that the site is not viable. That should be honored; and as San Francisco begins to reopen, the Temporary Terminal site should be considered for other neighborhood-serving uses including, but not limited to, “Slow Street” space, open-air dining, and more.

UPDATE 9: On June 3rd, 2020 The East Cut CBD received confirmation from the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) that their agreement with the City and County of San Francisco to use the Temporary Transbay Terminal as a Safe Sleeping Site has been terminated. The license agreement for the use of the site will officially end June 4th at 5pm.

UPDATE 8: On April 30th, 2020, The East Cut CBD sent a letter to Mayor London Breed sharing its position on the use of the Temporary Transbay Terminal as a Safe Sleeping Site. The CBD received the following response by email from Mayor Breed’s office on May 29th, 2020:

From: Heiken, Emma (MYR) 

Date: Fri, May 29, 2020 at 11:38 AM

Subject: Safe Sleeping Sites Inquiry

To:

Cc: Breed, Mayor London (MYR)

Thank you for contacting the Office of Mayor London N. Breed regarding
Safe Sleeping Sites in San Francisco. An initial Safe Sleeping Village was
established on Fulton Street between Larkin and Hyde streets on May 13th and
another site on Stanyan Street near Haight Street is being prepared. The
projected opening for Stanyan is May 29th, depending on completion of site
construction. Each site will be run by local service providers, with assistance
from City agencies for health services, and in collaboration with the SFPD. A
third location at 450 Church Street is also under construction, and will open the
2nd week of June. All locations are designed to provide space only to
individuals already established in those areas. 

There are currently no plans to use the Transbay Terminal as a Safe
Sleeping Site. For more information on our Frequently Asked Questions, please
see the attached document and this website.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any further concerns,

Emma Heiken

Supervisor of Community Affairs

Mayor’s Office

City & County of San Francisco

UPDATE 7: On May 11, Mayor Breed and Supervisor Haney answer questions regarding the Temporary Terminal and COVID-19. Link for audio and video here.

UPDATE 6: Meeting held for East Cut property managers to receive updates and be able to ask questions.

UPDATE 5: At a meeting with Millennium Tower residents Tuesday evening (May 6th), D6 Supervisor Matt Haney indicated that the proposed Safe Sleeping Site at the Temporary Terminal has been paused for now and is not currently part of the group of sites being announced by the City. The East Cut CBD will provide additional updates as they become available.

UPDATE 4: Minutes from Special East Cut CBD Board of Directors Meeting

05.04.20_BOD-Minutes-1

Board meeting audio here.

Board meeting video here.

UPDATE 3: On April 30th, The East Cut CBD sent the below letter to Mayor London Breed.

04.30.20-Letter-to-Mayor-London-Breed


UPDATE 2: The East Cut CBD has learned that the site is now being considered for 60 tents, not 40 as previously communicated.

UPDATE 1: The situation is evolving and The East Cut CBD has not received confirmation from City officials regarding their intent to convert the site to a shelter location. Staff we’ve talked with state that they are considering multiple locations within San Francisco and that “no green light has been given” to use the Temporary Transbay Terminal for this purpose.

What is known is the TJPA and the City signed an agreement to use the site as a safe sleeping site until 30 days after the Shelter in Place order is lifted. City staff are working on designs for several sites throughout the city that would include sanitation and separation. The Temp Terminal is being considered for 40 tents.    

People may contact Max Barnes (maximilian.l.barnes@sfgov.org) at the City’s Emergency Operations Center to request additional information or express concerns. He is the point person working to support unsheltered individuals during the Covid-19 pandemic.

We appreciate the anxiety this evolving situation causes, and assure you that we are in regular contact with Supervisor Haney and City officials to advocate for our community. We will provide updates as new information becomes available.

Dear East Cut Neighbors:

The East Cut CBD has heard from many neighborhood stakeholders regarding the City’s potential use of the Temporary Transbay Terminal as a site for unhoused individuals. The assumption is that this is being proposed in order to move individuals, such as those currently in place at 110 Main Street, from the sidewalks to spaces that allow for proper social distancing.

The East Cut CBD has contacted City officials in an effort to get more information on the Temp Terminal site, but thus far staff have only indicated that they are considering several sites and “no green light has been given.” The CBD has also been in contact with Supervisor Haney, who had not been previously notified of this, and is working with his office to get the latest information.

During the current COVID-19 shelter in place order, the City has made it a policy to NOT break up encampments, and the City’s Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) is telling unhoused individuals to shelter in place in their tents. As you are most likely aware, shelters and navigation centers are also no longer taking new admissions in an effort to reduce further transmissions of COVID-19. Likewise, it is necessary for our team to reduce the intensity and quality of their homeless outreach in response to COVID-19.

The East Cut team continues to work every day to ensure the neighborhood is safe and well maintained, and we are adapting services to respond to the changing dynamics and new information. If you see a need that The East Cut CBD can address, please do not hesitate to reach out by contacting our live dispatch at 415.543.8223 or via email at dispatch@theeastcut.org. We are here to be both a direct resource to the neighborhood and its advocate. If you have questions about The East Cut CBD’s operations during this time, please do not hesitate to reach out to our staff via email.

The East Cut CBD hopes that you and your families are all healthy and managing through this time.