Mission Buzz: Housing, a brewery and an owner who stands her ground on cannabis

Applications have been submitted for a new seven-story, 11-unit housing project at 19th and Guerrero streets. The proposal would replace an existing two-story commercial building at 668 Guerrero St. The property – a one-story, warehouse-like structure was considered for a 40-unit project in 2015. 

The proposed 20,500-square-foot building would be composed of two one-bedroom units (including a one-bedroom dwelling accessory unit), seven two-bedroom units and three three-bedroom units. The structure would also have 10 parking spots and 12 bicycle spaces, but no commercial ground floor space. 

Per city requirements, two of the units will be affordable. 

The project takes advantage of state law SB 423, which expedites permitting processes. The project is expected to cost $8.2 million.

Riyah Ghannam from the Mission District’s RG Architecture is the designer. The developers are Mill Valley’s Real Equity Group One, LLC. 

Preliminary applications for the project were filed in May and planning commissioners held an informational hearing in June. The final application for approvals was filed Monday and the Planning Department is expected to approve it within 90 days, according to a spokesperson at the city’s agency. 

A new Asian-inspired brewery may be coming to 16th Street. 

Sugoi Brewing Company submitted an application to the Alcoholic Beverage Control department for a Small Beer Manufacturer license on Jan. 26 for the space at 2931 16th St., near Capp Street. 

These licenses are for brewpubs and smallcraft breweries. 

Sugoi Brewing Company launched last year and brews its beers in the San Francisco Bay Area for food and friends, according to the company’s Instagram account.

Among some of the brewery’s creations are a kumquat saison, a red ale with goji berries, a dark lager with ginger and a rice lager. The company has also done food pairings with restaurants such as Chile Lindo, Yuja, Breakthrough Sushi and SAMS.

Sugoi Brewing Company did not reply to a request for comment.

After failing to secure a tenant for the storefront at 1034 Valencia St., near 21st Street, owner Molly W. Fong said she’s using the space for a branch of her business, New Pacific Realty and Investment.

Fong supported the opening of Club Pilates last year, but the proposal met resistance from merchants and neighbors who argued that  the studio went against the corridor’s small business model.

Instead, she successfully changed the space’s use from retail to retail professional to open a second branch for her business.  

“I hope the neighborhood will not object in me opening my branch offices,” Fong texted on Tuesday. “I have been in real estate, management and sales since 1980.”

Fong said she still can’t believe neighbors and merchants opposed the pilates studio.

Finding a tenant, she said, has been difficult since Audrey left in early 2024. 

Fong said the space was too large for many prospective tenants. There was interest from a cannabis club, but Fong was not on board.

“I don’t want people selling drugs in my building,” she said.  

Mexican norteño band Los Tigres del Norte received the keys to the city of San Francisco from Mayor Daniel Lurie at a ceremony at city hall on Monday.

“Los Tigres del Norte use corridos to share stories of immigration, labor, identity, love, loss and hope, turning music into a source of dignity, belonging and joy,” said Lurie. “It is my honor to present this proclamation to Los Tigres del Norte … As we say all the time in San Francisco, ‘Vamonos San Francisco.’ ”

A member of the group then took the stage and thanked the Mayor before gifting him a black cowboy hat that came in a box that read “jefe de jefes” (boss of bosses.)

The band formed in San Jose in the late 60’s by the Hernandez brothers, but their beginnings go back to their native Sinaloa. Los Tigres del Norte has been a loud voice on immigrant rights and social justice.

Last year, the city of New York unveiled Los Tigres del Norte Way in honor of the band.

Los Tigres del Norte will be playing Chase Center on Friday Feb. 20.

The Mission District’s very own Valentine’s Day celebration returns to Balmy Alley for a fifth straight year. 

Lover’s Lane brings vendors, artists, DJs, lowriders, family activities and performers to 24th Street’s iconic alley, known for being a mecca of the Mission District’s mural culture.

Lover’s Lane was founded in 2022 by local muralist Lucía Lousie Araiza Uribe, who was raised in Balmy Alley. 

Lover’s Lane is Saturday Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Harrison and 24th streets and Balmy Alley and 25th Street.

San Francisco supervisors on Tuesday evening unanimously approved a resolution introduced by District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder to keep the Mission Cultural Center for the Latino Arts as a hub for Latino arts.

Resolutions are symbolic and are not legally binding. 

The Mission Cultural Center is expected to stay closed through its two-year seismic retrofitting, which is expected to start next year.