SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]
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Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]
#2This was one of my favorite places to go work in SF. It was a cafe that was optimized for people working.
I was disappointed recently when I found out they had shut their doors permanently. I was surprised too, because they always seemed to be busy. Apparently, they had an ongoing dispute with the zoning department over whether they were a "cafe/restaurant" or "office".
Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]
#3[deleted]
Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]
#4Hello, Interesting Innovation? I'm Outdated, The Draconian Zoning Law. We have some things that need to be discussed.
Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]
#5Nothing worse then having cafe shops being packed with people working on their notebooks taking whole tables and not allowing people to enjoy them to drink their tea. I wouldn't mind if they would forbid notebooks in cafe shops like Starbucks
Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]
#6I used Workshop Cafe a little and liked it, but I agree with the planning commission.
All they were asking was for 2/3rds of the space to be available to the public.
They could have made 1/3 reservable. They could have charged for wifi in the other 2/3rds or came up with other ideas.
Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]
#7Nothing worse then having cafe shops being packed with people working on their notebooks taking whole tables and not allowing people to enjoy them to drink their tea. I wouldn't mind if they would forbid notebooks in cafe shops like Starbucks
Places like Workshop Cafe are designed to cater specifically to this need. Their existence reduces the number of laptop hobos and startup squatters in socially oriented coffee shops.
Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]
#8It has meeting rooms, desks,...etc.
Not really surprised the zoning department ruled it was co-working space vs a cafe:
https://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x808580795532c08...
Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]
#9So what good do use based zoning rules do? I can see prohibiting heavy industrial or chemical in residential areas but outside of that it seems like more harm than good.
Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]
#10Nothing worse then having cafe shops being packed with people working on their notebooks taking whole tables and not allowing people to enjoy them to drink their tea. I wouldn't mind if they would forbid notebooks in cafe shops like Starbucks
They allow it because they make more money having consistent regulars who buy multiple items throughout the day, often entire meals.
It'd stop if it weren't profitable.