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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]

#31

Post by criddell »

sigstoat wrote: post #22
wtvanhest wrote: post #6

I 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.

does SF only allow fancy restaurants to take reservations for 1/3rd of their tables?

That 1/3 was designated as subordinate (ie non-restaurant) use. Fancy restaurants would have the same problem if they started using up a bunch of space for whiteboards and printers.

Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]

#32

Post by pmoriarty »

It's interesting to hear all the positive comments here about Workshop Cafe, and at the same time in previous threads there have been many negative comments about WeWork.

Can someone who has been to both and has differing opinions about them share how they differ?

Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]

#33

Post by cobookman »

gharding wrote: post #28
cobookman wrote: post #8

It 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...

Although I have never been there, but I don't think the street view makes your point. If you take the monitors out that cafe does not look any different than any other rather run of the mill cafe with stock furniture. I wonder if this is a bit of a perception is 9/10ths of reality thing where the fact that the furniture looks too "office like" with the separated meeting table with an wall hung TV and other office-fee…

They charge per hour for `workspace`: https://www.workshopcafe.com/pricing & https://www.workshopcafe.com/meeting-rooms

A true cafe doesn't charge you an hourly seating price. Its somewhat a grey area though as a cafe might have an `order` minimum/hour or kick someone out who hasn't bought something recently.

Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]

#34

Post by m463 »

I think this is what clarified it for me:

> A good analogy for this principal is a movie theatre. Customers must buy a ticket to enter (i.e. reserve space), and the principal use is the movie theatre. Customers may purchase food and beverages in the theatre, and may consume them in the actual theatres. Such food and beverage sales often outpace actual ticket sales. However, the Planning Code does not consider a movie theatre to be a restaurant simply because its customers may, and often do, purchase food and drink that is prepared on-site.

(principal is your pal)

Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]

#35

Post by 3fe9a03ccd14ca5 »

blueyes wrote: post #20

This decision is a real shame. There is real value to a space like Workshop that provides food and business services in a social space in the Financial District. A decision like this, which does not take into account the consequences to SF's everyday life, is one of the thousand tiny cuts the city inflicts on itself to no purpose.

The real shame here is that the city is basically setting up a “ask permission before trying anything” environment. Quite antithetical for a location that prides itself on innovation.

Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]

#36

Post by jbaudanza »

IIAOPSW wrote: post #11

Who do I vote for if I want a workshop office like this to be legal?

The zoning administrator is part of the San Francisco Planning Department. Last September, the SF Planning Department Director, John Rahaim, announced his retirement. Mayor London Breed will need to find a replacement nominee soon who will then need to get approved by the Board of Supervisors.

If you're looking for a way to get involved, letting the mayor know your thoughts about this might be a good start.

Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]

#37

Post by 3fe9a03ccd14ca5 »

jbaudanza wrote: post #2

This 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".

Which one pays more in taxes? Of course it’s that one then!

Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]

#39

Post by SamBam »

ortusdux wrote: post #29

I am a big fan of the Japanese zoning system. I'm sure it has its flaws and that there are arguably better systems, but it seems much better than what we currently have in the US. http://urbankchoze.blogspot.com/2014/04/japanese-zoning.html

That article mostly just hammers home how terrible most American zoning is. It's like city planners all grew up playing Sim Cities (residential here, offices there, residential here, shops there).

Re: SF Zoning Department rules that Workshop Cafe is an office, forcing it to close [pdf]

#40

Post by cft »

San Francisco has become a place for junkies and Google sociopaths. Creative people have left and remaining creative people are leaving. It's a very bad place to start a company now (not to confuse starting a viable business with raising venture capital).
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