EDITORIAL: Bad neighbors {Porn Studio}

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 2/1/7 | Editor

[SmithL]

CALL IT developers' revenge. If they don't want housing -- or office space, or family recreational facilities, or schools, or arts centers, or community markets, or computer server farms -- give them pornography instead.

That's the only way to explain what has happened at San Francisco's armory at 14th and Mission streets. For decades, politicians and neighborhood activists have rejected or neglected well-laid plans for the massive building. Now the neighborhood is getting back some of that hostility in the form of Kink.com, the on-line fetish porn Web site, which bought the building quickly and quietly last month and plans to start filming as soon as possible. Because the new owners won't be making any structural changes to the building, they've been able to bypass the Planning Department -- and all the requisite delays, obstacles and public obstinateness. We can almost hear the partners at Bar-K, Inc. -- which previously owned the building and watched its stunning mixed-use plan crumble in the face of neighborhood complaints and the Landmarks Board -- as they laugh all the way to the bank with a $14.5 million deposit.

Of course, this sad saga probably won't conclude so easily. Depending on the force of the neighborhood's wrath, new owner Peter Acworth may be surprised at the sudden hoops he's forced to jump through -- Mayor Gavin Newsom has announced a series of public meetings, if things get really ugly, there's always the threat of zoning changes or permit problems. But Supervisor Chris Daly, who represents the district in which the armory is located, is twiddling his thumbs. Neither the state, which previously owned the building, nor the city has ever taken the building very seriously, judging by the long list of failed proposals. And let's face it- family values and moral propriety, the reasons...

[SmithL]

San Francisco Values

[msnimje]

Is the Mayor's house?

[Hydroshock]

Sin Freakisco values.

[2banana]

Law of unintended consequences of liberals...

[Darksheare]

LOL!
They deserve it.

[antiRepublicrat]

Let them stew over it. This is their own damn fault.

[6SJ7]

Kink.com? I thought that is the web site for the city of San Francisco.

[Ouderkirk]

Have to admit...this situation is damned funny.

[.cnI redruM]

They could call each of the studio's features another San Francisco Treat!

[SmithL]

It's funny as long as it's not happening on MY side of the Bay.

[California Patriot]

Amen. Great stuff.

[DainBramage]

Man global warming has really f'd up San Fransisco.

[California Patriot]

Bad for the kids, though. It's not their fault.

[Darksheare]

Simply poetic in it's occurrence.

[Darksheare]

True, but the city itself deserves it.

[SmithL]

Bush's fault?

[California Patriot]

Generally speaking, yes. I do feel sorry for kids and seniors who are stuck in SF through no fault of their own.

[andy58-in-nh]

There go their "well-laid plans".

[theFIRMbss]

[Darksheare]

True, true.