this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2023
31 points (80.4% liked)
Economics
1698 readers
1 users here now
founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
That's why San Francisco implemented a vacant storefront tax.
But getting commercial landlords to comply has been a struggle.
https://therealdeal.com/sanfrancisco/2023/06/01/few-retailers-respond-to-sfs-new-vacancy-tax-as-only-2-6-pay-up/
I was just in SF a month ago for the Dead & Co shows, and it really is astonishing how empty a lot of storefronts are, especially where we were staying up near North Beach/FW. Also too, the lack of late night food; in all the years I've been going to SF, you could always count on a noodle bar in Chinatown at 12-1a to be open, but not anymore. Not really anything except fast food. COVID wrecked that town. I've also never seen so few homeless people walking around, but I didn't head over to Oakland.
they could repurpose those buildings (difficult but possible) to dwellings, which would revitalize the downtown businesses - but no, they'll hold out desperately for a return to office that, if it was going to happen, would have happened already.
Meanwhile, there ain't enough housing. Everyone pays more and the core rots.