Rally to Save the Historic Grubstake Diner

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Supporters of Grubstake Diner are hosting a rally to help save the historic diner at noon on Monday, September 27, 2021.

We appreciate the community’s overwhelming support of our efforts to preserve a critical chapter of LGBTQI+ history while also providing 21 units of much-needed middle-income housing on the Polk Street corridor and we still need your help.

Please join members of the LQBTQ+ community in front of the long-time home of the historic Grubstake Diner (1525 Pine Street) to show support for the rebuilding of this local community treasure.

Featured Speakers include:

• Donna Sachet, Absolute Empress of the Imperial Court of San Francisco
• Juanita MORE!, Empress of the Imperial Court of San Francisco
• Gary Virginia, LGBTQ+ Community Activist

Save Grubstake Diner Rally
September 27, 2021 | Noon
Grubstake Diner | 1525 Pine Street
FREE

Preservation  

For several years, we have worked with renowned historical preservationists, Architectural Resources Group, and members of the LGBTQ+ community to ensure the preservation of the Grubstake as a community gathering place for generations to come. The new building will allow the business to not only upgrade the restaurant’s bones to create a safe and sustainable physical space for the restaurant, it will allow us to preserve the Grubstake’s menu, décor, history and soul.

See the preservation recommendations we intend to undertake.

State Density Bonus Program (SDBP)

At the urging of the City, the Grubstake development is utilizing the State Density bonus Program (SDBP) which encourages developers to elevate the height and development capacity of a project in order to generate increased housing in urban neighborhoods. The SDBP provides more flexibility in planning and financing new home development and will help ensure the viability of this important LGBTQ+ preservation project.

Austin Condominiums Appeal

Despite our efforts to address the concerns of our adjacent neighbors, some of the owners at the newly built Austin condominiums next door have continued their years-long opposition to our proposal, appealing the conditional use authorization and Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), citing the impact on the light, air, and private terraces of the existing building’s units, as well as the project’s lack of parking, and the “over-supply of housing in the neighborhood.” The CU appeal failed as only 1.94% of surrounding property owners signed, whereas 20% are required by code. The Board of Supervisors will hear the appeal of the MND on October 5, 2021.

This group of Austin residents has tried in every way possible to delay and block the project, and it’s become clear that their reservations cannot be remedied. We have worked tirelessly to address their concerns, including having a professional light analysis prepared that found the project meets CEQA requirements and the units would still receive light from the interior courtyard and meet all health and safety standards. Additionally, in good faith, we have voluntarily added UV lights to our building’s courtyard, timed to match daylight hours, to further enhance the light in the interior courtyard. It is important to note that all owners at the Austin were required to sign pre-sale disclosures stating the Grubstake site (which was already in pre-development) would be developed, and would impact light, air, and views on the eastern side of the building where the lightwell exists.

Read more at Grubstake.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.