SocketSite broke the news this morning that Lucky 13 may become the latest victim to the Market Street condo construction boom, which has seen several new highrises appear along Market Street coming up to the Castro, with the closest filling the longtime vacant hole in the ground across from the LookOut at Noe and 16th.
Multi Ventures LLC, the building’s owners, have filed a preliminary project assessment with the San Francisco Planning Department. In it, they detail their intention to raze the bar to make way for a new five-story building that will include 31 condominium units along with a 1,200 square foot ground-level retail space. Permits for a similar plan were either withdrawn or expired in 2009.
Though the bar is now straight (but welcoming) and one of the City’s preeminent dive bars, it has an extensive gay history. From the early 1970s to the late 1980s, it operated as a series of gay country western bars and discotheques, include the Mind Shaft, Alfie’s, Prism, 2140 Market, Industrial Dance Company, and High Chaparral. Preserving LGBT Historic Sites in California on Facebook also reports that it was the Log Cabin from 1970 to 1972, and Corral in 1990.
As Alfie’s, it was the location of Harvey Milk’s election night party when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.
According to The Bold Italic, Multi Ventures LLC will now need to commission a $5,000 impact assessment that can take anywhere from three to six months to complete. In addition, because the location has been designated a historic landmark, the Historic Preservation Commission will need to review and approve any plans that affect the building’s exterior.
Further Reading
Mak, Alex, “Plans to Replace Lucky 13 With More Condos,” Broke-Ass Stuart, March 11, 2015.
Preserving LGBT Historic Sites in California Facebook page, accessed online March 11, 2015.
Schmiechen, Richard, Rob Epstein & Gregory W. Bex (Producers), & Epstein, Rob (Director). (1984) The Times of Harvey Milk [Documentary Feature]. USA: New Yorker Films.
Spinelli, Adrian, “Lucky 13 Getting Replaced by Condos? We Have Answers,” The Bold Italic, March 11, 2015.
Staver, Sari, “Lucky 13 Could Be Replaced by New Condo Development,” Hoodline, March 11, 2015.
