Frisco Wild Side Restored

Wednesday, July 14, 2010
CONTACT : Michael Copeland Sydnor
415.861.2132
morerail4u [at] gmail.com
“Frisco Wild Side” Precita Eyes Mural
Rescued, Restored and Revived
Langton Street Community United by Restoration
Hosts South of Market Celebration Sunday July 18th

San Francisco, California—July 13, 2010— Who would believe the deciension of a mural could bring a neighborhood community together. On Sunday the 18th day of July from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, the residents, businesses, and local government agencies are celebrating an infamous area of San Francisco. The afternoon culminates into one of those types of events where everyone takes credit. In this case, they all can.
The South of Market (SOMA) residents are hosting a Block Party on Langton Street alley at 7th Street between Harrison and Folsom Streets celebrating the restoration of a mural, Frisco Wild Side, which represented an era of development before the gentrification.
There was no group to turn to when the community saw how the Precita Eyes mural, Frisco Wild Side, started to decay. The mural located in the middle of 100 Langton Street covers 177 square feet on the walls of the only commercial business left today, Maltby Electrical Company.
Rescuing the mural from vandals became urgent when Langton Street neighbors began meeting in 2008 to decide how to prevent the blight they saw every day as they walked out of their door. It was 1995 when another group of residents worked with Precita Eyes, and Maltby Electrics to stop vandals. They decided to turn the problem into artistic venture. They found a solution by supporting local mural artists as well as providing an artistic celebration of San Francisco’s environmental history. Once completed the mural became a tourist attraction with Precita Eyes featuring the mural for walking tours of murals located in SOMA.
The restoration process led to a new way of viewing the neighborhood. Over two years residents of the community attended meeting after meeting to get the results they sought: to keep their neighborhood clean and safe. This short block of Langton Street is a microcosm of SOMA. Edwardian buildings intermingle with modern lofts, and longstanding industrial businesses.
The Frisco Wild Side mural was being tagged by graffiti vandals over the last five years. This ignited the residents who watched the graffiti increase on the mural. Residents on Langton Street made the mural decision as a definitive way to prevent graffiti on the Maltby building. Maltby owners were also convinced this was a way to stop painting their façade due to fines from the City to remove reoccurring graffiti.
The residents in the neighborhood had heard lingering rumors about this alley. Approaching the alley from Harrison Street two commercial businesses abuts on each side of the street. Harrison & Bonini, a metal fastener hardware company is on one side and a printing warehouse on the other.
This is where the mural adventure starts. Facing east toward 7th Street there is a mural dedicated to musical rapper Mac Dre who was killed “gangster style” in Kansas City, Missouri. Weekends on the alley provides the rapper’s fanatics with a place to come to be seen. They take photographs. They sit. They vent. Residents didn’t mind until visitors tried to BBQ in front of the mural. Some have asked to have the mural removed. Whatever the outcome, the murals on Langton Street are an attraction.
North toward Folsom Street the structures remind you of old San Francisco. To the west at 182 the transition from commercial to residential begins to unfold. This Victorian apartment building symbolizes the restoration of the area. What seems as plain faced buildings upon entering the apartment flats are expansive with private gardens in the back.
Then the row houses of the1906 Old Langton Fronts prominently displays a “perfect combination of preservation,” is the real estate agent’s description of the Fronts. Award winning architect Donald McDonald preserved the 1906 façade rebuilding everything behind in 1992. The mural came three years later in 1995 making a resplendent statement for a tourist destination for a changing SOMA.
Finally, when you reach Folsom Street you will find a withering Julie’s Supper Club sign which was a notorious lounge, restaurant, night club and brothel. The street talk says this is where Patty Hearst was held by the Symbionese Liberation Army when they robbed Hibernia Bank on Market Street. With rumors of Black Panther founder, Huey Newton, hiding out there, on “the lam”, the building is world famous. Today, the building has been transformed with the advent of the newly opened restaurant French-style locavore restaurant, Radius, that is serving as a beacon for the alley corner.
The area is now a trendy bohemian hotspot. Langton at Folsom Street now features French street food from Spencer On The Go’s roach coach; ‘Da Beef, a Chicago Style hot dog stamd, at 7th Street, and across the street, do not forget the bohemian destination Brainwash Café followed by Terroir, a soigné wine bar.
To celebrate the revitalization of the Frisco Wild Side mural the residents are inviting the community to celebrate with them. Working with Maltby Electrical Company, the Department of Public Works, SAFE: Safe Awareness For Everyone and Norcal Waste Management Group: Sunset Scavenger and Golden Gate Disposal with Langton Street residents they are able to provide an apotropaic environment for the mural.
The 100 block of the Langton Street alley residents did what the iconic San Francisco writer said, “…can do.” Their accomplishment keeps Frisco Wild Side safe. Residents on this alley are proof of what can be accomplished when there is unity in the community.
Call toll free 877-921-8234 or 415-861-2132 or email sf-neighborhood [at] googlesgroup.com for more information. ≠≠≠