San Francisco's Van Ness Avenue, once bustling with auto dealerships, now faces 35% vacancy, equating to 250,000 square feet of unleased space. Local officials recognize the challenges small businesses face in leasing this substantial area, largely leading to disinterest from larger national chains due to high barriers. However, recent changes to local laws will ease zoning regulations for chain stores along this corridor. This decision has met with mixed reactions, especially from neighborhoods like North Beach and Chinatown that have historically resisted chain stores.
The North Beach and Chinatown Business Associations wrote a letter to the Board of Supervisors and the mayor that says, we don't have a problem with this Van Ness loosening of controls and regulations but don't think that you should or can do that to Chinatown and North Beach.
We're at 35% vacancy. We're at 250,000 square feet of vacancy,
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