Busvan to Close; Commercial, Housing Project Proposed

By Meg Dixit

Clement Street commercial icon, Busvan for Bargains, will be closing this summer, possibly paving the way for a new 47,900-square-foot commercial and residential complex to take its place.

The planned 40-foot-tall building will offer 24 residential units, ground-floor commercial space and a 25-space surface parking lot. The project would cover an area currently occupied by five pre-1906 buildings.

"I am retiring and closing both Busvan for Bargain stores," said the 57-year-old owner of Busvan, Michael Busk. His other store is located on Battery Street in the Financial District.

"We are evaluating all our options for the area and those being considered are the new complex, leaving things as they are and other possible uses for the space," he added.

Busk is consulting with Gallway Properties, Bruce Bowman and Associates and other real estate professionals on possible land uses. An environmental review is currently being undertaken by the City Planning Department for the Clement Street site and a Conditional Use Permit is expected to be sought at the SF Planning Commission.

Tim Blomgren, environmental planner with the city's planning department, said the environmental review was filed in January of this year and what will occur next depends on the outcome of the ongoing review.

"The main concern of the public seems to be overcrowding in the area," he said.

The proposed three-story building conforms to the City's use categories for the Inner Clement Neighborhood Commercial District, according to David Lindsay, senior planner for the Northwest Quadrant, which includes the Richmond District.

Preliminary plans for the structure were designed by San Francisco architect Kotas Pantaleoni.

"We were initially contacted at the end of 2001. The design we developed adheres to the zoning rules of the area, which allows 25 units, but we are planning only 24. Likewise, the rules allow for 27 parking spaces, but we have designed a 25-slot parking structure," Pantaleoni said.

Business owners that are currently leasing space around the building are concerned about the project.

"I don't think it's a good idea to build a residential building in a business area. Parking will be very heavy during construction and the months that follow," said Martin Liu, owner of Jumbo Photos, located two doors down from Busvan.

Irwin Phillips, president of the Clement Street Merchants Association, also raises issues with congestion in the area.

"I am sure the new building will be nice, but what will happen to businesses and patrons during demolition and construction of a whole new structure?"

Phillips is planning a meeting with District Supervisor Jake McGoldrick, Busvan representatives and area residents and businesses to discuss the best way to get through the construction process. He added that a similar meeting held during the renovation of Albertsons on 32nd Avenue made the transition easy for area residents and businesses.

Busvan for Bargains has been at its Clement Street location since 1946.