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For the past three years, TNDC has managed the Tenderloin Façade Improvement Program, which restores the historic and architectural character of the neighborhood, while adding light, visibility, and a sense of safety to the sidewalks. By providing 50% matching grants ($9,500 maximum) to Tenderloin merchants and property owners, efforts have been made to enhance storefronts, restore historic neon signs, and improve exterior lighting, while encouraging participants to be more responsible for the care and maintenance of their property. Eligible improvements include non-infrastructure items such as: painting, lighting, exterior repairs, signs (including neon), awnings, graphics, detailing, cleaning, windows, doors and improvement or removal of safety grilles and guards.
With funds made available by the Mayor’s Office on Economic Development, City Hotel Tax, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and San Francisco Beautiful, TNDC has been able to restore 17 facades and 9 neon signs since 1999. TNDC staff conduct outreach to identify potential projects, work with the client and an architect from Asian Neighborhood Design to develop a scope of work, assist in the bidding process, negotiate agreements, oversee construction, and disburse grants upon successful completion of the project. Recent funding from the Mayor’s Office on Community Development (MOCD) will allow TNDC to build upon its efforts even further; with a grant to accommodate 3 more facades and 2 neon sign restorations this year.
Façade Improvement Projects:
| Project Name | Scope of Work | Project Coordinator | FIP Grant |
| Original Joe’s Restaurant 144 Taylor Street |
Exterior painting | John & Marie Duggan | $8,475.00 |
| Kinney Hotel 410 Eddy Street |
Exterior painting / spray wash treatment | JJ Patel | $4,500.00 |
| Riveira Hotel 420 Eddy Street |
Exterior painting, new awning, repir existing sign | Gambhirsinh Devdhara | $8.975.00 |
| Jefferson Hotel 440 Eddy Street |
Exterior painting / spray wash treatment, replace metal grilles | Ranmesh Patel | $9.500.00 |
| 155 Hyde Street |
Exterior painting, repair brick and ceramic tile | Cuong La | $8,425.00 |
| Page Hotel 161 Leavenworth |
Exterior painting, install mural along ground floor base | Subhash Shastri | $9,500.00 |
| Youth With A Mission 357 Ellis Street |
Exterior painting, replace glass storefront and doors, sign | Laurie Matthias | $9,500.00 |
| San Cristina Hotel 1000 Market Street |
Exterior painting and waterproofing | Community Housing Partnership | $9,500.00 |
| Adrian Hotel 493 Eddy Street |
Exterior painting, sheet metal finishes | Sam Patel | $9,500.00 |
| Cadillac Market 499 Eddy Street |
Remove metal grilles, repair glass, sign, new lettering, doors | Ray Kayed | $8,137.00 |
| Elm Hotel 364 Eddy Street |
Exterior painting, new lighting | Jagubhai “Jack” Patel | $7,933.00 |
| 200 Leavenworth |
Exterior painting, repair tile, new sign | Cuong La | $9,500.00 |
| Faithful Fools Ministry 230-34 Hyde Street |
Exterior painting, new windows, doors, banners | Carmen Barsody & Kay Jorsoenson | $9,500.00 |
| Allen Hotel 411 Eddy Street |
Exterior painting, bird deterrents | Karen Trinh | $9.500.00 |
| Drake Hotel 235 Eddy Street |
Exterior painting, new lighting, repair canopy | Thakor Desai | $9,500.00 |
| Artmar Hotel 433 Ellis Street |
Exterior painting, replace sign lettering | Kanti Amin | $7,200.00 |
| Total Façade Grants Disbursed: | $148,370.00 | ||
In an effort to improve lighting on the sidewalks, the Façade Improvement Program developed a collaborative, with Chinatown Community Development Center and the Mayor’s Office on Community Development, to restore neon signs, which are a special feature of the neighborhood’s history. The projecting signs are indicative of the district’s roots where jazz, entertainment, and high-density housing were concentrated in the 1940s and 50s.
Three projects were selected to receive full grants as part of the collaborative, at the Senator Hotel, Jefferson Hotel and Mentone Hotel. The visual impact of neon at night is impressive, as the neon signs can be seen from several blocks away in each direction. The restoration of neon reflects the vibrancy of the neighborhood and preserves one of San Francisco’s most unique treasures
Neon Signs:
| Project Name | Scope of Work | Project Coordinator | FIP Grant |
| Page Hotel 161 Leavenworth |
New neon box sigh at hotel entry | Subhash Shastri | $1,959.00 |
| Senator Hotel 519 Ellis Street |
Historic neon sign renovation | Community Housing Partnership | $28,035.00 |
| Jefferson Hotel 440 Eddy Street |
Historic neon sign renovation | City Housing, Inc. | $14,064.00 |
| Allen Hotel 411 Eddy Street |
Repair, paint text and install neon on existing sign | Karen Trinh | $3,270.00 |
| Mentone Hotel 387 Ellis Street |
Historic neon sign / canopy renovation | Sam Patel | $14,935.00 |
| Hurley Hotel 201 Leavenworth |
Manufacture new sign faces, paint, install neon | Vicki Vlasakis | $5,000.00 |
| Adrian Hotel 493 Eddy Street |
Repair, paint and isnatll neon opn existing sign | Samuel Patel | $4,800.00 |
| Elm Hotel 364 Eddy Street |
Install neon on existing sign | Jagubhai Patel | $3,555.00 |
| Barah’s Market 200 Leavenworth |
Manufacture new sign faces, paint, install neon | Nema Jewad | $3,552.00 |
| Total Neon Sign Grants Disbursed: | $61,554.00 | ||