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Between 1999 and 2004, the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC) managed the Tenderloin Façade Improvement Program, which provided grants to neighborhood merchants and property owners to perform building improvements. The program aimed to enhance the Tenderloin's streetscape and recapture the neighborhood's historic character while making public safety improvements such as increased lighting and visibility. The program also promoted neighborhood investment, from creating local opportunities for contractors to encouraging participants' responsibility for the care and maintenance of their properties.
The program was made possible by funds from the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Community Development (MOCD). Design services were provided by the architecture firm Asian Neighborhood Design. The program has been honored by San Francisco Beautiful and the San Francisco Architectural Heritage Foundation. In 2001, the program was given the prestigious Robert C. Friese Award for Neighborhood Conservation. San Francisco Beautiful summarized the program by stating, “Individually, each project makes a contribution. Taken as a whole, this effort may reinvigorate the neighborhood.”
Façade Improvement Projects:
The Façade Improvement Program provided matching grants of up to $9500 to Tenderloin merchants and property owners for building improvements such as painting, lighting upgrades, exterior repairs, new signage, cleaning, window and door replacement and repair, and the improvement or removal of window gates and grills.
Project Name |
Scope of Work |
Grant Recipient |
Photos |
FIP Grant |
| Original Joe’s Restaurant 144 Taylor Street |
Painting |
John & Marie Duggan |
 |
$8,475.00 |
| Kinney Hotel 410 Eddy Street |
Cleaning and painting | JJ Patel |
|
$4,500.00 |
| Riviera Hotel 420 Eddy Street |
Painting, signage and awning | Gambhirsinh Devdhara | |
$8,975.00 |
| Jefferson Hotel 440 Eddy Street |
Cleaning, painting and metalwork | Ranmesh Patel |  |
$9,500.00 |
| 155 Hyde Street |
Repair and painting | Cuong La | |
$8,425.00 |
| Page Hotel 161 Leavenworth |
Painting and mural |
Subhash Shastri |
|
$9,500.00 |
| Youth With A Mission 357 Ellis Street |
Painting, glazing and signage | Laurie Matthias |
|
$9,500.00 |
| San Cristina Hotel 1000 Market Street |
Painting and waterproofing |
Community Housing Partnership | |
$9,500.00 |
| Adrian Hotel 493 Eddy Street |
Painting, metalwork |
Sam Patel |
|
$9,500.00 |
Cadillac Market 499 Eddy Street |
Painting, glazing, signage, and removal of window grilles | Ray Kayed |
 |
$8,137.00 |
| Elm Hotel 364 Eddy Street |
Painting and lighting |
Jagubhai “Jack” Patel |  |
$7,933.00 |
200 Leavenworth 200 Leavenworth |
Repair, painting and signage |
Cuong La |
|
$9,500.00 |
Faithful Fools Ministry 230-34 Hyde Street |
Painting, glazing and signage |
Carmen Barsody & Kay Jorsoenson | |
$9,500.00 |
Allen Hotel 411 Eddy Street |
Painting and installation of bird deterrents | Karen Trinh |
|
$9,500.00 |
| Drake Hotel 235 Eddy Street |
Repair, painting and lighting | Thakor Desai |
|
$9,500.00 |
| Artmar Hotel 433 Ellis Street |
Painting and signage |
Kanti Amin |
|
$7,200.00 |
| Studio Tech Auto Body 135 Hyde Street |
Repair, painting, lighting, and signage | Glenn Quon |
 |
$7,175.00 |
| Western Hotel 335 Leavenworth Street |
Repair and painting |
Indrasinh Solanri |
 |
$4,200.00 |
Total Façade Grants Disbursed: |
$160,020.00 |
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Neon Sign Projects:
The program also provided a limited number of $7500 full grants to restore neon signs, which are a special feature of the neighborhood's history. The projecting signs are indicative of the district's roots in jazz, entertainment, and high-density housing during the 1940s and 50s. The visual impact of neon at night is impressive, as the signs can be seen from several blocks away in each direction. The restoration of neon brightens the neighborhood's sidewalks at night, reflects the vibrancy of the Tenderloin, and preserves one of San Francisco 's most unique treasures.
Project Name |
Scope of Work |
Grant Recipient |
Photos |
FIP Grant |
| Page Hotel 161 Leavenworth |
New neon sign box at hotel entry | Subhash Shastri |
|
$1,959.00 |
Senator Hotel 519 Ellis Street |
Historic neon sign restoration |
Community Housing Partnership | |
$28,035.00 |
| Jefferson Hotel 440 Eddy Street |
Historic neon sign restoration | City Housing, Inc. |
|
$14,064.00 |
| Allen Hotel 411 Eddy Street |
New lettering and neon on repaired sign box | Karen Trinh |
|
$3,270.00 |
| Mentone Hotel 387 Ellis Street |
Historic neon sign/canopy restoration | Sam Patel |
|
$14,935.00 |
| Hurley Hotel 201 Leavenworth |
New faces and neon on repaired sign box | Vicki Vlasakis |
 |
$5,000.00 |
| Adrian Hotel 493 Eddy Street |
New lettering and neon on repaired sign box | Samuel Patel |
 |
$4,800.00 |
| Elm Hotel 364 Eddy Street |
New lettering and neon on repaired sign box | Jagubhai Patel |
|
$3,555.00 |
| Barah's Market 200 Leavenworth |
New faces and neon on repaired sign box | Nema Jewad |
|
$3,552.00 |
| Cool Super Discount 199 Eddy Street |
New lettering and neon on repaired sign box | Issa Kort |
 |
|
| Elk Hotel 670 Eddy Street |
New lettering and neon on repaired sign box | Narendra Patel |
 |
$5,417.00 |
Total Neon Sign Grants Disbursed: |
$76,694.00 |
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