The sudden closure of the 24-hour diner Sparky’s on Church Street in 2016 has left a city with only little late-night food choices devastated. The neighborhood’s beloved place became unoccupied since then but a go-signal was released to demolish it, SFGATE reported.
Hoodline said that redevelopment efforts are arranged for 240-250 Church Street which will be transformed into a seven-story, apartment building with 24 units. The redevelopment proposal was raised in 2019 but the Planning Commission just gave its approval on the plan, the outlet said.
While the former Sparky’s will be demolished, the store near it, the Thorough Bread and Pastry, will stay in the new building. Hoodline said that out of the 24 units, three will be allotted for affordable housing. The apartment building will also hold 16 two-bedrooms and six one-bedrooms.
The 1917-built structure is not counted as historic by the city even though it was erected over a century ago. The redevelopment project was opposed by the Castro LGBTQ Cultural District who said that the new project only has three affordable housing units available.
“For decades, Sparky’s Diner played a critical role in the queer community as a quality 24-hour diner that offered food and safety to all who could afford a $2 or $3 cup of coffee,” Stephen Torres, CQCD secretary, told Hoodline. “Alas, the same would not be true of the proposed development, which would welcome only Thorough Bread and Bakery patrons, 24 lucky homeowners, and their guests.”
The Planning Commission, however, has already approved the redevelopment. The commission said that people who sponsored the project will convene with the CQCD to consider having a gathering space for the queer community in the building.
