City Council –
I am in strong support of creating a top-notch live music venue at The Guild. I applaud the City Council’s consideration of this
proposal.
I’ve lived in Mill Valley and in Pacific Heights / Cow Hollow neighborhoods in SF, and now call Atherton home.
In Mill Valley I loved going to the Sweetwater in downtown MV to see live high-quality live music in an upscale venue. And in the
City there are great spots on Fillmore, or at Slims, or at the SF Jazz center where I frequently went to experience great music in
an upscale venue. That is really lacking in the peninsula, which is a shame.
These types of venues are a positive attraction – bringing diners to pre-show restaurants. They become destinations. Right now my
choices for good live music are hiking up to the City or …. nothing. We should bring live entertainment to Menlo Park and continue
to rebuild a more vibrant evening scene around Santa Cruz Ave. It would invigorate the neighborhood and bring people out for an
upscale evening. It would be complement some of the other establishments already existing or planning to be opened in that area.
I have also seen theaters re-purposed with excellent results – look the at the Alhambra on Polk St in SF (now a Crunch fitness
center in an old movie palace) or the old movie theater on Union St in SF recently converted to an Equinox sports facility. A
great re-use. Note they also have no parking and do just fine. There will be new mixed-use development further north on El Camino
which is foot traffic that will be attracted to this venue. We should try to retain their patronage in their own neighborhood.
I am a strong supporter. Thank you,
-Chris Neil
Atherton.
