The last time I came to this neighborhood, it was totally different. I remember the Zim's that was at the corner close to Van Ness Avenue. This building was an office building with the Bank of America having a branch and offices next door. There was a large old time electronics store across the street right in the middle of the block.
Well, needless to say, times have changed and, as expected, so has San Francisco. My friend invited me to have dinner at a restaurant near here so I planned on arriving ten to fifteen minutes earlier in hopes of finding street parking. With the new towers here and on the other side of 10th Street, the parking spaces were either white zones (passenger loading), yellow loading zones, and one or two 15-minute parking meters. Being as it was just before 5 pm on a Saturday evening, this was not an option with parking limits enforced until 6 pm.
Not wanting to be late, I followed the "Public Parking" signs and pulled in here. I noticed the valet sign, pay podium, and the ground markings in stopping to the left of the podium. A gentleman walked up and confirmed it's valet only with a set price of $40.00 for the evening. I pocketed my belongings and left the key on the dashboard as he handed me a ticket stub.
He pointed me to a door and I rang a doorbell to gain entry into the building. I walked the stairs which led me to the lobby area. After walking out the entrance, I turned left on 10th Street and walked across the street to the restaurant. I was about three minutes late but I'm glad with my decision in not hunting for street parking.
After dinner, I rang the doorbell to enter the apartment building and walked back to the stairs. I paid the gentleman who handed me the stub and another gentleman went to get my car. I gave him a small gratuity after he brought my car. You exit the lot going up the same ramp where you enter.
Good to know where to park if visiting this neighborhood. Sadly, this reminds me of the parking situation in Manhattan thirty years ago which is what downtown SF has become. It's just not worth getting a parking ticket or risking a random car break in. read more