DS Feature: The changing of San Francisco’s 17th St: Volume 1

I grew up in the California Bay Area and have lived in Potrero Hill in San Francisco since 2012. I moved here because I loved the neighborhood and wanted to be close to two of my favorite venues, Bottom of the Hill and Thee Parkside.

Potrero Hill has always had a unique mix of industry, creativity, and community. Industrial buildings sit next to artist studios and music venues. Local musicians, photographers, designers, artists, and skaters share the same streets as longtime residents. The neighborhood’s creative spirit is shaped by places like Bottom of the Hill, Thee Parkside, DLXSF, Arch Art Supplies, and California College of the Arts.

That culture is now facing major change.

The California College of the Arts campus has been purchased by Vanderbilt University, and CCA programs will end by fall 2027. The neighborhood will lose a major design institution, and the future of the student gallery on 17th Street is unknown.

After 35 years, Bottom of the Hill has announced that its owners will retire and close under current ownership at the end of 2026. Fans are hopeful the venue’s legacy will continue under new ownership after the final show.

Thee Parkside recently had its building sold out from under them and will end live shows at the end of March. How long it will remain open as a bar is uncertain.

Rents continue to rise and only more unaffordable housing continues to be built. Build up and build more at the cost of the neighborhood culture and yet who are these units designed for?

This is the beginning of a series documenting 17th Street and Potrero Hill as these changes unfold. It will focus on the spaces and people who have made this community special.