March 2025 Newsletter
Step Into Service This March
Help improve SOMA with one of the many outdoor volunteer activities going on this month:
Arbor Day Tree Planting (D5)
March 8th 8:30 - 12 pm
Join San Francisco Public Works to plant 100+ trees in 1 day. RSVP (free sandwiches provided)
Langton Garden Volunteer Day
March 30th 10 - 2 pm
Help beautify the Langton Garden at their monthly Volunteer Day (open to all).
SOMA West Cleanup
Every Saturday 4-5 pm
Join the friendly neighborhood cleanup! Meet at Driftwood (1225 Folsom St) (free drink after) Sign Up
What’s Going On In March
3.5 5pm
364 9th Street Project
Proposal
More Info
3.6 5-10 pm
SOMA First Thursday
Market & 2nd
Learn More
3.13 5-9 pm
SOMA Nights
Folsom x 9-12th Street
Learn More
3.15 11:30 pm
St. Patrick’s Day
Parade and Festival
Civic Center
3.20 6-8 pm
SOMA West CBD
Happy Hour
Location TBD
3.22 12-3 pm
Printmakers
Reception & Trunk Show
arc Studios
3.22 6-9 pm
Dazed Opening
Reception
Heron Arts RSVP
Calling All Musicians
Represent SOMA and submit your music for consideration in this year’s Bay Beats. Learn More Here
SOMA Love Recap
Our February meetup was productive and an absolute blast. We successfully constructed 40 Valentine’s Bags for our neighbors at the Women’s Treatment and Recovery Program on Hallam.
STREET VIEW
By David Singer
When discussing San Francisco architecture, many think of famous landmarks—perhaps City Hall or the Painted Ladies. Few consider SOMA, yet the neighborhood has several buildings on the National Historic Register, including one called the most beautiful in San Francisco. San Francisco's port played a major role in the city's Street View development from the late 1800s until the 1960s, and SOMA grew alongside it, supporting the port with industrial, commercial, warehousing, and shipping operations, as well as housing for workers.
This history has left SOMA with some interesting buildings, like 1035 Howard. In 1900, W.A. England and H.D. Skellinger founded the Eng-Skell Company, and in 1930, A.C. Griewank designed this lovely Art Deco building for them. The company produced food flavorings and colorings, later changing its name to ESCO Foods, but unfortunately closed in 2022. Before closure, its website featured the building and its history. In 2018, they deeded the property to Embarcadero Capital Partners for a planned development that fell through. In 2024, Tourbineau Real Estate Partners went into contract to purchase the building and develop it as self-storage. Despite concerns from neighbors, the plan was heard and approved in December.
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