Free parking spots are an increasingly rare commodity in San Francisco, and locals are lamenting the recent loss of a little-known offering in the city’s Ingleside district.
When a wave of Walgreens stores shuttered last year, with the pharmacy chain citing the need to improve earnings and control operating costs, something curious happened at the former location at 1630 Ocean Avenue: The parking lot stayed full. It became something of a secret for residents grabbing a quick coffee at the nearby Java on Ocean cafe or stopping at the UPS store across the street that they could snag a free spot there, unticketed.
But as of last week, as the Ingleside Light first reported, the “best deal” on Ocean Avenue is no more. A chain fence now encircles the 14-stall lot, with a red and white sign warning that “unauthorized vehicles will be towed” from the private property. The Housing Guild, which owns the site, told the Light a new grocery store is leasing out the space, but declined to share the name. SFGATE reached out to the Housing Guild but did not hear back by time of publication.
The news comes after nearly 14,000 parking spots across the city were rendered obsolete last year to improve safety and visibility at crosswalks as part of a statewide daylighting law. Those vacant spots are now slated to be repurposed with murals, planters and painted signage through the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s Safety Zone Program in a 24-month pilot initiative.
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The new grocery store on Ocean Avenue will join the upcoming addition of a long-awaited Grocery Outlet in North Beach later this summer at 350 Bay St., where a Safeway used to be. Bi-Rite Market is also eyeing an expansion to the Richmond, possibly opening a third location at 6001 California St. by 2027.
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This article originally published at Free parking at abandoned San Francisco Walgreens is over.