Free\u00a0parking 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.<\/p>\n
When a wave of Walgreens stores shuttered last year<\/a>, 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n But as of last week, as the Ingleside Light first reported<\/a>, 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.\u00a0SFGATE reached out to the Housing Guild but did not hear back by time of publication.<\/p>\n The news comes after nearly 14,000 parking spots across the city were rendered obsolete<\/a> 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<\/a> with murals, planters and painted signage through the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s Safety Zone Program in a 24-month pilot initiative.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Go deeper with Yahoo Scout<\/p>\n The new grocery store on Ocean Avenue will join the upcoming addition of a long-awaited Grocery Outlet<\/a> in North Beach later this summer at 350 Bay St., where a Safeway<\/a> used to be. Bi-Rite Market is also eyeing<\/a> an expansion to the Richmond, possibly opening a third location at 6001 California St. by 2027.<\/p>\n More Local<\/p>\n – \u00a0A first-of-its-kind Bay Area home sale may change how Californians buy houses<\/a> Get\u00a0SFGATE’s top stories sent to your inbox by\u00a0signing up for The Daily newsletter here.<\/a><\/p>\n
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