There is no doubt that Chestnut Street is one of the best neighborhood commercial corridors in the City. For many, it was the draw of Chestnut that first introduced them to the Marina. Over the last few years Chestnut has seen many restaurants, bars and shops come and go. Fortunately there are more than a handful of jewels that have withstood the test of time and continue to thrive, even in a tough economy.

It is not just Marina residents who love Chestnut. In fact, on any given Friday or Saturday night, restaurants such as Circa and the Tipsy Pig have lines of patrons waiting outside their doors, many who live outside the Marina and even outside of San Francisco. Young people from all over the Bay Area are attracted to Chestnut Street, where we as neighbors see the intersection of nightlife and entertainment unfold before our eyes. Many of these establishments are packed after last call at 1:30 a.m., while other less popular bars and restaurants continue to look for ways to attract more patrons and to get them to stay longer and spend more money.

Some bars and restaurants such as the Tipsy Pig or Mamacita thrive without having live music or D.J.s and stay crowded after dinner service concludes. But for other less popular or up-and-coming spots, the ability to have live music, bands, and D.J.s is often seen as a tool to boost alcohol sales and keep customers staying later. While this could mean increased revenue for the bar owner, residents have mixed feelings about neighborhood bars and restaurants turning into live-music venues. Music can be a great tool to differentiate one establishment from another and allows a bar to develop a personality beyond what an iPod can deliver. However, not just any bar can have live music or a D.J., as the City’s Entertainment Commission controls amplified music.

A “place of entertainment” permit allows live music and amplified music to be played in bars and restaurants. The Entertainment Commission has rules about what steps must be taken prior to a permit being issued. Besides soundproofing the walls and creating a security plan, one key component of the application process is neighborhood outreach. The commission requires that a business owner or manager meet with the neighbors prior to submitting their application for an entertainment permit.

The requirement of neighborhood outreach enables a bar and its neighbors to forge a relationship where the owner can share the plans for the establishment with the community. It should come as no surprise that often times neighbors and business owners start in two different places in terms of their ideal scenario for a bar’s entertainment plan. More often than not, this dialogue provides the opportunity for the community to strike a balance where compromise can be reached. This policy of mandatory outreach may seem counterintuitive to capitalism, where the market should be able to dictate what the community actually supports. However, in a neighborhood like the Marina, where residents live above and across the street from many bars and restaurants, balancing competing interests of entrepreneurs and neighbors is imperative due to the close proximity in which we exist.

The Marina Community Association represents tenants and property owners young and old, and works closely with local merchant organizations to make sure that we are being supportive of the local business community and are aware of any merchant issues that may affect residents’ quality of life. It is through these open dialogues that we as a community can respect each other’s interests while maintaining the integrity of the neighborhood we all love.

Whether you patronize, own or reside above an establishment, we want everyone to have a positive experience in the Marina. Experiences drive the economy in our neighborhood, for merchants and landlords alike, as they keep people coming back to enjoy the neighborhood we are fortunate enough to call home. While ultimately the Entertainment Commission decides which establishments receive an entertainment permit, it is up to the neighbors to decide what we are willing to support.