The search for a new tenant for the Palace of Fine Arts has descended into bickering over whether it should be rented to a commercial tenant such as a hotel or restaurant or if it should be reserved for cultural organizations. Though the entire space cannot be used as a commercial space, part of it can, and the final three contenders included two that would use the site’s theater space for a hotel, and another that would install a museum and restaurant. In late November, the Recreation and Park Commission voted unanimously to let all
three compete for the final bid. The sponsors of the plans have until May to submit proposals.
A petition on Change.org claims that all three proposals fail to “preserve the site as the important cultural/educational center San Franciscans have known it to be, nor do they keep it a community space that is open and available to ALL people. Once again, our officials are preparing to sell out from under us another piece of San Francisco heritage. …” As of mid-November, 17,500 people had indicated their support for the petition, which demands only cultural and educational uses for the site.
