Former San Francisco 24-Hour Diner To Be Demolished For Housing

Sparky's, a popular neighborhood 24-hour diner on Church Street, closed suddenly in 2016 and has sat vacant since.

Now, plans to demolish the building have been approved, reports SFGATE.

According to Hoodline, 240-250 Church Street is planned to be redeveloped into a seven-story 24-unit mixed-use apartment building.

The housing project was first proposed in 2019 but has only just been approved by the Planning Commission.

The bakery next door, Thorough Bread and Pastry, is expected to remain in the new building, according to SFGATE.

In total, the building will have six one-bedrooms and 16 two-bedrooms. Three of the 24 units will be designated for affordable housing, according to Hoodline.

The Castro LGBTQ Cultural District opposed the redevelopment project with concerns about the building only offering three affordable units.

"For decades, Sparky's Diner played a critical role in the queer community as a quality 24-hour diner that offered food and safety to all who could afford a $2 or $3 cup of coffee," CQCD secretary Stephen Torres told Hoodline. "Alas, the same would not be true of the proposed development, which would welcome only Thorough Bread and Bakery patrons, 24 lucky homeowners, and their guests."

The Planning Commission still approved the apartment building but the project sponsors will meet with the CQCD to discuss the possibility of adding a queer gathering space to the building.