San Francisco Armory Seeks To Host More Events Amid Neighbor Complaints
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- The San Francisco Armory faces a hearing Tuesday afternoon on whether large events should be regularly scheduled amid complaints of noise and disturbances.
The Armory is currently the headquarters of BDSM pornography site Kink.com, which bought the former National Guard arsenal site in 2006.
Last month at a community meeting, dozens of neighbors voiced their complaints about noise, broken windows and overturned porta-potties during concerts at the Armory's Drill Court event space, according to a KQED report.
The city's Entertainment Commission meets Tuesday to consider allowing the Armory to hold regularly scheduled events such as electronic dance music parties that would last until 2:00 a.m. or later.
Neighbors at the March 28th meeting also called into question the appropriateness of one of the city's entertainment commissioners, Audrey Joseph, working as Events Director for the Armory, KQED reported.
Public records show Armory representatives sought permits for only two of four events held in February, and were only granted one permit.
Entertainment Commission Executive Director Jocelyn Kane told KQED that the Armory and Joseph appear to have hosted events without proper permits.
Kink.com owner Peter Acworth and business partner Mark Meagher are looking to increase the number of shows at the Armory, as voters consider a in November ballot measure to require use of condoms during porn productions in California.
Such a law could force Kink.com to relocate its operations from the Armory to Nevada and increase pressure to host more events at the Armory.
Emailed requests for comment from Audrey Joseph, Jocelyn Kane and Peter Acworth were not immediately returned.
The Entertainment Commission hearing is set for 5:30 p.m. at City Hall hearing room 416.
Carlos E. Castañeda is Senior Editor, News & Social Media for CBS San Francisco and a San Francisco native. You can follow him on Twitter or send him an email.
