Demolition at site of massive Mission District fire to begin

Clean-up crews wearing protective suits and masks started bagging the smoky, sodden remains of a San Francisco novelty store Friday evening with the demolition of the business expected to begin Saturday.

"I was actually here two days ago looking for luggage," spectator Michael Garcia told KTVU, as he gazed at the ruined Big House Inc. store with dozens of other onlookers. "A lot of people depended on this place, you know?" added Garcia. "For the smaller prices and better deals."

But one person's loss is another's opportunity.

"The value lies in the location and the lot, " observed real estate agent Jim Appenrodt, also in the crowd. "This is the heart of the Mission and it's booming, absolutely booming."

Friday evening, the family that owns the property was back, looking through the debris. Previously they told KTVU they want to rebuild and restock the import merchandise that filled three stories: clothing, luggage, and toys.

But with the neighborhood ripe for investment right now, and 130 new condos going in less than a block away, the family may be persuaded to sell, instead of stay.

"People will line up for this spot," exclaimed Appenrodt, "You'd have to go ask the city and find out what they'd let you build there, and that's where the value lies."

First, the condemned building must come down. Fire helmets have been replaced by hard hats, as a demolition firm arrived, hired by the owner's insurance company.

"It's going to take some time, because we have to get all the way to the back of the building," Har-Bro Project Manager Bob Conley told KTVU, "so we'll have to take a little, clean it out, take a little, clean it out. We're not just going to knock it down."

Conley said every stage of the tear-down will be charted by a shoring engineer so it's safe for the workers and people on the busy corridor.

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Demolition at site of massive Mission District fire to begin