Remembrance of Geneva Towers - Revision history

Lisaruth: added date to byline

2022-01-10T20:18:04Z

added date to byline

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:18, 10 January 2022
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	'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''		'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

	''by Lee Hubbard''		''by Lee Hubbard, ''San Francisco Bay View'', May 20, 1998''

	[[Image:excelvis$geneva-towers-1997.jpg]]		[[Image:excelvis$geneva-towers-1997.jpg]]
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	There will be a rebirth, but for whom? Where the Towers stood, a new 341-unit complex will be built costing over $70 million, the price to include job training, police services, and health and social services. These plans, which are currently scheduled to be completed in 1999, may please some people, but they have a bittersweet taste for others.		There will be a rebirth, but for whom? Where the Towers stood, a new 341-unit complex will be built costing over $70 million, the price to include job training, police services, and health and social services. These plans, which are currently scheduled to be completed in 1999, may please some people, but they have a bittersweet taste for others.

	~~From ''San Francisco Bay View'' newspaper, May 20, 1998~~

Ccarlsson: changing neighborhood to Visitacion Valley only and fixed video code

2014-07-12T06:32:17Z

changing neighborhood to Visitacion Valley only and fixed video code

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:32, 11 July 2014
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	'''Further west lies the Sunnydale Housing Project, once a sprawling sea of barracks, now a dangerous and desperate home for those who must live there.'''		'''Further west lies the Sunnydale Housing Project, once a sprawling sea of barracks, now a dangerous and desperate home for those who must live there.'''

	~~{{#ev~~:archive\|ssfgnvplosn~~\|320}}~~		<iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/ssfgnvplosn" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" allowfullscreen></iframe>

	Video: '''Geneva Towers Implosion''' ''videography: Caitlin Manning''		Video: '''Geneva Towers Implosion'''

			''videography: Caitlin Manning''

	Pop, pop, pop, boom! Went the sound from the explosives that imploded Geneva Towers last Saturday. The two 20 story buildings fell to the ground like a heavyweight stiff after receiving a Mike Tyson blow.		Pop, pop, pop, boom! Went the sound from the explosives that imploded Geneva Towers last Saturday. The two 20 story buildings fell to the ground like a heavyweight stiff after receiving a Mike Tyson blow.
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	[[McLaren Park views \|Prev. Document]] [[Tunnel Road Dump \| Next Document]]		[[McLaren Park views \|Prev. Document]] [[Tunnel Road Dump \| Next Document]]

	[[category:~~Excelsior/~~Visitacion Valley]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:Housing]] [[category:African-American]]		[[category:Visitacion Valley]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:Housing]] [[category:African-American]]

Ccarlsson: Protected "Remembrance of Geneva Towers": finished essay [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

2009-01-06T06:22:07Z

Protected "Remembrance of Geneva Towers": finished essay [edit=sysop:move=sysop]

← Older revision	Revision as of 23:22, 5 January 2009
(No difference)

Ccarlsson: PC and protected

2009-01-06T06:21:56Z

PC and protected

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:21, 5 January 2009
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			'''<font face = Papyrus> <font color = maroon> <font size = 4>Historical Essay</font></font> </font>'''

			''by Lee Hubbard''

	[[Image:excelvis$geneva-towers-1997.jpg]]		[[Image:excelvis$geneva-towers-1997.jpg]]

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	There will be a rebirth, but for whom? Where the Towers stood, a new 341-unit complex will be built costing over $70 million, the price to include job training, police services, and health and social services. These plans, which are currently scheduled to be completed in 1999, may please some people, but they have a bittersweet taste for others.		There will be a rebirth, but for whom? Where the Towers stood, a new 341-unit complex will be built costing over $70 million, the price to include job training, police services, and health and social services. These plans, which are currently scheduled to be completed in 1999, may please some people, but they have a bittersweet taste for others.

	~~''--by Lee Hubbard ''~~

	From ''San Francisco Bay View'' newspaper, May 20, 1998		From ''San Francisco Bay View'' newspaper, May 20, 1998

Ccarlsson at 01:15, 6 October 2008

2008-10-06T01:15:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:15, 5 October 2008
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	[[McLaren Park views \|Prev. Document]] [[~~cred1~~ \| Next Document]]		[[McLaren Park views \|Prev. Document]] [[Tunnel Road Dump \| Next Document]]

	[[category:Excelsior/Visitacion Valley]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:Housing]] [[category:African-American]]		[[category:Excelsior/Visitacion Valley]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:Housing]] [[category:African-American]]

Ccarlsson at 07:19, 29 September 2008

2008-09-29T07:19:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:19, 29 September 2008
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	[[Image:excelvis$geneva-towers-1997.jpg]]		[[Image:excelvis$geneva-towers-1997.jpg]]

	'''San Francisco's very own public housing disaster, looming over Visitacion Valley near the Cow Palace. The Geneva Towers ~~have been~~ scheduled for ~~emolition~~ in 1997. Further west lies the Sunnydale Housing Project, once a sprawling sea of barracks, now a dangerous and desperate home for those who must live there.'''		'''San Francisco's very own public housing disaster, looming over Visitacion Valley near the Cow Palace. The Geneva Towers were scheduled for demolition in 1997.'''

			[[Image:Sunnydale-housing-projects-vis-valley-1946.jpg]]

			'''Further west lies the Sunnydale Housing Project, once a sprawling sea of barracks, now a dangerous and desperate home for those who must live there.'''

			{{#ev:archive\|ssfgnvplosn\|320}}

			Video: '''Geneva Towers Implosion''' ''videography: Caitlin Manning''

	Pop, pop, pop, boom! Went the sound from the explosives that imploded Geneva Towers last Saturday. The two 20 story buildings fell to the ground like a heavyweight stiff after receiving a Mike Tyson blow.		Pop, pop, pop, boom! Went the sound from the explosives that imploded Geneva Towers last Saturday. The two 20 story buildings fell to the ground like a heavyweight stiff after receiving a Mike Tyson blow.
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	Although they have stayed empty for the last three years, I can remember the Towers being full as if it were yesterday. There I saw elderly couples wait in the lobby for rides to church, and I saw parents raise their children.		Although they have stayed empty for the last three years, I can remember the Towers being full as if it were yesterday. There I saw elderly couples wait in the lobby for rides to church, and I saw parents raise their children.

	But it was other things that the Geneva Towers were known for. Things such as elevators not operating, plumbing so deteriorated that the water ran brown, rampant drug dealing, shootings, and a never ending presence of ~~rent~~ a ~~cops~~ and hostile San Francisco police that looked like something out of present day Indonesia.		But it was other things that the Geneva Towers were known for. Things such as elevators not operating, plumbing so deteriorated that the water ran brown, rampant drug dealing, shootings, and a never ending presence of "rent a cops" and hostile San Francisco police that looked like something out of present day Indonesia.

	When the 576-unit buildings were built with federal money in 1967, I ~~wasnt~~ even born. The buildings were meant to be exclusive private dwellings, and at first they were filled with a mix of doctors, lawyers and people of all incomes. Gradually, the Towers became predominantly black and low incomes, and the management let the buildings go to hell.		When the 576-unit buildings were built with federal money in 1967, I wasn't even born. The buildings were meant to be exclusive private dwellings, and at first they were filled with a mix of doctors, lawyers and people of all incomes. Gradually, the Towers became predominantly black and low incomes, and the management let the buildings go to hell.

	Over time the white buildings became dull gray towers, but still they could easily pass on the outside for Central Park condominiums in New York City. I ~~wasnt~~ a resident of the buildings, but in my earlier years I was a frequent passerby and later a frequent visitor. The Geneva Towers were the only buildings south of downtown that you could see for miles away driving up 101.		Over time the white buildings became dull gray towers, but still they could easily pass on the outside for Central Park condominiums in New York City. I wasn't a resident of the buildings, but in my earlier years I was a frequent passerby and later a frequent visitor. The Geneva Towers were the only buildings south of downtown that you could see for miles away driving up 101.

	As I would drive up the freeway, a quick look at the two ivory towers was a sign that I was almost home. So I watched with interest the crowd of people who were excited they were witnessing the first implosion in San Francisco. It was like a super bowl half time show as the barbecue grills were going and the kegs of beer were in abundance. But just a few years earlier, many of these same onlookers would have been scared to death to set foot in the buildings that were called G.T. or the Towers.		As I would drive up the freeway, a quick look at the two ivory towers was a sign that I was almost home. So I watched with interest the crowd of people who were excited they were witnessing the first implosion in San Francisco. It was like a super bowl half time show as the barbecue grills were going and the kegs of beer were in abundance. But just a few years earlier, many of these same onlookers would have been scared to death to set foot in the buildings that were called G.T. or the Towers.
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	Scared not because anything would have happened to them, but because of the negative media perception of the buildings, according to Marie Harrison, Bay View columnist and former Towers resident.		Scared not because anything would have happened to them, but because of the negative media perception of the buildings, according to Marie Harrison, Bay View columnist and former Towers resident.

	I would always hear about a lot of crime at the Towers, but when the armed security officers at the Towers were shooting their pistols on the roof, you ~~didnt~~ hear anything about that, said Harrison. ~~The~~ stigma always fell on the tenants.		I would always hear about a lot of crime at the Towers, but when the armed security officers at the Towers were shooting their pistols on the roof, you didn't hear anything about that," said Harrison. "The stigma always fell on the tenants."

	She said this stigma was the death knell that led to the demise of the buildings. But for Keith Brown, a resident of a house next to the towers, the removal of the Towers signals a rebirth to the surrounding Visitacion Valley area.		She said this stigma was the death knell that led to the demise of the buildings. But for Keith Brown, a resident of a house next to the towers, the removal of the Towers signals a rebirth to the surrounding Visitacion Valley area.

	There were a lot of good times and bad times, said Brown. I am kind of happy to see them gone, but they will be missed.		"There were a lot of good times and bad times," said Brown. "I am kind of happy to see them gone, but they will be missed."

	There will be a rebirth, but for whom? Where the Towers stood, a new 341-unit complex will be built costing over $70 million, the price to include job training, police services, and health and social services. These plans, which are currently scheduled to be completed in 1999, may please some people, but they have a bittersweet taste for others.		There will be a rebirth, but for whom? Where the Towers stood, a new 341-unit complex will be built costing over $70 million, the price to include job training, police services, and health and social services. These plans, which are currently scheduled to be completed in 1999, may please some people, but they have a bittersweet taste for others.
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	From ''San Francisco Bay View'' newspaper, May 20, 1998		From ''San Francisco Bay View'' newspaper, May 20, 1998

	~~Contributors to this page include:~~

	~~''Green,David - Photographer-Artist ''~~

	~~Hubbard,Lee - Writer~~

	~~San Francisco Public Library,San Francisco,CA - Publisher or Photographer~~		[[McLaren Park views \|Prev. Document]] [[cred1 \| Next Document]]

	[[~~McLaren Park views Prev. Document~~]] [[~~cred1 Next Document~~]]		[[category:Excelsior/Visitacion Valley]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:Housing]] [[category:African-American]]

Admin: 1 revision(s)

2007-10-07T21:59:22Z

1 revision(s)

← Older revision	Revision as of 14:59, 7 October 2007
(No difference)

Unknown user at 00:00, 15 January 2001

2001-01-15T00:00:00Z

New page

[[Image:excelvis$geneva-towers-1997.jpg]]

'''San Francisco's very own public housing disaster, looming over Visitacion Valley near the Cow Palace. The Geneva Towers have been scheduled for emolition in 1997. Further west lies the Sunnydale Housing Project, once a sprawling sea of barracks, now a dangerous and desperate home for those who must live there.'''

Pop, pop, pop, boom! Went the sound from the explosives that imploded Geneva Towers last Saturday. The two 20 story buildings fell to the ground like a heavyweight stiff after receiving a Mike Tyson blow.

Although they have stayed empty for the last three years, I can remember the Towers being full as if it were yesterday. There I saw elderly couples wait in the lobby for rides to church, and I saw parents raise their children.

But it was other things that the Geneva Towers were known for. Things such as elevators not operating, plumbing so deteriorated that the water ran brown, rampant drug dealing, shootings, and a never ending presence of rent a cops and hostile San Francisco police that looked like something out of present day Indonesia.

When the 576-unit buildings were built with federal money in 1967, I wasnt even born. The buildings were meant to be exclusive private dwellings, and at first they were filled with a mix of doctors, lawyers and people of all incomes. Gradually, the Towers became predominantly black and low incomes, and the management let the buildings go to hell.

Over time the white buildings became dull gray towers, but still they could easily pass on the outside for Central Park condominiums in New York City. I wasnt a resident of the buildings, but in my earlier years I was a frequent passerby and later a frequent visitor. The Geneva Towers were the only buildings south of downtown that you could see for miles away driving up 101.

As I would drive up the freeway, a quick look at the two ivory towers was a sign that I was almost home. So I watched with interest the crowd of people who were excited they were witnessing the first implosion in San Francisco. It was like a super bowl half time show as the barbecue grills were going and the kegs of beer were in abundance. But just a few years earlier, many of these same onlookers would have been scared to death to set foot in the buildings that were called G.T. or the Towers.

Scared not because anything would have happened to them, but because of the negative media perception of the buildings, according to Marie Harrison, Bay View columnist and former Towers resident.

I would always hear about a lot of crime at the Towers, but when the armed security officers at the Towers were shooting their pistols on the roof, you didnt hear anything about that, said Harrison. The stigma always fell on the tenants.

She said this stigma was the death knell that led to the demise of the buildings. But for Keith Brown, a resident of a house next to the towers, the removal of the Towers signals a rebirth to the surrounding Visitacion Valley area.

There were a lot of good times and bad times, said Brown. I am kind of happy to see them gone, but they will be missed.

There will be a rebirth, but for whom? Where the Towers stood, a new 341-unit complex will be built costing over $70 million, the price to include job training, police services, and health and social services. These plans, which are currently scheduled to be completed in 1999, may please some people, but they have a bittersweet taste for others.

''--by Lee Hubbard ''

From ''San Francisco Bay View'' newspaper, May 20, 1998

Contributors to this page include:

''Green,David - Photographer-Artist ''

Hubbard,Lee - Writer

San Francisco Public Library,San Francisco,CA - Publisher or Photographer

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