Potrero Commons 18th-Wisconsin: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 22:48, 23 October 2025

Unfinished History

Early 1990s view of the Potrero Commons.

Photo: Chris Carlsson

Overlooking former Western Pacific tunnel (collapsed in 1962), site of Potrero Commons struggle 1990-1992, now the Arkansas & 18th Lofts built by the former Goodman Group.

Photo: Chris Carlsson

View northwest from 19th and Arkansas c. 1975 over the old railroad right-of-way below.

Photo: OpenSFHistory.org wnp25.3302

Looking southeast in 1973 along Western Pacific railroad tracks in what became Showplace Square later. Potrero Hill and tunnel straight ahead, with slopes above tunnel later temporarily becoming the Potrero Commons.

A still from the movie The Conversation 1973.

These lofts along Arkansas Street were built on the former open space of the Potrero Commons, thanks to a multi-party political deal with Mayor Frank Jordan, the Goodman Group, and the developers.

Photo: Chris Carlsson

The top of the loft construction is about where the railroad tunnel collapsed in 1962, after fire weakened the wooden support structures inside. The tunnel was soon closed and filled. It was thirty years before the space was built on.

Photo: Chris Carlsson

-->Open Space Habitat tour continues

Prev. Document Next Document

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 [[Image:Potrero-Commons-tunnel-nw-v.jpg]]
-'''Overlooking former Western Pacific tunnel (collapsed in 1962), site of [[How to Fight City Hall and Lose |Potrero Commons struggle]] 1990-1992, now the Arkansas & 18th Lofts built by the former [[The Goodman Building | Goodman Group]].'''
+'''Overlooking former [[Western Pacific Tunnel Collapse 1962|Western Pacific tunnel (collapsed in 1962)]], site of [[How to Fight City Hall and Lose |Potrero Commons struggle]] 1990-1992, now the Arkansas & 18th Lofts built by the former [[The Goodman Building | Goodman Group]].'''
 ''Photo: Chris Carlsson''
-[[Image:Southeast-along-tracks-in-showplace-square-towards-Potrero-Hill-c.-1973-from-The-Conversation.jpg]]
+[[Image:View from 19th & Arkansas circa 1975 opensfhistory wnp25.3302.jpg|800px]]
-'''Looking southeast in 1973 along Western Pacific railroad tracks in what became Showplace Square later. Potrero Hill and tunnel straight ahead, with slopes above tunnel later temporarily becoming the Potrero Commons.'''
+'''View northwest from 19th and Arkansas c. 1975 over the old railroad right-of-way below.'''
-''A still from the movie ''The Conversation'' 1973.''
+''Photo: OpenSFHistory.org wnp25.3302''
-[[Image:Mariposa & Carolina Jul 1, 1962 opensfhistory wnp010.10074.jpg|800px]]
+[[Image:Southeast-along-tracks-in-showplace-square-towards-Potrero-Hill-c.-1973-from-The-Conversation.jpg]]
-'''Mariposa & Carolina Streets, July 1, 1962 during fire in tunnel.'''
+'''Looking southeast in 1973 along [[Western Pacific Tunnel Collapse 1962|Western Pacific railroad tracks]] in what became Showplace Square later. Potrero Hill and tunnel straight ahead, with slopes above tunnel later temporarily becoming the Potrero Commons.'''
-''Photo: OpenSFHistory.org wnp010.10074''
+''A still from the movie ''The Conversation'' 1973.''
-Western Pacific Tunnel Fire. view southeast on railroad right of way from Mariposa at Carolina. Looking at northern entrance of Western Pacific tunnel. The city plugged both ends with concrete and the railroad abandoned the tunnel. The city demanded $781,000 and settled with the railroad for $700,000 in 1964.
-[[Image:Pothill-whole-at-19th-and-arkansas.jpg]]
-'''Arkansas and 19th, hole indicating collapsed tunnel beneath in July 1960. Note the [[1955 Demographic Study|public housing projects]] in mid-distance.'''
-''Photo: Potrero Hill Archive Project''
-[[Image:Protrero Hill tunnel cave in 1962.JPG|720px]]
-'''July 1962, collapsing tunnel beneath the hill.'''
-''Photo: courtesy Vance Chan''
 [[Image:Arkansas lofts.jpg]]
@@ Line 47: / Line 33: @@
 [[Image:Potrero-arkansas-condos 0464.jpg]]
-'''The top of the loft construction is about where the railroad tunnel collapsed in 1962, after fire weakened the wooden support structures inside. The tunnel was soon closed and filled. It was thirty years before the space was built on.'''
+'''The top of the loft construction is about where the [[Western Pacific Tunnel Collapse 1962|railroad tunnel collapsed in 1962]], after fire weakened the wooden support structures inside. The tunnel was soon closed and filled. It was thirty years before the space was built on.'''
 ''Photo: Chris Carlsson''