Hill & Co. - Potrero Hill Poseurs
29 Mar 2006
I received a glossy 2-sided mailer from Hill & Co. Real Estate which asks ‘What four-star establishment calls this neighborhood home?’
The back of the mailer proceeds to attempt to write authoritatively about Potrero Hill:
With businesses like Neighborhood House, Community Garden, and Good Life Grocery, the living here is pretty much four-stars all the way around. (Not to mention Goat Hill Pizza, where you can eat all you want for less than nine bucks on Monday nights.)
- snip -
But, you know all this, and more. You live here, after all. So when you’re ready to sell, just make sure your real estate agent can tell your prospective buyers why this place is special.
- snip -
And that it’s Four Star Video, on 18th St (still known to long-time residents as Dr. Video) - with its huge selection of titles devoted exclusively to Potrero Hill - that is at home in this neighborhood.
I appreciate Hill & Co. promoting the hood, but c’mon guys let’s get some facts straight. The Neighborhood House and Community Garden aren’t exactly businesses, and the locals call the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House ‘the NABE’.
I’m wondering if the residents of Bernal Heights got a similar mailer, as the original Four Star Video store is located there (and no, I don’t refer to it as Dr. Video).
Word of advice to Hill & Co: If you’re going to try to pretend you know Potrero Hill, at least do some fact checking with the locals.
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Not only did they make the aforementioned gaffes, but in showing a house that’s allegedly charactersitic of the Hill, they chose the one true monster home in the entire neighborhood. It blocks the city view from the park, the owner build a huge wall (read “security perimeter” around her house) and demo’d the original structures with no permit (from what I’ve heard from local contractors), and built this sprawling eyesore across *two* lots.
If I were looking for an agent, I would want one who could relay to prospective buyers that (depsite what the flyer might communicate) Poterro Hill is NOT a neighborhood where everyone is consumed with building the largest house they can design with no regard to how their house fits with the rest of the local architecture, and that not everyone wants a suburban fortress complete with concrete wall and gates to keep the rest of the world at bay.
I agree as an agent, ( Zephyr) and I hate the house next to McKinley. How many Hill and Co agents are on the hill?
Although the new one on Carolina @ 22nd is unbelievably huge ughhhhh
Claudia Siegel
That is my favorite horrible house. I try to like it, and each time I gag.
But it’s my *favorite* horrible house. It’s horribly fascinating. And so I study it:
Ever notice how its 50’s windows are at odds with the heavy duty Victoriana? What are 50’s windows? They’re ’shallow’, almost a skin on the frame of the house. True victorian windows are as deep as their society was hierarchical. So the windows are a giveaway. They’re also tinted, yuck. It’s like frosting a Lady Baltimore cake with Cool Whip. Phon-ee.
Really, this is the kind of thing they build in the suburbs of Atlanta.
get over yourselves, potrero.
if we were talking about some truly hidden enclave, it’d be different. but when the average price per square foot starts resembling the marina, so does the populace.
while I happen to live in soma, I do call it dr. video.
Regarding the *two* lots: the house is actually built on 100% of one 25×100 lot with a 18 foot strip of City land the owner got permission to use along 20th. That is the part that is walled in.
I don’t understand what all the fuss is about? What gaffes did the mailer make? What facts do they need to check?
You’re upset because they called the neighborhood house and community garden “businesses” instead of “establishments”? I agree with Patrick; you people really are full of yourselves.
patrick & johnnyawe - The issue I have with Hill & Co. is that they position themselves as being knowledgeable about my neighborhood, when in fact they neither live here nor put money back into the community.
I wouldn’t take issue if they were soliciting business, but this mailer is marketed under the pretense that they know the neighborhood, which they clearly don’t.
And yes, by calling the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House and the Potrero Hill Community Garden ‘businesses’ is ignorant as they’re both community spaces. I don’t think you’d label your neighborhood park a business, would you?
I’d much rather support a neighborhood realtor like Ford Real Estate, whose staff live on the hill and contribute back to the community than some company which pretends to know my hood.
mike -
then that’s precisely what you should do.
I was represented by hill & co when buying in soma and had an unbelievably positive experieince.
I don’t really buy the “contribute to the community” bit. SF is a small town. potrero is a neighborhood (a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood where a single-family dwelling averages well into the sevn figures, I might add). potrero, in my experience, is more pac heights south than funky intertwined community.
experience tells me that your representation when buying or selling should be determined by who’s going to work hardest to achieve your goals and protect your interests… not by a snobby perspective on which counter seat at chez maman is most authentically magical.
Seriously people, get over yourselves.
that’s right, mike. I’m the one creating this issue by suggesting potrero hill is too special for ordinary longtime citizens of SF to understand.
go to farley’s, get a soy latte and a copy of mother jones and chill for a bit.
Christ, one could lead a modern crusade with all the righteousness in this room. The original post was humorous - not ‘pac heights south’ humorous, but that takes a special moral authority - and gently pointed. Let’s appreciate the fact that there are people who feel strongly enough about their respective neighborhood to fight for its character. Not every hood has as strong a voice, or a number of voices, as it may be, as Potrero.
^ That last comment ‘Seriously people, get over yourselves’ was written by another Mike.
[patrick] As far as contributing to the community, I would have to disagree.
There are lots of sf realtors who serve the community (and their own needs) by placing ads in our local newspaper, the Potrero View. The Hill Co. is not one of those.
I’ve also personally been involved with community events where realtors from Ford Real Estate and Zephyr who live on the hill have:
- Donated hundreds of dollars towards entertainment to celebrate the saving of Daniel Webster Elementary School
- Sponsored a reception for the publishing of the Potrero Hill Book
- Donated items for fundraising efforts for ‘the Nabe’
- Volunteered at ‘the Nabe’
Hill & Co. should focus on what they do well, ‘work hard and achieve goals and protect your interests’ in their marketing, instead of positioning themselves as having a rich knowledge of Potrero Hill.
I’m certain there are Realtors @ Hill & Co that know the ‘Hill, love it, call it home and are well versed in all things Potrero Hill. I’m certain there are some that have never been south of Market St and know only of Chez Papa when discussing Potrero Hill.
I’m a Realtor who spent 10 years living on the ‘Hill and I continue to list property and help buyers purchase homes in Potrero Hill. It’s an amazing neighborhood that is undergoing changes — I’m certain some people like the changes — some don’t. It’s impossible to deny the fact though — the area is becoming more gentrified on a daily basis and some families are being “priced out” off the ‘Hill. As this happens, real estate brokerages that deal with “high end” homes — (Pac-Ht’s, Presidio Ht’s, Russian Hill, etc) such as Sotheby’s & Hill & Co are going to begin to market the area in hopes to gain a market share.
It’s a sign of the times in Potrero Hill — gone are the Daily Scoop — here to stay are 5 star restaurants like Chez Papa. If you are going to sell a neighborhood — you should be intimately aware of the area — i can see why an advertisement mislabeling two local establishments would be annoying to some long time residents. That being said — get used to it — i’m sure in the weeks to come you are going to receive mailings from a variety of brokerages — all claiming to be “experts” in the area.
And, when we do receive those mailings we should keep in mind that the only reason these companies have even the slightest interest in Potrero Hill is because they can make a buck; it’s about them, not we who live here. Our money is better spent to support those businesses who have been doing business on Potrero Hill for a long time and contributing to our neighborhood. For example, welcome Whole Foods and also keep shopping at, and support, Good Life.
Wow! Seems like the real issue here is more about false advertising than attacking a homeowner and most importantly, a neighbor on the Hill. The house you are referring to is infact compliant with all City requirements. If we all had to pass the “Likability” test I’m reading here or get the type of approval you seem to think you deserve–nobody would bother trying to live here. I wonder what she thinks about your house or windows?
BTW: The owner complained directly to the CEO of Hill & Co. after she was informed of the mailings by friends, businesses, etc. She was upset by the same issues brought forward here. Hopefully–you all did the same because you seem to have alot to say vs. attacking a neighbor who you probably do not know?
We need to remember that the difference between a journalist and a blogger can sometimes be as simple as the Facts! It’s the same with direct mail which is why she requested a correction of the facts in writing and an apology regarding how the Hill was misrepresented.
Next topic… Continuation School on the Hill? Are you going to the meeting on the 24th? Please See New Posting. Seems like our efforts should be there and the helipad considering those timelines.
Boy….what a rude awakening! I’m originally from the East Bay and fairly new to Potrero Hill. I’m surprised at the petty and unfriendly remarks from some people in this neighborhood (probably renters) especially about one particular house. If you had any knowledge or experience with City Hall you have to know what an owner has to go through to get their plans approved and house built. The owner of this house was apparently not aware that a photo of her house was going to be mailed out to everyone on the hill and then get the added bonus of having to hear or read the “neighborly” comments of others. I’m sure if the tables were turned, you wouldn’t like having your house slammed. I know I wouldn’t appreciate it and would take it personally. If you don’t like the view, then go use another one of the other 6 parks that got a high rating in the Chronicle Pink Pages this Sunday. Potrero residents should be proud that Mckinley Park made the list. I’m glad there are others in SF that acknowledge and appreciate the park and surrounding neighborhood.
Get a life, get over it or move your petty self to Pacific Heights or Blackhawk! Jeeeeeeeeez!
DISAPPOINTED
OMG people. We are fortunate enough to live in one of the most amazing cities in the world. It’s unfortunate most of you can’t take the time to sit back appreciate it and enjoy it. So what if there’s a helipad, are you going to stand in the way of saving someone’s life. I’ve assisted in air rescue and have lifted lifeless bodies into a helicopter for the sheer hope that person may survive. Never once did I think it might inconvienance someone’s lifestyle for the 2-3 minute landing required.
I only see the humor in all these blogs. Get hit by a BMW…. Come on, there’s one angry person who thinks owning a BMW is a status thing.
Then there’s Matt, he uses such big words as aforementioned gaffes to get his point across.
I recently received an email from a Potrero Hill resident trying to raise my awareness to increase the support for the Mandarin wave of education needed in our schools.
I don’t need to receive your frustrated emails, read your hatred of those who own nice cars or lets not forget the hatred towards the woman who built a big house on the hill. More power to you, I hope you build another one. I’m sure she worked hard to afford it and she deserves it. Everyone who drives a BMW, go out and buy another one. And as for Matt, put down the Thesaurus and try to relate to others on the same level.
Whether you have more money, a better education or a better career don’t alienate yourselves by holding yourselves out to be different but realize we’re all the same. We all just want a better life for the future.
This is so much fun. Where to start? OK - top down…
Hill & Co. did some sloppy copywriting and got called on it. Gotta love that.
In utilizing that photo, they got in “playground”, “nice home” and “view” all in one photo. Can’t blame ‘em.
Can’t wait for the pad on 22nd & Carolina to be finished. Then I’ll see how I like the results. But so far it looks interesting and not nearly as massive as it could have been.
The faux-victorian? Hey, they tried. Who knows, the windows may have been a budget casualty. Maybe in 15 years they can afford to install “more appropriate” windows. All things considered - not a bad effort. Sure it’s fake. But who know, a few years and some faded paint and it may work out.
Can’t blame anyone for maxing out their lot at these prices. It’s just market reality. In 40 years we’ll consider these building small.
The center counter seat at chez maman is most authentically magical. Or so I’ve heard…
Uhm, I’m pretty sure Farley’s doesn’t offer soy.
BMW’s are sweet cars. Really.
“Aforementioned” is big word? Hmmm, well, I guess it is. I guess I noticed the “build/built” myself. It’s a good reminder to peruse the thesaurus. Very handy resource. Had to look up thesaurus! It’s kind of a big word.
And NO helipad in Potrero. Can’t afford it, don’t need it, too loud and too dangerous…or maybe that’s a Harley.
I was right - that was fun.
Potrero Hill…love it or leave it and sell to me (without a realtor - we’ll just get an attorney and work it out) for below market value (hey- I can dream) Ahhhh, but you guys love it or you wouldn’t waste this kind of time!
;)
farley’s DOES now offer soy…gone are the days of 1 size 1 milk.
I still go to thinker’s though.