The Street Seen: Horizons West Mixed-Use Project
2001 Main Street @ Bay
In 2006, the property owner seeks city approval to redevelop Horizons West Surf Shop. In 2007, the property is landmarked. In 2009, the property seeks city approval for a revised mixed-use project.
Ten years ago Horizons West Surf Shop (formerly the Jeff Ho Zephyr Surf Shop), founded in 1977 by an original member of the Z-Boys skateboarding crew that developed an aggressive style of street skating that has come to define the sport, closed - a victim of the economy.
The landmarked Main St building is now occupied by at Dogtown Coffee (2003 Main St) and Circuit Works (2005 Main St) plus a vacant space Dogtown Realty (2009 Main St) at the south end.
The history of the project
2006 (September) Juli Doar, granddaughter of Lewis Herrmann property owner since 1958, files for a permit to build a 3-story, 14-unit, moderate-income apartment complex.
2006 (October) In reviewing demolition permits, the Landmarks Commission discusses 2001 Main St which is not identified on the Historic Resources Inventory.
2007 (May) After discussion at several meetings, the Landmarks Commission designates the west wing of 2001 Main St as a City Landmark to commemorate the 1970’s local surf and skateboard culture (Dog Town). This action halts the proposed development project as demolition of 2001 Main St cannot proceed.
2009 (May) Howard Laks Architects obtains approval of Development Review Permit 06-014 for the 2001 Main Street Mixed-Use Project development. The proposed use must be undertaken and actively and continuously pursued, otherwise the permit expires 2 ½ years (for projects located in the Coastal Zone) after the effective date.
Proposed Mixed-Use Development (Howard Laks Architects)
2009 Lewis Herrmann dies.
2010 (July) Horizons West Surf Shop closes for economic reasons.
2011 (November) The Development Review Permit expires and the 2001 Main Street Mixed-Use Project is abandoned.
Updates
Two existing (non historic) buildings at the rear (east) are demolished in November 2021.