People have a lot going on. Stressful jobs, busy schedules, family commitments…the list is long. Anytime anyone can find a bit of calm from the chaos, it is a welcome break. 

Oftentimes those ‘breathers’ occur in primary bathrooms, where a long soak in a sculptural tub or a rejuvenating shower under a cascade of ‘rain’ can melt away the stresses of a day. But these days, it isn’t only the bathroom where that transformation can happen. Instead, the entire primary ensuite serves as a refuge designed to make life not only easier, but more restful as well. 

This month, KBDN asked designers to share primary ensuites with amenities that are meant to soothe the soul.

Supersizing the shower was one of the key improvements for this bath. Kirby Foster Hurd also moved it to a more discreet location. Additional storage is provided by a custom, furniture-style linen hutch.

Focus on function first

Kirby Foster Hurd has found that homes, in general, have become more focused on health, wellness and relaxation. That perception is especially prevalent in today’s primary ensuites.

“It’s probably another product of COVID and having to be at home,” says the owner/principal designer for Kirby Home Designs in Edmond, OK. “People feel the need to create unique spaces that bring a sense of calm when the world can feel a bit chaotic.”

Typically, the primary ensuites she designs include a bedroom and bathroom and, when space allows, a large closet. She has also seen people include sitting areas, workout spaces and laundry solutions. Even flexible work spaces can be incorporated.

Regardless of what’s included, Hurd stresses the importance of focusing on the spatial design first, before making any of the typically more enjoyable material selections.

“Sometimes people get ahead of themselves,” she explains. “But it’s of the utmost importance to think about the layout, which, when done right, can enhance lives and make them easier.”

That concept was particularly illustrative in a recent renovation where the designer, in collaboration with Acklin Construction, completely reconfigured a primary bathroom and adjacent his/her closets. The previous bathroom, although spacious, was not well thought out or functional. A small shower was one of the first things people noticed when they entered the room, and two odd-shaped peninsulas served as the vanities, which meant there were no functional mirrors. Additionally, the toilet room was located at the far end of the bathroom, making nighttime treks inconvenient. 

Since the previous bathroom was so large, Hurd was able to allocate about 4′ of it to the newly reconfigured closet, which is now one shared space that includes an island, open and closed cabinetry, adjustable shelves and low- and tall-hanging rods.

One of the key improvements included supersizing the shower. Hurd also moved it to a more discreet location and included a variety of showerheads, a bench and a niche. Cladding it with blue/gray ceramic tile gives it a calm, spa-like feel and sets off the gold-toned plumbing fixtures.

A double vanity, positioned to take advantage of natural light from the skylight and an adjacent oversized window, streamlines the floorplan. Additional storage is provided by a custom, furniture-style linen hutch.

“Maximizing storage is another big client request,” Hurd says. “I always look at the space and consider how I can elevate it with better storage. Maybe there’s an opportunity for a linen cabinet or floating shelves or open shelves with baskets. And with vanities, it’s always important to make sure there’s enough storage for individualized needs.”

Since the previous bathroom was so large, Hurd was able to allocate about four feet of it to the newly reconfigured closet, which is now one shared space rather than separate his/her spaces. The designer also moved the toilet room into a portion of the space that was previously his closet, making it more accessible to the bedroom.

“I’m a big fan of having the water closet close to the primary bedroom,” she says. “If you have to get up in the middle of the night, it shouldn’t be too far away.”

The new closet includes an island, open and closed cabinetry, adjustable shelves and low- and tall-hanging rods.

“I encourage clients to consider cabinetry in their closets,” she relates. “Part of the beauty of today’s ensuites is that people can get ready in their closets. In older homes, the closet was inside the bedroom, therefore people changed in the bedroom. But now you can store all of your clothes in the closet and get ready in the closet.

“That also frees up space in the bedroom,” Hurd continues. “Now you can bring in a furniture piece to store items like pillows and blankets that relate more to the bedroom itself.”

Custom vanities are a way for Berwick to elevate a primary vanity. This custom oak vanity has fluted doors and drawers and a stain color that gives it added richness and warmth to anchor the otherwise monochromatic space.
Photos: Mike Chajecki
Michelle Berwick’s clients often ask for large showers. In this case, she was able to accommodate by creating a shared wall between the shower and freestanding tub, thereby saving some space that allowed for a private toilet area.

Opening up

As Michelle Berwick’s clients consider renovations to make their homes better suited to the way they live, thoughts about primary ensuites are opening up, literally.

“A fairly common and relatively new request we’ve been seeing in the last year or two is that people are wanting more open spaces in their principal suites,” says principal/founder with Michelle Berwick Design in Newmarket, ON, Canada. “They don’t necessarily mind if the closet is open to the bathroom, or if the bathroom is open to the bedroom, etc., as long as there is a door to close off the whole suite.”

As such, she has found that people are putting a lot more attention and detail into their closets.

“They are no longer just a rod inside a door,” she relates. “Instead, closets have beautiful millwork pieces that are meant to be shown.”

Take, for example, a full-home gut renovation where Berwick worked with architect Mark Weston and builder Alair Homes Newmarket to transform three levels, plus build an addition above the garage that serves as a flex space.

In the primary suite, custom his-and-her closets are tucked between the bedroom and bathroom. For her, open shelves, rods and drawers keep items tidy and accessible. For him, shelves dominate the space. Some include doors with gold grates that provide a bit of concealment while also offering circulation.

In this primary suite, custom his-and-her closets are tucked between the bedroom and bathroom. For her, open shelves, rods and drawers keep items tidy and accessible. For him, shelves dominate the space. Some include doors with gold grates that provide a bit of concealment while also offering circulation.

“He has a lot of folded items, like sweaters and jerseys, so shelves are appropriate for him,” she says, “but he also has a lot of ballcaps…which she didn’t necessarily want to see!”

A custom mirror with an arched top lends a touch of contemporary design to the otherwise traditionally designed space.

“Their design style leans towards traditional with classic lines, but they still wanted it to feel fresh, so we approached the design through that lens,” she relates.

The same concept carries into the bathroom, where seemingly traditional elements are given an updated twist. For example, the custom oak vanity by Wheelers Studio has fluted doors and drawers and a stain color that gives it added richness and warmth to anchor the otherwise monochromatic space.

“Custom vanities are a big ask for us,” Berwick relates. “They are a great way to personalize storage and to elevate the look of a space to make it feel more luxurious.”

Another frequent request is for large showers. In this case, the designer was able to accommodate by creating a shared wall between the shower and freestanding tub, thereby saving some space that allowed for a private toilet area.

Cladding the shower in two different tiles, including a low-maintenance marble-look porcelain that mimics the real marble countertops and window sills, adds interest.

“A lot of clients are looking for low-maintenance spaces,” Berwick adds. “There is a certain beauty that comes with marble, but there is also a lot of great porcelain that mimics the natural stone and requires zero maintenance.”

Not to be forgotten, the designer also designed the primary bedroom as a cozy sanctuary with an upholstered bed, wood nightstands and an upholstered bench…“so the dog has a place to sleep!” she says.

“The bedroom isn’t a huge room, but we’re finding that, more and more, even with new builds where space isn’t necessarily an issue, that people don’t want large bedrooms with sitting spaces,” she continues. “It’s nice to have a place to perch, but you don’t need a full sectional. Instead, people would rather dedicate that space for clothes storage or a bigger bathroom.”

For this renovated bathroom, Lexie Saine removed the built-in tub to make way for a large shower, which includes niches and multiple showerheads. A vaulted ceiling accentuates the room’s height and highlights the architecture.
Photos: Thibault Cartier Photography

No more obligations

Lexie Saine is thankful that rigid rules have seemed to relax as far as what people think they need in their primary bathrooms.

“People don’t feel obligated to have a set of required checklist items,” says the principal designer of Lexie Saine Design in San Francisco, CA. “Instead, they are more focused on prioritizing what is most important to them.”

The designer finds that transformation to be freeing, giving her the ability to be more creative.

“Maybe someone wants a decadent makeup area,” she explains, “or maybe an enormous shower with dual zones.”

Saine also finds that some clients are asking for closet elements to be included in the bathroom, which can be especially beneficial if one partner wakes up earlier than the other. Secondary washers and dryers can also eliminate the need to lug laundry from one space to another.

For one recent renovation, completed in collaboration with Adrian Smith Construction, clients requested that a dry sauna be part of their primary bath.

Saine’s clients requested that a dry sauna be part of their primary bath to serve as a sanctuary from their busy lives.

“They are both doctors and they wanted a sanctuary from their busy lives,” she says. “The dry sauna is a way for them to relax. There can also be health benefits related to using a dry sauna, and I have more and more clients asking to include health-related elements in their bathrooms.”

These clients also wanted a larger shower, which Saine included by removing the built-in tub positioned beneath the window.

“It was massive and took up so much real estate,” she says. “They already had a jetted tub, so they didn’t need a tub. Instead, they wanted a really big shower.”

The designer added amenities including two niches and multiple showerheads with the controls located on the opposite side.

“They don’t have to dodge water when they turn on the shower or as they wait for the water to come to temperature,” she explains. “It’s a feature I often include in big, and small, showers.”

A vaulted ceiling accentuates the room’s height and highlights the architecture while turning the shower into a focal-point feature.

“When you walk in, there’s a big beautiful moment with the window, shower and ceiling,” she relates.

Elongated subway tiles, laid in a herringbone pattern, clad the shower walls. Saine extended the tile behind the double floating vanity to add texture and give the room a spa-like feel. The rift-cut white oak vanity features a light smoke stain to prevent it from trending towards yellow. Plenty of drawers, including u-shaped ones beneath the sinks, offer organized storage. Quartz countertops eliminate stains and watermarks and wall-mount matte black faucets make clean up easy.

“I love using wall-mount faucets,” Saine says. “There is less clutter on the vanity and you don’t get any build-up around the faucets. I really encourage my clients to use them in high-use bathrooms.”

While the primary bedroom wasn’t renovated at the same time as the bathroom, the designer later gave it some updates that coordinate with the bathroom, including a new coat of paint in warm white and an accent wall in a shade of black to coordinate with the black features in the bathroom.

Laura Irion sees clients willing to spend more money on custom cabinetry and interior components. Both were also a main focus in the renovation of her own primary bathroom. 
The mural wallpaper in the vanity and tub section of the primary ensuite serves as a luxurious visual showstopper.
Photos: Michael A. Kaskel

Hold rather than hoard

High function and luxurious comfort continue to be drivers of bath design for many of Laura Irion’s clients. The former is often related to storage and organizational capabilities that help people hold, rather than hoard, their stuff.

“We’ve all been overwhelmed by our stuff in the last several decades,” says the principal designer for Laura Design Company in Wayne, IL. “People have become more aware of it and they are more interested in editing it down to what’s really needed. Then they want a place to store what’s left.

“But you can’t just throw a vanity into the room,” she continues. “It’s important to be very thoughtful about drawer and door configurations, and to know what is going inside the vanity before you finalize the design.”

As such, the designer sees clients willing to spend more money on custom cabinetry and interior components. Both were also a main focus in the renovation of Irion’s own primary bathroom, which she completed with the help of general contractor Detailed Builders and Knapp Kitchens, which created a custom vanity. For instance, acrylic drawer organizers corral small items like nail care supplies and cosmetic brushes, even index cards and a pen so she can jot down creative thoughts as she puts on her makeup. As well, in-cabinet outlets, which she highly recommends to her clients, mean that electric toothbrushes, razors and even her Alexa can be stored, and charged, out of sight.

“Drawer organizers are great for little items so they don’t slide around and mesh together,” she explains. “And with outlets in the cabinets, we have places to hide things so nothing needs to be out on the beautiful countertop.”

Luxurious comforts were considerations as well, so Irion included heated floors, which almost didn’t make it into the final plans.

“Everything adds up,” she says. “As I considered our budget, I almost cut them. But I’m glad we didn’t. With the weather turning colder, my feet are toasty warm.”

In the shower, pencil moulding mimics old millwork that dresses it up and gives it historic character. 

“Our wonderful general contractor patiently inlaid all of the trim,” she relates. “It really elevates the tile work so much.”

The mural wallpaper in the vanity and tub section of the primary ensuite serves as a luxurious visual showstopper, which is combined with a complementary wallpaper in the water closet area.

“It’s so very special and it gives the room all of its life and personality,” Irion indicates. “I jokingly refer to my ensuite as the ‘Treehouse for Girls.’ I used to volunteer at a girls’ summer camp with that name. We would forage in the woods and go frog hunting in the ponds, but we also made beautiful crafts with flowers, branches and shells. It was such a sweet, happy time, surrounded by nature and beauty. I didn’t set out to intentionally design around that theme, but as everything came together, it reminded me of it!”

Crystal in the sconce backplates and a fluted handshower serve as luxurious ‘surprises.’

“For me, unexpected details are the most exciting part of really thoughtful design,” she adds. “When you go into a room, you immediately take in the ‘wow’ factors. But once you start looking around and interacting with the space, those moments of surprise and beauty in the smaller details are a sweet spot for me.”

Up next is Irion’s primary bedroom, where the wallpaper will be the jumping off point that informs the space.

“We always create an inspiration board to use as a road map that guides the design,” she explains. “We typically renovate all the ensuite spaces at once, but if not, like in my own home, we’ll take a phased approach using the original board to refer back to for style, colors and overall feel. It ensures the home remains cohesive over time.”

When the footprint allows, Ellie Mroz’s clients often ask for vanities with a dedicated place for applying make-up, such as in this primary bathroom where it is an extension of the double vanity.
Photos: Laura Moss Photography

The rise of the ‘spathroom’

There’s no denying that the advent of technology has changed the way people live, leaving many of them constantly ‘on call’ amidst an increasingly hectic and stressful life.

“In response, primary bathroom ensuites have become more of a refuge, with a rise in the concept of the ‘spathroom,’” says Ellie Mroz, creative director/owner of Ellie Mroz Design in Westfield, NJ. “Higher-end primary bathrooms are no longer simply about functionality. Instead, they are also about indulgence and self-care.”

Design and selection choices really play into this trend, she indicates, noting that her clients often request that his-and-her walk-in closets be part of their ensuite. And when the footprint allows, they also frequently ask for vanities with a dedicated place for applying make-up.

Both ‘extras’ were included in a recent renovation where Ellie Mroz and Mike Mroz, owner of Michael Robert Construction, raised the roof, literally, of a ranch home where the new second floor includes the primary ensuite with custom walk-in closets and a make-up vanity. Her clients’ wish list for the primary bathroom also included a wet room and curbless shower. 

“They wanted an efficiently designed space,” she says, “so having the freestanding bathtub, which is the star of the show, in the shower saves space while capturing the spa-like essence. It is the ultimate place for our busy clients to restore themselves!”

Mroz’s clients also wanted a modern, serene aesthetic, which the designer obliged via selections such as the custom vanity by Russell Heard, porcelain tile floor and shower walls, lighting and marble vanity top.

“All work together to juxtapose organic elements on a modern palette,” she relates. 

These homeowners wanted an efficiently designed space, so Mroz included the freestanding bathtub with the shower to save space while capturing the spa-like essence.

Mroz encourages clients to consider custom cabinetry because it provides complete control over the design.

“In this case, the custom-made oak vanity, combined with the Carrara marble countertop with a mitered edge and apron finish, adds a quiet luxury to the space,” she relates.

“Well-chosen tile always leaves its mark, too, whether it’s a special pattern, material or both,” she continues. “We love the classic beauty and eventual patina of marble, but the large-
format porcelain floor and wall tile in this bathroom add to the natural-meets-modern luxe vibe.”

Carefully curated and placed lighting fixtures also elevate a space, as do plumbing and hardware style and finish selections.

“Whether it’s plumbing or pulls, knobs and hooks, the tricky part is making sure all of these elements play well together,” she adds. “It’s important that all of the spaces have a cohesive aesthetic.

“We also make sure that color schemes of all the spaces within a primary ensuite are either similar or complementary,” she continues, adding that, in this renovation, the bedroom and bathroom both include an organic and modern aesthetic that is reflected in the finishes, trim, lighting and overall design. “The goal is to create a self-contained private sanctuary where all of the spaces have a practical flow and cohesive aesthetic.”

The post Soothing the Soul – Kitchen & Tub Design Information appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Radio DJ Harrison Chastang remembers a time when the Fillmore District was alive with dozens of Black-owned bars and jazz clubs. 

“There was this restaurant, called 1300 Fillmore, that was opened right around the time Obama was inaugurated. It was the spot to hang out,” Chastang said. “If you wanted to run into African American movers and shakers, that was the place to be.” 

“Anybody from like Willie, Kamala,” Chastang says, mentioning acquaintances like the former San Francisco mayor and current vice president of the United States. “Anybody who was anybody in SF one time or another popped on in.”

The Fillmore was the “Harlem of the West,” a central hub for Black San Francisco that produced local politicians like Mayor London Breed and hosted a slew of giants in the entertainment industry. Chastang, who runs a jazz show on KPOO, remembers meeting legends like George Clinton and Elvin Jones—funk and jazz innovators who used to play sets at any one of the Western Addition’s 29 jazz clubs.  

The Fillmore Heritage Center | Benjamin Fanjoy for The Standard

“You walked the streets looking for parties,” former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown says in the 2001 PBS documentary The Fillmore, comparing the district’s heyday to the Harlem Renaissance. “That was what Fillmore Street was like in those days.” 

Today, just two jazz clubs remain on Fillmore Street. Decades of redevelopment and gentrification have all but decimated Black spaces in the neighborhood, pushing thousands of residents out and setting up tense battles over the district’s soul. In spite of City Hall’s attempts to redress these historic, systemic wrongs, recent efforts to revitalize existing Black community spaces have floundered. 

No venue embodies the neighborhood’s woes better than the Fillmore Heritage Center, which has faced a revolving door of tenants, owners and entertainment programs since its 2007 opening. One by one, clubs and restaurants at the heritage center have closed, leaving a 50,000-square-foot hole in the heart of San Francisco’s historically Black neighborhood at exactly the time when the city has begun to consider in earnest what it owes its Black residents. 

A ‘Multimillion-Dollar Blight’

The Fillmore Heritage Center was one of the last projects carried out by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and was designed to honor the neighborhood’s rich history and to draw consumers from outside the region.  

For a few years, that’s exactly what it did: Original tenants included famed Oakland-based jazz club Yoshi’s San Francisco and the music lounge at 1300 Fillmore St. But by 2014, Yoshi’s declared bankruptcy and closed. Less than a year later, its replacement—a jazz club called The Addition—also shuttered due to financial hardship, and by 2018, the last holdout at 1300 Fillmore was gone. 

The massive concrete center cost a whopping $80.5 million to construct, only for every business inside to disappear within years. Observers have now branded the massive space as the neighborhood’s “multimillion-dollar blight,” a physical reminder of the city’s inability to steward Black social and political life in San Francisco. 

A composite image shows blues musician Howlin’ Wolf (left) posing for a portrait session outside the Fillmore West in July 1968 and Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles (right) performing onstage at the Fillmore West in February 1971. | Schoenfeld/Ochs Archives/Getty; Altman/Ochs Archives/Getty

“The Fillmore Heritage Center is about the history of the community, but it’s also about being an important clearinghouse for the various issues and needs that face the community,” said James Taylor, a professor and scholar of Black history and politics at the University of San Francisco. 

Today, the center’s windows are adorned with images of Fillmore’s jazz and civil rights legends—at the same time that it sits under a high-rise of luxury condos in a neighborhood historically and presently struggling with the pressures of gentrification and displacement. Though some tenants have reactivated the center for brief stints since 2018, none have established a long-term business or residency in the space. 

“The concern Black San Francisco has had all along is about belonging and place around housing and community,” Taylor said. “The Fillmore Heritage Center is the same building where the Black Panther paper was published. […] It’s where a significant political history was achieved and realized.” 

Members of the Blank Panther Party and others give a Black Panther salute outside the “Liberation School” in the Fillmore District in San Francisco on Dec. 20, 1969. | Bettmann Archives/Getty Images

Frayed Trust and Broken Promises

It’s tempting to look at the Heritage Center’s short history and come up with straightforward explanations for its chronic closures, such as poor business planning by previous ownership. But it’s much more complicated than that, and community members say those excuses gloss over decades of broken promises and negligence exhibited by past and present city representatives. 

A brief history lesson: Between 1935 and 1945, San Francisco’s Black population swelled to roughly 30,000 people—a 600% increase that attracted businesses and nightlife. But the Fillmore was a vibrant cultural nexus for just a few years before the city’s urban renewal program all but decimated the neighborhood after 1950. Under the banner of “redevelopment,” city leaders leveled 883 businesses, including nearly all the neighborhood’s jazz clubs, and displaced 4,729 households from Western Addition. 

“The absence of the community, and the dispersal of the community is often the explanation for why [the Fillmore Heritage Center] can’t be supported,” Taylor said.  

Western Addition is seen during redevelopment, in which hundreds of properties were destroyed in so-called “blighted” neighborhoods. | Courtesy San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library

More recently, as high-paid tech workers flood into Hayes Valley and Western Addition, residents say real estate prices have risen so high that it’s become nearly impossible to live or consider moving into the Fillmore. 

The housing crisis has grown so intense that, in recent months, legislators have proposed a bill to replace the thousands of affordable housing units lost during San Francisco’s “urban renewal” period in the Western Addition. 

“[The city] is trying to revitalize it, not only for African Americans but so everyone can have the chance to use the Fillmore center,” said longtime SF resident Vanessa Matthews. “It’s really hard now, because the real estate prices are going up and businesses are gradually declining. You might see a business open, and maybe six to seven months later, it’s gone.” 

A composite image shows an empty bar (left) at the Fillmore Heritage Center and Vanessa Matthews (right) at the Fillmore Street Cafe. | Benjamin Fanjoy for The Standard; Jermaine Jackson Jr. for The Standard

Saving the Center and the Community

It’s not just historic examples of redevelopment; recent controversies at the center raised questions about City Hall’s present-day commitments to supporting Black-owned businesses in the Fillmore. The recent timeline of the Fillmore Heritage Center reveals numerous spats between city departments and local community leaders.  

After The Addition closed in 2015, just three months into its operations, the City Attorney’s Office sued its owner and developer Michael Johnson over allegedly unpaid federal loans. When gunshots rang out near the center in 2018, the city effectively shut it down, refusing to renew the lease to its temporary tenants New Community Leadership Foundation and the San Francisco Housing Development Corporation. 

Tensions have also risen among local community leaders, who expressed concerns about City Hall’s transparency during previous proposal processes. Foundation spokesperson Majeid Crawford told the SF Business Times his group no longer works with the center, and may not pursue the newest request for proposals (RFP), or the document the City of San Francisco posted to solicit bids for the Fillmore Heritage Center. 

Furniture sits in the lounge area (left) of the Fillmore Heritage Center. Danny Glover (right) speaks at a press conference in front of the Fillmore Heritage Center on Nov. 15, 2021. | Ben Fanjoy for the Standard; Camille Cohen/The Standard

And Agonafer Shiferaw, the owner of former jazz club Rassela’s, filed a suit against the city in 2021, claiming that Mayor Breed prioritized certain community leaders and political allies in the last proposal process. 

“The city should work to ensure that the center becomes an engine of African American prosperity in the Fillmore,” said Shiferaw, who said he made at least four separate offers to buy or fill the center—all of which he says were rejected. “However, the new RFP looks to me like the wish list of a preselected proponent and therefore raises suspicion of fresh corruption and cronyism by city officials.” 

The center’s repeated controversies and closures sparked a fierce outcry from locals, who ultimately worry that the recent request-for-proposal process won’t result in a community center run by and for Black San Franciscans. 

“There’s a lot of animosity and frustration, not just with the city, but with the culture that’s connected to Black community,” said Sheryl Davis, executive director of San Francisco’s Human Rights Commission. “Folks are kind of like, ‘We don’t need you telling us who to use or what to do,’ you know? It’s a hard needle to thread, as they say, to figure out how we connect people.” 

‘A Forced Marriage Doomed for Divorce’ 

The city’s latest request for proposals to fill the center was issued in the hopes that a community-oriented tenant shows up to reactivate the Fillmore center and make it the important economic and commercial opportunity it once was. If that request-for-proposals process sounds familiar, it’s no coincidence: City Hall last asked for plans to fill the center in 2017, but it failed to sell the complex or obtain any meaningful leases. 

Now, the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development says it is trying a different approach to fill the center—one that involves collaboration from multiple city departments, including the mayor’s housing office, the Human Rights Commission and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. 

Sheryl Davis, executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, poses for a portrait on Feb. 7, 2023. | Justin Katigbak for The Standard

The glue connecting the Fillmore to that blur of city agencies is Davis. Though she is not officially part of the request process, her background as a longtime Fillmore resident and her extensive political experience perhaps make Davis the ideal liaison to broker a deal between the city and communities the center is supposed to serve.  

“The blend of community and businesses without resources is a forced marriage doomed for divorce,” said Davis, who says that her goal is to mesh innovative community ideas with viable resources from the city. 

Though the new request-for-proposals process looks almost identical to the previous iteration, City Hall pledged upward of $1 million in support for the center’s operations, with support declining over the following years. New tenants will receive at least five years of operational support, including a five-year lease term with the option for an extension. 

Davis and City Hall say the new plan is designed to disrupt the center’s high turnover rates and previous financial issues, creating a long-term vision for the space. But the city’s focus on financial responsibility and longevity is no accident. 

“I think that the challenge here is—how do we not lose the soul of the Fillmore, while at the same time leveraging people who, when you’re in lean years, can keep it going?” Davis said. 

The Last Jazz Restaurant in the Fillmore

Today, Sheba Piano Lounge is one of the few Black-owned restaurants that still hosts live jazz shows from the Fillmore District—and it’s allegedly one of Mayor Breed’s favorite Friday night spots. But co-owner Netsanet Alemayehu has watched as nearby clubs and bars quietly shuttered, letting the once-lively segment of Fillmore Street fall silent. 

“Before the redevelopment agency, this was a hub—all the famous musicians played here; there were a lot of Asian businesses,” Alemayehu said. “The fact that [the city] invested in this area, and we are the only one that survived […] they should support us, but they don’t.” 

The Fillmore District’s commercial and community struggles have raised questions about the city’s inability to revitalize the neighborhood, and how the center symbolizes ongoing debates about reparations. In 2021, for example, community leaders including Amos Brown and actor Danny Glover rallied on the steps of the center, calling for it to be returned to the hands of the Black community. 

A composite image shows mural on the abandoned Market Street Railway Substation (left) near the Fillmore Heritage Center and Netsanet Alemayehu (right), co-owner of the Sheba Lounge. | Jermaine Jackson Jr. for The Standard

“Reparations is the last thing that America can do—young America has no great future unless it does reparations,” Taylor said. “Everything the Black movement has ever done over the last 150 years has been toward reparations.” 

READ MORE: Black Leaders Call on City To Donate Fillmore Heritage Center

Ultimately, concerns about the request for proposals reflect the complex history that swirls around the Fillmore Heritage Center. Nobody wants to see this glorious event space empty—but from historic injustices like urban renewal to the present-day legal battles fought on the center’s steps, it’s hard to imagine a future in which the center is full of life. 

But the Fillmore District and its cultural scene are not dead. At Sheba Piano Lounge, Alemayehu and her sister still host jazz musicians five nights a week, and local programs like In the Black continue to attract small Black-owned businesses to the area. The Fillmore Jazz Festival will bring legendary musicians to Western Addition in July, and the conversation surrounding reparations is heating up among city supervisors. 

“Just from an economic development perspective and investment in the community, [the center] needs to be activated—it’s fully consistent with the idea of reparations,” said Supervisor Dean Preston, whose district includes part of the Fillmore. “Even for folks who may not fully be on board with reparations, they should not hesitate for a second to have the city move forward with this process of activating the center.” 

A composite image shows members of the Charles Unger Experience (left) performing at Sheba Piano Lounge on Fillmore Street and an exterior of Sheba Piano Lounge (right). | Jermaine Jackson Jr. for The Standard

WATCH: Powerful Moments From San Francisco’s First Big Reparations Meeting

The fate of the Fillmore Heritage Center will remain in limbo until April 24, when the request for proposals reaches its deadline. The RFP committee will review entries, host town hall meetings with community members and hopefully find a winning proposal—and a future for the symbolic center of Black San Francisco. 

“The Heritage Center […] stands to lose in a similar way that the Black community of Harlem, New York, lost in the ’70s when they failed to secure a singular building that was far more important than the facility itself,” Taylor said. “It was about the psychological, the spiritual, the cultural and physical meaning of being Black in those communities.”

Liz Lindqwister can be reached at [email protected]

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When the news of the death of Candice Miller Kwiatkowski on Tuesday, the Teton Valley community received the impossible news with shock and sadness.

“It’s very difficult for me to put into words how much I’ll miss Candice,” said Brice Nelson, owner of the Knotty Pine Supper Club in Victor, a venue that gave Candice and her sister Karee Miller Jaeger one of their first platforms for performance . “The Miller Sisters are the most successful musical act we have. Candice and Karee are the sound and soul of everything that defines Teton Valley. They are our heartbeat. I will be for the Open Mic Nights and Nightly Years Fun forever grateful and music. Candice Miller was a wonderful musician and a beautiful person. “

Her sister Karee confirmed her death at Jackson Lake early Tuesday morning, and Grand Teton National Park issued an official press release later that day. Candice died by suicide, Coroner Brent Blue of Teton County, Wyoming, said Tuesday. An investigation is in progress.

Karee said Tuesday that the last time she texted her sister was 2:57 p.m. on Monday. It was a picture of an old boom box and she wrote to Candice that Kid Rock’s All Summer Long was on. Candice wrote back that the picture reminded her of Karee’s college days in St. Cloud, MN. Karee responded by sending her a video of the song.

“And that was the last I heard from her,” said Karee.

Candice was part of the two sisters duo known as The Miller Sisters. Originally from the small town of Waseca, MN, Candice grew into more than a stage act in the Teton Valley community that she called her home.

“Candice Miller came to teach music at Teton Valley Community School in the spring of 2016, meeting with preschoolers through seventh grade. The children looked forward to their arrival. She always came with lots of instruments, bright outfits and her big smile, ”said Katie Cisco, a TVCS kindergarten teacher. “Candice’s musical knowledge went deep into musical family roots, and her gentle and welcoming presence drew all children into the world of music and the magical way they felt as soon as it helped them discover that they could have a piece of it, too . She always offered her time, her knowledge and her musical equipment wherever she saw a possible need. She gave a lot. A humble, calm and big heart. “??

Pam Walker, executive director of the Teton Valley Education Foundation, recalled Candice’s commitment to education.

“I first met Candice Miller as a volunteer for the Teton Valley Education Foundation’s annual hearing and vision screening at Victor Elementary,” said Walker. “She came in with that brightly colored trucker hat, sat in that tiny children’s chair less than a foot off the floor – at the same height as the students – and took them through a quick eye exam. She was amazing and so caring. “

Walker said Candice’s vision is to raise money for new play equipment.

“She wanted our students to have more swings, more slides, and better equipment,” said Walker. “We discussed a number of fundraising opportunities, including her and her sister playing Karee in our Ride and Dine fundraiser. She was very persistent and I told her that once the bond was decided we would look into it. Linda Reynaud just told me that she donated clothes racks to the middle school to hang choir robes on. She always wanted to help, even though she had a very busy life. She was such a ray of hope for our schools and our valley. “

The youngest of eight children, Candice grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota and was always surrounded by music. Her father played guitar and violin and sang while her mother introduced her to music lessons. The sisters sang in choirs through school and church.

As aspiring, naturally gifted singers, her talent was soon recognized and people began asking her to play at their weddings and funerals. When her mother realized that her daughters had an event to sing almost every week, she encouraged her to pursue her musical dream as a career.

The two sisters flew to Nashville and spent several years there before traveling west to San Francisco and Jackson. From Wyoming, their next destination was Reno, NV, and after a year there, they traveled to Alaska in 2003. In 2004 they returned to the Jackson area. Karee settled in Jackson and Candice in Victor, where she lived with her husband and daughter Mary Jane.

Candice played guitar and banjo and her music has been described as “country soul” with a deep and captivating sound that mixed folk influences with a bit of rock edge.

In addition to their duo Miller Sisters, they perform with the five-piece country rock band Bootleg Flyer and the eight-piece rock band Mandatory Air. “We’re kind of a wedding dance band,” Candice said in a 2014 interview when describing Mandatory Air.

One of Candice’s last appearances was on Music on Main in July.

“As soon as they got off the stage, we spoke to them about booking them to make headlines again on Mandatory Air next year,” said Lauren Bennett, executive director of the Teton Valley Foundation. “They had such a nice way to interact with the crowd and it was clear to see how much the community loved both of them.”

The Silver Dollar Bar, Roadhouse Q, Handle Bar, and Mangy Moose in Jackson, and the Trap Bar, Wildwood Room, Linn Canyon Ranch, and Teton Springs Resort on this side of the pass are just a few of the places Candice played with her sister. Staying true to their gospel roots, they also led the children’s choir at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Driggs.

“Candice was a person who loved their faith,” said Jennifer Blaire, a Good Shepherd ward member. “When Candice was singing in church, she brought the house down. Her voice and belief have inspired us all. I met Candice through Church and our friendship grew as my daughter’s and I stepped into her brilliant light. Candice was one of the few people whose beliefs were selfless, authentic and raw, and she used her music to inspire worship and goodness in our valley and in our hearts. ”

A meeting was held at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Driggs on Tuesday, July 24th at 6:00 pm. A service in the Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd is planned for this Friday, July 27th at 10 a.m. All are welcome.

Adam Williamson, of the Mental Health Coalition, offered condolences to Miller’s family and the entire community. The Mental Health Coalition is offering free no-questions-asked counseling services, Williamson told Teton Valley News Tuesday. Providers are listed at tetonvalleymentalhealth.com.

“We want to support and love and encourage their family and friends and give them hope and connect people with the resources they need,” said Williamson.

Julia Tellman and Hope Strong contributed to this report.

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