Noe Valley public toilet

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Coordinates: 37°45′05″N 122°25′44″W / 37.75145°N 122.42887°W / 37.75145; -122.42887
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Noe Valley public toilet
Map
General information
Architectural stylePrefabricated
Address4104 24th Street, San Francisco, California
Coordinates37°45′05″N 122°25′44″W / 37.75145°N 122.42887°W / 37.75145; -122.42887
Construction startedFebruary, 2024
OpenedApril 22, 2024
Cost$200,000 scaled back from $1,700,000
OwnerSan Francisco Recreation & Parks Department
Technical details
MaterialSteel
Size10 by 5 feet (3.0 m × 1.5 m)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Volumetric Building Companies
Other designersPublic Restroom Company

The Noe Valley public toilet is a public toilet in the Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. The toilet's original proposed cost of $1.7 million inspired media coverage and criticism of the San Francisco government.[1] In the wake of the media coverage, the San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department, its owner, called it "the world's most famous and eagerly anticipated prefab toilet".[2]

Background[edit]

The site, Noe Valley Town Square, which hosts a Saturday morning farmers' market,[3] is a former parking lot for Noe Valley Ministry,[4] and formerly a gas station.[5]

Planning[edit]

The original proposal for the toilet was planned to occupy approximately 150 square feet and to be funded by the State of California to address open defecation in the city.[6][7] The responsible government agency, San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department, held a press conference in October 2020 in which the department projected its construction to cost $1.7 million.[6][8] San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight reported on the cost and time to build the toilet, sparking public outcry.[9] A celebration the city government had planned for the toilet was canceled due to public dissatisfaction with the price and the two year construction timeline.[10] California State Assembly member Matt Haney, representing part of San Francisco, was one of the critics, and stated it showed the city had a "dysfunctional bureaucracy".[11] Haney had secured the $1.7 million.[12]

The cost and time needed to construct the toilet was attributed to higher costs of materials in the area, the hiring of an architect, the solicitation of community feedback, and requirements for multiple reviews by commissions, such as the Civic Design Review Committee's determination of whether the project was "appropriate to its context in the urban environment", along with the corresponding need to pay for staff time.[13]

In January 2023, city officials announced they were accepting a donated modular bathroom from Public Restroom Company in Nevada.[14] The new estimate with installation, electrical work, landscaping, and other costs came to $725,000.[12] Volumetric Building Companies offered to cover costs on engineering and architecture work, and both companies would pay for unionized labor to install the toilet. The donated toilet was required to clear permitting and coordination with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Francisco Department of Public Works, Public Utilities Commission, Planning Department, Department of Building Inspection, Mayor's Office on Disability, and Arts Commission.[13]

Installation[edit]

Site preparation began in February, 2024;[15] the prefabricated restroom was placed by a crane in March;[2] and installation was completed on April 22, 2024, costing about $200,000 to the city. Most of the costs came from labor. The 50 square foot facility contains a metal toilet and a baby changing station. A celebration was held at the toilet to commemorate its opening, with city residents hosting a party called the "Toilet Bowl".[16][17][1]

Further reading[edit]

  • Knight, Heather (October 19, 2022). "S.F. is spending $1.7 million on one public toilet: 'What are they making it out of – gold?'". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2022-11-01. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  • Best, Paul (October 19, 2022). "San Francisco building single public toilet that will cost $1.7 million and won't be completed until 2025". Fox News.
  • Pino, Dominic (October 19, 2022). "San Francisco Is Building a Toilet". National Review.
  • Tori Gaines (October 20, 2022). "Is San Francisco really paying $1.7 million for a public restroom?". KTLA. Los Angeles.
  • Donchey, Sara (October 20, 2022). "Public toilet in San Francisco's Noe Valley comes with painful $1.7M price tag". CBS News.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "San Francisco public toilet once priced at $1.7M opens to fanfare, relief for lowered cost". CBS News. April 22, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Noe Valley Town Square Restroom construction update March 2024, San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department, March 18, 2024, retrieved April 24, 2024
  3. ^ https://www.noevalleyfarmersmarket.com/
  4. ^
  5. ^ https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/bottomline/article/Noe-Valley-wants-a-park-not-parking-4544633.php
  6. ^ a b Nathan Solis (October 20, 2022). "San Francisco plans to spend 2 years, $1.7 million to build single-toilet public restroom". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2022-10-20. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  7. ^ Lyanne Melendez (October 19, 2022). "SF is in need of public restrooms, but is $1.7M too much for a 150-square-foot facility?". San Francisco: KGO-TV. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  8. ^ "San Francisco is spending $1.7 million to build a single public toilet". Boing Boing. October 20, 2022. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022. How on earth could a public toilet cost $1.7 million and take three years to build? The short answer is 'San Francisco' and its 'maze of planning, permitting, reviews, and public outreach' to get anything done.
  9. ^ Barmann, Jay (2022-10-24). "Governor's Office Wades Into Noe Valley Toilet Controversy, Says Funds Will Be Withheld". SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  10. ^ Tori Gaines (October 19, 2022). "Celebration for SF public toilet canceled amid backlash over $1.7M price tag". San Francisco: KRON-TV. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  11. ^ Keiran Southern (October 20, 2022). "San Francisco is building a $1.7m loo where you can spend a penny ... in 2025". The Times. London. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022. Haney, a member of the California State Assembly, said families had long called for a lavatory in the Noe Valley town square, opened in 2016. However, as critics denounced the plan, he said it was the latest example of San Francisco's dysfunctional bureaucracy.
  12. ^ a b Knight, Heather (2023-01-27). "S.F. Toiletgate: Noe Valley will get its cheaper bathroom and City Hall gets lessons in finance". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  13. ^ a b "San Francisco Tried to Build a $1.7 Million Toilet. It's Still Not Done". The New York Times. January 24, 2024. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024.
  14. ^ Barmann, Jay (January 27, 2024). "$1.7 Million Noe Valley Public Toilet Will Now Only Cost the City $300K". SFist.
  15. ^ Noe Valley Town Square Restroom construction update February 2024, San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department, February 13, 2024, retrieved April 24, 2024, construction began this week for the Noe Valley Town Square Restroom Project
  16. ^ "San Francisco Celebrates Its New Public Toilet". The New York Times. April 22, 2024.
  17. ^ "Relief as San Francisco public toilet finally opens – and not for $1.7m after all". The Guardian. April 22, 2024.
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