On December 8 at 2pm, Lev Kushner, Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships at the SF Recreation and Park Department, unlocked the doors of the battered Lake Merced Boathouse and led potential bidders on a tour through the premises. RPD published a Request For Proposals (RFP) on October 22 in an effort to fill the property, which has been vacant since 2003, with a suitable tenant.

“The Recreation and Park Department is interested in bidders to renovate the building and make it a virbant community hub,” Mr. Kushner told the audience before the tour began. “We think there is an opportunity with this building to serve as a restaurant so that park visitors can stay longer to enjoy the park.”

The upper level of the building, which is about 7,500 square feet, has plenty of charm to it. It’s easy to imagine a vibrant crowd of fishermen and boaters huddled around the bar like they used to do in the 1950s. In mid-October, the Bulletin published an extensive story on the full history of Lake Merced. However, as the pictures indicate, while the property is spacious and in a picturesque location, the 7 years of disuse has clearly had its toll on the building, which is pretty run-down.

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Mr. Kushner indicated that there will be future opportunities for bidders to explore the property. Potential bidders still have two months until the February 4 deadline for completed proposals.