Those opposed will express their concerns at a future public hearing, where Kink.com founder Peter Acworth said he will listen to all opinions and work to ease the community’s worries.
Currently, the armory building is zoned for commercial and industrial use, which, under the code, includes all film production studios. Amit Ghosh, director of the city’s planning department, said one of the ways the community can keep Kink.com out is to request the code be changed to exclude adult studios.
“It does not specify what kind of studio it can be,” Ghosh told XBIZ. “The city can always change the code and make rules.”
Peter Ragone, spokesman for Mayor Newsom, told the San Francisco Chronicle that Newsom is looking for ways to keep Kink.com out of the armory. Newsom did not respond to XBIZ’s requests for comment.
Many opposed believe having a “porn dungeon” in close vicinity to schools and families is inappropriate. However, Kink.com’s previous location was a few blocks down on Mission Street, just as close to the neighborhood and schools in question.
Reena Patel, vice president of marketing for the company, said no one even noticed Kink.com was there. She feels that many in the community may be allowing porn stereotypes to influence their concern. For instance, some believe Kink.com will bring drugs and drug dealers to the area.
“People don’t realize we’re a company comprised of 60 percent women from all walks of life and backgrounds. We’re not just a bunch of pornographers shooting in a corner,” Patel told XBIZ.
In fact, Kink.com held its first shoot in the armory Wednesday, suspending models above the armory’s almost acre-long drill court.
“Of course, it was obvious that no neighbor would notice this shoot taking place,” Acworth said in a Kink.com news release. “I feel like I am stating the obvious by making it very clear that there were no complaints from anyone.”
Patel said she’s had trouble contacting Mayor Newsom about the community meeting and does not know if an official date has been set for it. She and Acworth plan to provide information regarding all objections community members may have and Patel said she looks forward to showing the community how open the company is to dialog and compromise.
“We’ve got nothing to hide,” Patel said.