Comments on: Part One: Sixth Street

By: Nazeem

Nazeem — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:43:50 +0000

The neighborhood is the only thing that’s bothering me about moving there. Do you think that should be a worry? I sometimes work night shifts and may be will take the 14-Muni back, and stop on 6th and mission. The Epson R2400 is a real beast too!! Well if ever you want to print even bigger, up to 60″ wide, shoot me an email. I’ll be glad to help.

I wouldn’t worry, Nazeem. Sixth Street may appear frightening to those who are unfamiliar with it, but in six years of living on the corner of Sixth and Jessie, I never had any problems on the street, day or night.

Thanks for the offer. I may some day take you up on it. Meantime, we should meet over coffee sometime to talk about our work.

Mark

By: Nazeem

Nazeem — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:06:43 +0000

Mark,

Those pictures are really impressive. I feel like I was within the journey while reading and staring at the pictures. Thank you so much for sharing. I am planning to move on Minna and 6th street in the next couple weeks and google picked your tags from your posts. Also if ever you interested to print (large format) of those amazing photos please do contact me, I would be more than willing to help. Best for future projects.
Nazeem

Thank you, Nazeem. So you’re moving into the very belly of the beast, eh? I would love to meet and talk with you sometime. I currently offer 13″ x 19″ prints on fine art paper that I print myself with an Epson R2400, using UltraChrome pigment inks.

Mark

By: Richard

Richard — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:00:20 +0000

Hello and thanks for the fine photos from a 15 year resident of SROs in the Tenderloin/Sixth Street areas…previously resided in NYC’s East Village. In SF lived in hotels Drake (Eddy St.), Baldwin House, Seneca, Orlando, as well as a few others in the Loin. In 1994 I moved to rural Placerville where I remain this day.

By: Ulrika Skarlandt

Ulrika Skarlandt — Fri, 22 May 2009 23:30:36 +0000

beautiful pictures, thank you!!!

Thank you, Ulrika. I would love some day to explore Prague. Its history and architecture touch something very deep inside of me.

By: Philbert

Philbert — Sat, 09 May 2009 19:15:43 +0000

Hey Mark,

What a flashback! In the “Window onto Sixth Street” photo I actually lived in the hotel that is painted red, with the Loan Sign on the awning, for about three months around 1975. It was far from a “respectable” address but it was clean and safe. The hotel was owned by a somewhat eccentric elderly woman named Pauline who only rented to gay men. Each room had a sink. The bathrooms and bath was shared by the tenants. There was a large center room that was suppose to be a communal area with a kitchen and eating area but Pauline had collected several large parrots which were kept in cages in the room. They constantly squawked. One had a propensity for saying “Mother” “Hello” “Fuck” endlessly. I stayed there for about three months.

Thanks for the memories Mark!

Thank you so much for sharing such a great story about living in the Whitaker Hotel, Philbert. If you know anyone else who has lived in a Sixth Street hotel and would be willing to share their anecdotes or stories, please send them my way.

Thanks again for dropping in and for contributing your own slice of life on Sixth Street.

By: Margaret Cabral

Margaret Cabral — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:08:47 +0000

Mark Ellinger
As I am going to say it again your work is so
wonderful, it is helping the poor, the sick, the old
who live in the SROs.
we had a wonderful talk in March 2009
I am coming to town to do a project on the SROs
so things will hopefully be better for the sick, the
old and the poor who have to live in these places.
I would like to meet with you when I come to town. please leave me your Phone and e-mail
margaretcabral784@gmail.com
Margaret Cabral

By: lspray

lspray — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:13:45 +0000

Hey, I happened upon you’re site, and it was kept me up much longer than I planned on being awake, but it was worth it. I live and work in the tenderloin, and although I love the neighborhood, I’ve never really been able to explain why. You put it in the perfect words. Anyway, out of curiosity, what the current status of old Hugo Hotel down on 6th? Thanks again for sharing your work.

LukeSpray@gmail.com

Thanks for dropping in, Luke, I always like hearing from people who live and work in the neighborhood. Very glad to know you enjoyed my site. Regarding the Hugo, the redevelopment agency plans to demolish it, but when that will happen, I don’t know.

By: Margaret Cabral

Margaret Cabral — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:50:21 +0000

Mark
Your story is the greatest on the S.R.O.s on 6th Street.
I wish you much luck on your movie and or books; you are doing great work helping those who are poor, disabled and old.
I hope to meet you because I have a project I want to do that will help the disabled poor.
I will be coming to the S.F. area or L.A., hope we can talk, I love your work.

Margaret

No movie plans, Margaret, but I hope to interest a publishing house in my books, as it’s the only way I’ll be able to make them affordable.

Thanks very much for your kind words about my work. I’m sending you an email with my contact information. Feel free to get in touch with me whenever the time is right.

Mark

By: Cameron

Cameron — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:22:44 +0000

Mark,

I was doing a Google image search for the Hugo Hotel and found your page. As a fan of old structures, old vehicles and old equipment, Your photographs capture 6th perfectly. Back in ‘05 I dated a girl that rented a room across from the Hugo, and I fell in love with it. Always joked that I would buy it if I won the Lottery, before heading back to rural Sebastopol.

I visited Detroit in the mid 90’s. After anything historic was abandoned and before any of it was knocked down or restored.

The history and surviving relics of both cities continue to fascinate me. Thanks for sharing, especially the often unseen interior shots.

Cheers!

I assume your girlfriend lived in the Orlando? I’ve always liked the domed turret windows of that building, but have yet to capture them in a way that I find satisfying.

Glad you enjoyed my site. Thanks for visiting!

By: shnewt

shnewt — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:32:54 +0000

Hello Mark,

Just wanted to say that this is an exceptionally well written piece. I came from a link nursemyra left on my site referring me to your photos. Coming from Vancouver, we share some similar architecture and socio-economic situations. I too am drawn to the ‘beauty’ of the Vancouver East Side however I do not have the bravery as you do to capture it in all it’s glory…
Thank you for taking us on an often untold story of San Francisco.

Thank you very much for your kind words. I’m very glad you enjoyed my little stories. Nursemyra is a dear for sending you over here!