16.5.07

F I R S TP R E V546NEXTLAST

Kink.com and the National Guard Armory
Built in 1912 the massive Old Armory at 14th and Mission covers an entire block with its Moorish-style castle architecture. The armory has remained empty since 1970 when the National Guard moved out. Various projects and developments have fallen through during the intervening years until the building got a new tenant in January of this year. Kink.com, a San Francisco web-based pornography distributor, purchased it for $14.5 million and turned the 200,000-square-foot landmark it into a production studio for its bondage-themed adult films.

Some locals were whipped into a frenzy by the thought of porn dungeons in their neighborhood. Kink.com however claims it has no plans to put up signage, alter the exterior, or otherwise draw attention to what goes on inside the building in any way. In fact they have considered renting out extra space in the building to mainstream filmmakers. Whether or not the Old Armory turns into a San Francisco film center isn't clear but I'm guessing the Old Armory is a rather unique entry in the National Register of Historic Places.
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