Paving the way for a new and improved 'Dirt Alley'

"It's hard to imagine who else would buy this alley, especially for the price that we did. But we're able to do a cool project, and she's able to get out of this mess. Like many of Walz's projects, the alley's transformation will start online, where people will compete to be part of the design process."

"Riley Walz, a 23-year-old tech prankster known for building viral apps, had his heart set on purchasing an alley in San Francisco. After reading about Dirt Alley, an unpaved Sunset lot that composer JJ Hollingsworth had unwittingly purchased at a city auction for $25,000, Walz saw an opportunity for an interactive art project set for spring on which he hopes all of San Francisco will collaborate."

Riley Walz, a 23-year-old tech entrepreneur known for viral apps, purchased Dirt Alley in San Francisco's Sunset District from composer JJ Hollingsworth for $26,000. Hollingsworth had acquired the unpaved alley at a city auction for $25,000 but regretted the purchase. Walz and two friends plan to transform the alley into an interactive art installation launching in spring, with community members competing online to participate in the design process. The new owners invested an additional $10,000 to pave the alley with asphalt. Walz's approach mirrors his previous projects, which combine online engagement with real-world experiences, such as his temporary fake steakhouse in Manhattan.

Read at Sfstandard