First of all, many thanks to all the folks who helped distribute the meeting fliers: Ted, Kazumi, Leslie and John, Cindy, Janice and Michaeline. Your help was much appreciated!
Capt. Teresa Barrett of Park Station attended to speak with the group about crimes and crime prevention in our area. Several people described some of the crimes that have taken place recently. According to Capt. Barrett, and others who have spoken with us, it is crucial to report any crime that has occurred to the local police station. Crime has increased tremendously due to the current economic situation.
To report a crime taking place, or in any emergency, call 911.
For any non-emergency, call 553-0123.
To contact Park Station directly, call 242-3000.
For online crime reporting, go to http://www.sfgov.org/site/police_index.asp?id=28854.
There are instructions at the bottom. You just need to select the type of crime and go from there.
I hate to report this, but I have discontinued payment to the SF Patrol Special Police. Our primary contact - Jane Warner - had been out for a couple of months, and now is on leave for medical reasons. Up until recently there were other officers filling in, but I haven't seen anyone lately.
They have, in my opinion, provided a valuable service.
Traffic Calming on 17th St.:
Last month, 8 of us met with Antonio Piccagli of MTA to discuss our options for slowing down traffic on 17th St. Antonio gave us a form that asked us which of the various traffic calming options we prefered.
The overwhelming choice was a median opposite the Corbin Steps, just down from the Temple intersection.
The double yellow line would remain in place, but traffic in the downhill direction would be diverted to the right by a median. The median would be between 15' - 20' long and 4' - 6' wide, and would be installed south and adjacent to the existing yellow lines. There will be a reflector post as well as another yellow line that skirts the island diverting traffic to the right as it heads downhill.
The only potential problem is that the median would prevent residents of 2 homes (one which has been vacant for some time) from accessing their garages while traveling downhill. A possible solution would be for the median to be only 2" high instead of the standard 6". Those residents would then be able to drive across the median. If, however, we are able to have the 6" high curb, planting on it would be a possibility.
If we are able to get the approval of the neighbors, DPW and the Fire Department before budgets are set by the end of June, we may expect the job to be completed sometime in 2010.
Speed Radar Sign:
The initial plan was to install a sign similar to the one on Market, between Douglass and Eureka, but that type of sign requires electricity. The only electricity available on 17th St. would have to have come from an existing telephone pole , but PGE does not allow anything to be attached to the poles.
The alternative is to install a solar sign that would be located between 4353 and 4367 17th St. If the cost of the sign is below a certain threshhold, we may be able to get it installed within the next 6 months. If the cost is greater, it may have to go out to bid. This could delay the project for another year.
Now that UNDERGROUNDING IS DEAD AND BURIED, we were talking about having a "Reclaim the Sky" block party. We're planning on getting permits to close off one street to traffic for the event. A pot luck and/or a barbecue would be planned. We're considering a Saturday in May. The 2 choices for a street location are Ord - opposite the park - or Mars. Kevin Dunn and Leslie Koelsch will be working out the details. We'll keep you posted.
Repaving of Corbett has been completed! I may have started the ball rolling on this project, but without Dan McKenna's help it probably wouldn't have happened. If you feel so inclined, please send him a note thanking him. dan.mckenna@sfdpw.org
Pocket Parks: Several of us on the "Garden Committee" met a couple of weeks ago and discussed plans for maintenance of the parks, as well as ways to determine the best way to allocate the money we have on hand. Volunteers will be needed for any of several weeding/trimming days we'll schedule.
If you haven't already given me your name, and you'd be interested in volunteering, let me know. We'll let you know of the upcoming dates being planned.
A Tree Planting with Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) that had been planned exclusively for Eureka Valley, has been expanded to include Corbett Heights. The only problem was that we didn't know about it until a few days prior to the deadline to sign up. A few of us were able to act fast, so expect to see at least a few more trees getting planted on Valentine's Day.
Walgreen's has decided to continue its attempt to absorb storefronts in the Castro by resubmitting its application to expand into the old laundromat adjacent to the existing Walgreens satellite on 18th St. Last year the Planning Department diapproved the plan. But they're back with the same plan. The Planning Department has again disapproved it, but with some tricky stuff.....you never know, they could succeed. The hearing is next Thursday, 2/5 at 1:30. If you're interested in attending, or want more information, please let me know.
AT&T Equipment Boxes: AT&T has been trying to win approval of the Planning Department to install 850 "video-ready access devices throughout the city that will serve as junctions between the company's fiber optic system and homes subscribing to U-verse TV, a new service being billed as a high-power alternative to cable television." The "equipment cabinets" would be spread around San Francisco, and would stand over 4' tall by over 4' wide by about 2+' deep. There would be several in the Corbett Heights area. If you've seen the one on the corner of the park at Corbett/17th/Douglass, imagine that these new ones would be about 1 1/2 times as large. Wherever they are installed they are graffiti magnets.
People around the country are furious about this as they seem to have no say. There will be hearings in San Francisco, and AT&T still has some work to do before getting these approved. More information on this to come.
Harvey Milk Branch Public Library: As most of you know, the Harvey Milk Library branch on 16th St. near Sanchez, is being rebuilt. What you probably didn't know, was that, although there was sufficient funding allocated for the structure, nothing was allocated for shelves, desks, computers..... Amazing, but true. Friends of SF Public Libraries has begun a fundraising drive. You may purchase an engraved brick with your, or someone else's name on it for a tax-deductable $250. For more information on this, call Mary Abler at 626-7512 ext 107. Or visit their website at: www.friendssfpl.org.
Farmer's Market: From the last Wednesday in April thru the last Wednesday in October, we will have a farmer's market on Noe St. between Market and Beaver. It will go from 4PM - 8PM. This has been approved by the great majority of residents, local businesses and the city.
Some Corbett History (courtesy of Mae Silver, a local historian and former resident of Corbett Ave.):
One of the ranchos granted by the Mexican-California government between 1821-1867 was called Rancho San Miguel, and was owned by Jose de Jesus Noe from 1846 - 1852. The size of his rancho was a Spanish league, or 4444.34 acres - 1/6 of SF, and was in its geographical center. The northern boundary cut diagonally across Mt Sutro, behind UC, up to Parnassus and Cole, then across Corona Hts to San Jose Ave, the Eastern boundary. It crossed over the county line into what is now Daly City. Junipero Serra Blvd was the western boundary.
After the gold rush, with extremely limited housing, the ranchos were increasingly hard to control.
One of the 1st subdivisions in the city, in 1867, the Market Street Homestead Assn covered land around Corbett Rd, from its beginning at 17th & Douglass to what is now Portola Dr. The street pattern used in this subdivision was the first curvilinear one in the city. Master road-builder, Lester L. Robinson, likely, constructed Corbett Rd, now called Corbett Ave. He left its meandering course undisturbed to accommodate usage by horsedrawn wagons. The developers of this curvilinear subdivision were far ahead of their time. By working with hilly, winding terrain, they preserved an element of the natural history of the area. Looking at that landscape now, it is recognizable as old farm land and retains an authentic country quaintness. As appealing as that land is today, it was equally so to Adolph Sutro in his day. According to The Argonaut, Adolph Sutro bought Rancho San Miguel from the French Bank whose owner had committed suicide. He paid $520,000 for it.
That's all for now. If you haven't already done so, please remember to send in your dues. they are $15 per year. Make checks payable to CHN and send to 123 Corbett, 94114.
Gary
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