Hi All -
We had a full house for our meeting Thursday - almost 30 people showed up.
First I'd like to thank Pat Hufford, Leslie and John Koelsch, Michaeline Kiss, Kazumi Matsuyama, Janice Low, Cindy Valdes and Kathy Flanders for helping distribute the fliers. There are about 800 households in Corbett Heights, and we try to flier every one of them. If you'd like to add your name to the list of distributors, PLEASE let me know!
I tried to answer most questions about the status of Traffic Calming on 17th St. Here is an abbreviated version:
- The median island, which will be located above the Corbin Stairs, will be installed a bit later than we had hoped - November at the earliest, and next summer at the latest. Budgeting, planning, designing, a public hearing and final approvals are all in play. But it WILL happen.
- It will be 10 - 15 feet long and about 6" high. The shape and configuration will accommodate access to the 2 garages on the north side of the street.
- Most likely, only 2 parking spaces will be lost.
- When the time comes for the hearing to be scheduled, it will help tremendously for us to either attend, or to write letters of support. Letters can also be sent electronically.
- The Speed Radar Sign will most likely be located around 4355 17th St. This area has the least visual interference from street trees. Installation should be around October.
Brad Burton from 1 Block off the Grid spoke at lengh about our options for installing solar panels. The time is great right now as there are considerable incentives. 1BOG negotiates to get group discounts from quality installers, so that solar can be more affordable. Visit their site at: http://1bog.org/ For more information you can also contact Brad directly at: brad@1bog.org
Alex Randolph, who is the Mayor's liason to District 8 and to the LGBT community answered some questions that I had presented to him earlier, and others from the group. He will make sure that someone takes a look at the mess of ivy on Clayton and also the almost-dead pine tree. Both will hopefully be removed. Many of our pocket parks have water pipes running thru them from long-forgotten times when the city used to maintain them. Most have been shut off making maintenance of these spaces very challenging. One such site is the corner of Mars and 17th. The other is the Corbett Slope on the south side of the 300 block of Corbett - going all the way down to Market. Alex invited Laura Spanjian, with the SFPUC (San Francisco Public Utilities Commission) to help with those issues. She attended the meeting and spoke of her plans to talk directly with the city departments that have jurisdiction over those parcels. Hopefully we'll have water there soon! We have also been hoping to be able to gain access to the Corbett Slope. The weeds and the trash have gotten out of control. It is the largest green space in Corbett Heights, and it would be nice for it to be cleaned up regularly.
I am working with some other members of EVPA (Eureka Valley Promotion Ass'n) on a set of Residential Design Guidelines that will eventually go up on our website. Each neighborhood in San Francisco has unique characteristics; some contain more older homes, or more one-story, or 3 unit or apartment buildings, etc. Often the guidelines used by the Planning Dept. are not sufficient to address these multiple characteristics. Several neighborhood organizations have developed their own guidelines.
When developers come into a neighborhood with the hopes of maximizing their investments, they often try to construct something that is way out of character. With guidelines in place, we will have a stronger voice at the Planning Dept.
The planned construction at 1344 Clayton/372 Corbett has been pulled indefinitely. It met with fierce objections from almost everyone.
Their are still no updates on the proposed new construction at 136 Ord. The main objection to this project has been that the new house would eliminate the extremely unique, multiple-front garden that currently exists across 4 lots. It is a beautiful setting that exists nowhere else in the city.
Since our last meeting, we've had a major garden cleanup/planting at the corner of Mars and 17th St. Years of weeds and trash were removed, old plants were pruned and new ones planted. Leslie Koelsch has been helping organize the pocket park cleanups. The plan is to have one per month on the last Saturday. If you'd like to join the list of volunteers, please let me know.
The new 17th Street Plaza on 17th St. next to the gas station and the F-line turnaround near Market and Castro has been a huge success. There were 2 reviews planned before permanent approval can take place. The first was a couple of weeks ago, after 2 months, and the 2nd will be 4 months later. The feedback at the first review was almost unanimously positive. If given final approval it will officially become a plaza and more permanent fixtures and plantings will be discussed.
Whole Foods has hopes to occupy the entire ground floor of the new building that is being planned to replace the old S&C Ford store. The market will have 29,715 square feet of floor space. The building will have 6 floors of housing - 80 residential units. 15% of the units will be "affordable". There will be 2 subsurface parking levels. .75 spaces per unit. 60 spaces for residential, and 65 for retail.
They still have a number of hoops to jump thru before final approval, but most neighborhood groups have approved of the plan so far. The architects and the folks from Whole Foods have made a great and wise effort to appeal to all of the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods.
1960 - 1998 Market has received initial approval for an 85' tall glass structure on the site of the existing 76 Station. It will have 115 condos above ground-floor retail.
1800 block of Market - formerly the Sue Mills building, and adjacent to the LGBT Center. Construction has begun. It will be 113 units, and have a rooftop pool and spa.
2200 Market, the site of the Thai House Restaurant, and owned by Leticia Luna of Leticia's Mexican Restaurant, has received funding and should be set to go any time now.
Chase Bank, on the site of the old Sinclair paint store at Sanchez, 15th and Market, is planning an August opening. It will have a community room that will be available to neighborhood groups.
Tower Records - Lots of gossip about Trader Joe's going in there, but at this point that's all it is.
2299 Market (The Church Pit) - Formerly Trinity Episcopal Church and home of the Eureka Theatre, it was burned down by an arsonist in November, 1981. It has most recently been used as a Christmas tree lot. The plan is for a 5 story, 50 foot tall building with 18 residential units, 1 or 2 ground floor businesses, and 19 underground parking spaces. The design is very far from getting neighborhood approval.
CORBETT HEIGHTS NEIGHBORS just had its 5th Anniversary!
If you've already paid your 2009 dues ($15/year, payable in July), thank you! If not, please send a check payable to CHN or Corbett Heights Neighbors to 123 Corbett, 94114.
You can remain a member without paying if this would be a hardship. Just let me know.
Everyone is welcome to attend meetings. Membership provides you with frequent neighborhood updates via email, and with the knowledge that you are contributing to the well-being of Corbett Heights.
- Gary
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