Category Archives: New Construction

SF Planning Commish Nixes New Mega-Bux Slated for Market & Sanchez St.

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No More StarbucksThursday the hotly contested proposal for a new, approximately 2100 sq. foot, mega-Starbucks retail space at the corner of Sanchez and Market (2201 Market St.) was shot down by the SF Planning Commission 5-1.

We’ve been following the developments since Aug. of 2012  when the Merchants of Upper Market/Castro (MUMC) made the public aware they’d awarded the project their seal of approval. Our comment sections on subsequent posts have been rife with impassioned arguments for and against Starbucks opening a fourth, retail outlet within a 1 mile radius of three others in the Castro/Duboce Triangle neighborhoods.

At the Thursday, May 9th final, final-no we swear-final Planning Commission meeting on the subject the Board followed their own staff’s recommendations and denied the coffee giant a permit based on the newly minted, formula store, Upper Market neighborhood’s density rules. Requirements state formula retail density can’t exceed more than 20% allowed within 300 feet of any given area.

They also noted they’d received petitions and letters from both sides on the subject. Lining up on ‘Yea’ side:  59 letters of support (including one from MUMC and the Buena Vista Neighborhood Association) plus a petition with 453 signatures in favor of their plan. On the ‘Nay’ side: 4 letters (including one from the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District-aka CBD-who rarely agrees with MUMC wishes) and a petition containing 4,200 signatures opposed. Commissioners also listened to an hour and half of public comments with 25 citizens pleading the ‘Yea’ case and 16 ponying up for the ‘Nay’ contingent.

Sketch of the new proposed Starbucks

Sketch of the new proposed Starbucks that was rejected by the Planning Commission on May 9th.

The Commission’s majority also pointed out there’s four other long-established, local coffee-house options and one formula coffee shop for citizens to access to meet their caffeine and bear claw needs. They also found that letting Starbucks occupy such a notable space would allow that particular retail design to be the dominant theme for that area and would detract from the community’s unique and distinct character.

Starbucks can still appeal the decision directly to the Board of Supervisors if it so wishes.

If this plan had been approved this would’ve been Starbucks 73rd store in San Francisco. Even without this new Market St. store that translates into one of the Seattle-based chain stores every six-tenth of a mile throughout the City.

Via-SocketSite, Bay Area Reporter

 

UPDATE: Last Minute Appeal Rejected-Dolores Park Renovation Back On

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Dolores Park From the Air

Birds eye view of the historic Dolores Park

We’ve been following the progress around Dolores Park renovations and most recently posted that after more than fifty meetings over multiple years between the City and the greater community one lone citizen-at the last minute-appealed the renovation plans for Dolores Park that have been in the pipeline for nearly two decades.

The Mission Dolores Improvement Project Plan has moved another step closer to breaking ground. The environmental review document, a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) was accepted and the project appeal was unanimously rejected by the SF Planning Commission.

The appeal came from a local doctor and Dolores Park neighbor who was trying to hold up the process over concerns that the off-leash dog area being situated next to the playground where they believed children needed more open play space to stave off the scourges of childhood obesity.

This is great news and now hopefully we will see ground breaking by October for the final phases that are planned for one of the most popular open green spaces in the City and the largest one in the Castro.

The community is on pins and needles waiting for improved and added bathrooms, new turf providing more lush lawns and of course greater designated space for dogs-San Francisco’s other children-to run and play.

Dolores Park Renovation Framework Plan

Dolores Park Renovation Framework Plan

Via-Dolores Park Works

 

Pedestrian improvements approved at new Whole Foods location

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Pedestrian Plaza in front of Whole Foods at 2001 Market Street (credit: Prado Group)

Pedestrian Plaza in front of Whole Foods at 2001 Market Street (credit: Prado Group)

Earlier this month, the Planning Commission approved a plan that should help expand pedestrian safety and mobility around the new Whole Foods / apartment complex location at 2001 Market Street. The plan includes bulb-outs at crosswalk intersections, a pedestrian refuge for the giant crosswalk along Market crossing Dolores, special paving on Dolores near Market, raised sidewalks crossing Clinton Park, and greenery with a few benches for seating in the expanded entrance area. The improvements also extend down to 14th Street with bulb-outs on each corner. The developer of the new grocery and housing location has agreed to pay for the pedestrian improvements in lieu of $510,000 in impact fees, according to SF Streets Blog.

The neighborhood group Dolores United expressed support for the plan while the Mission Dolores Neighborhood Association wanted the bulb-outs at Market Street shrunk to avoid losing a lane of traffic. According to SF Streets, the original plan called for one lane of traffic on each side all the way down Dolores to 14th Street, but the approved plan calls for single lanes only within 60′ – 80′ of the intersection with Market.

Supervisor Scott Wiener, who helped champion the projects approval, said that he is looking forward to seeing the underutilized space become a more attractive place for pedestrians.

Market and Dolores Pedestrian Improvement Plans (credit: CurbedSF)

Market and Dolores Pedestrian Improvement Plans (credit: CurbedSF)

via SF Streets

After Years of Waiting & Meetings Final Plans for Dolores Park Revamp Revealed

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Dolores Park MapIn the waning week of February the much anticipated final, final plans for the Dolores Park redesign were revealed by SF Parks and Recreation, Sup. Scott Wiener and the SF Planning Department. Work will begin late Summer/Early Fall of 2013 and continue until  completion sometime in Fall of 2014.

20 th Street/Church aka Gay Beach. Less trees, more benches.

20 th Street/Church aka Gay Beach. Less trees, more benches.

SF Arts Commission was the last piece of the puzzle to be added as they applied their stamp of artistic approval to the 3D renderings of the City’s Park of the People.

Community passions around Dolores Park run high-as they should-as this 13.7 acre patch of public green serves multiple purposes. Its been home to many generations of Castro and Mission people in search of moment to bask in SF sunshine, hang with pals and take a gander at the many genres of citizenry on display as they wind their way around the park.

19th Street entrance to the park with multiple wheel chair ramps.

19th Street entrance to the park with multiple wheel chair ramps.

The remodel is currently a year behind schedule. The grueling, sixteen month, redesign process with back and forth, fiery debates revolving around historic preservation, ADA access for all citizens,, more trees or less, bench placement and nearly any other issue you could imagine.

Restrooms

Another angle of restrooms and tennis court redesign.

“We could have moved faster had we not honored the community input,” project manager Jake Gilchrist said.

Luckily they did listen. The result of the eight month, life sucking, workshops have reached a level of public consensus that is unique to the people of the Castro and Mission neighborhoods and their specific needs.

New bathrooms next to the Bike Polo Courts

New bathrooms next to the Bike Polo Courts

Here is the seasonal estimation concocted by yours truly based on years of SF living and the current, multiple revamp of the construction time table by the powers that be. Partial park closures will be taking place during the remainder of the remodel.

The walk along the ridge of the Park.

The walk along the ridge of the Park.

  • Fall 2013: Phase 1 ([the southern half of the park from 19th to 20th streets, including the clubhouse, Gay Beach, picnicking areas, and the dog park) construction begins.
  • Early Winter. 2013: Phase 1 construction substantial completion.
  • Mid Spring 2014: Phase 2 (the northern half from 18th and 19th streets, including the tennis courts, the 'Stoners' terrace and what many call 'Hipster Hill') construction begins.
  • Fall 2014: Phase 2 substantial construction completion.
Looking down at the new Tennis Courts and Bike Polo Courts.

Looking down at the new Tennis Courts and Bike Polo Courts.

Let’s hope this remodel moves smoothly and without to many hiccups. The Castro and Mission neighborhoods require green space to keep high density, City living stress in check and our little Park that can is the perfect salve for it.

 

 

 

The Latest Skinny on Past Posts of Neighborhood News

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We’ve posted a great deal in the past month or so about a myriad of stories  in the Castro that have generated quite a bit of interest. This week the follow-up news has been a hot and heavy maelstrom resolving at least one issue that’s been festering since 2009.

Cafe Flore (credit: Eric Nielson)

Cafe Flore (credit: Eric Nielson)

Cafe Flore restaurant in jeopardy: As our Editor in Chief, Roy,  posted last week, Cafe Flore had run afoul of a organzied effort by members of the community and two neighborhood associations over their off site kitchen use.

Sup. Wiener had proposed a targeted code variance which would allow the venerable and much beloved icon of the Castro to continue using the off site, code compliant, food prep site its had functioning for the last two decades. Many of the opposition thought this was unfair and that all businesses should be held to the exact same standards no matter what.

We’re happy to report that the Oversight Committee in charge of the issue via Board of Supervisors approved the change this week and now Cafe Flore is free of threats to its continued operation. The off site kitchen will continue to be used keeping Flore up and running without hiccups.

fitness-sf-expansionSF Fitness seeks to expand and remodel building: In October the Biscuit posted that LA based Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf was hoping to expand into the Castro with a new store opening in the old Vibrant Health Vitamin Center.

This new addition to the Castro was contingent on a couple of issues-the biggest-wether or not SF Fitness could get a zone variance to enlarge the building on the corner of Market and Noe St. Their goal since 2009 has been to add several floors which would include much-needed rental units as well as expanding the gym to accommodate an ever-growing clientel.

Working with the Board of Supes, under the guidance of Supervisor Wiener, the remodel has received the go ahead. Mr. Wiener piggybacked the zone change for SF Fitness onto the same multi-faceted legislation that included Cafe Flore’s off site kitchen issue.

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf signed a lease with the owners of SF Fitness, the Jackovics family, following the approval. Coffee Bean will still have to get approval to open which may prove to be a daunting task considering how corporate chain stores are received and disliked in the neighborhood.

milk-sfo-rallyRally for renaming SFO for Harvey Milk: We’ve posted three times about the battle heating up to rename SFO.

Friday saw a huge coalition of supporters rally at City Hall in favor of changing the name of SFO to honor the late, Castro Supervisor and civil rights leader, Harvey Milk.

Led by chief proponents Sup. David Campos who introduced the resolution to the Board, and Stuart Milk, Harvey’s nephew and Milk Foundation head, about a hundred people took part from a wide swath of San Francisco political organizations and citizenry. Kicking off the rally with chants and speeches of support media from throughout the Bay Area was on hand to cover and help get out the word that the battle is on to make this idea a reality.

Friday Sup. Campos said 80 airports are named after people across the U.S. but there is no representation from the LGBT community.

“Why shouldn’t San Francisco be that City?” Campos asked those gathered at the rally.

Campos isn’t alone in this quest he’s enlisted the support of four other supervisors, including John Avalos, Scott Wiener, Jane Kim and Eric Mar. One more supervisor will be needed to get the issue on a City ballot.

Campos goal is to have this issue on the agenda by Fall of 2013.

 

 

New site outlines major Castro development projects

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Map of Major Castro Development Projects

Map of Major Castro Development Projects

Merchants of Upper Market and Castro (MUMC) member Emery Bushong of Herth Real Estate has compiled an informative list of 10 major new development projects now underway in the Castro.  Most include new ground floor retail-commercial space (totaling over 60,000 s.f.), as well as hundreds of new residential units — both condos and rentals. The website includes renderings of what the new locations will look like once completed. It’s a valuable resource for anyone interested in the Castro’s future.

via MUMC

The Randall Museum-Hidden Castro Treasure Set To Get Make Over

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The Randall Museum opened at this location in what was then a remote section of the City in 1951

The Randall Museum opened at this location in what was then a remote section of the City in 1951,

If you grew up in the City or the Castro chances are you know about the Randall Museum. It is a lesser known San Francisco education, interactive, museum focused on local nature and science straddling the border between the Castro and Corona Heights neighborhoods.

San Francisco school kids have been enjoying free tours of the museum for sixty years. Randall is dedicated to a variety of SF specific exhibits and workshops including crowd favorites that highlight indigeionous species of flora, fauna and wildlife.

This week the Board of Supervisors announced the aging, small hall is going to be revamped in part with a 5.5 million dollar state grant.

The educational facility, named after Josephine Randall, SF’s first Superintendent of Recreation, who in 1937 envisioned San Francisco should lead the nation in creating a string of museums earmarked to help City children learn about the environment and grow from the experience.

Plans on display for the soon to be remodeled Randall Museum.

Plans on display for the soon to be remodeled Randall Museum.

The much-needed monies to accomplish the reconstruction will be used to double exhibit space, modernizing the building allowing it to better meet the needs of the City’s ever-growing diverse population.

It’s also the Museum’s goal to keep costs down that are passed on to citizens so more can enjoy it compared to other high ticket priced, educational orientated, well known and popular institutions like the City’s Exploratorium or CA. Academy of Sciences.

“The importance of creating additional programming space at the Randall cannot be overstated,” Supervisor Scott Wiener said in a statement. The museum, which is operated by the Recreation and Park Department, was awarded the grant in 2011 and its now ready to apply it to good use.

The area the kids love the most, interactive, hands on time with local wildlife, will be expanded and given a more natural look. Both a geological and zoological exhibit will be added to the museum. Additionally classrooms will renovated and science labs constructed.

All of this will help facilitate better understanding of San Francisco and all its natural inhabitants by the 100,000 plus visitors the Randall Museum hosts each year.

The grant is the largest that the City has received from the CA Dept. of Parks and Recreation under the 2006, voter approved, Prop. 84, which allocated $5.4 billion to foster environmental awareness programs through out the state.

Randall Museum LogoThe City is struggling to maintain all it’s facilities with an every shrinking budget and this grant couldn’t come at a better time for the Randall Museum where little has changed since it first opened its doors at this location in 1951.

The museum is always looking for new donors and supporters. You can pitch in here.

All work is expected to be completed in time for the new, 2015, school year.