Tag Archives: SF Planning Dept.

Planning Dept updates: Castro Street Design additional features, sidewalk furniture

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Sidewalk Pavement Details

Sidewalk Pavement Details via SF Planning Department

Some of the commenters in our post regarding the final design for the Castro Street Redesign had some questions for the Planning Department that we could not answer. Nick Perry, Urban Designer and Project Lead for the Castro Street Design project, reached out to us to help answer some of those questions.

Q: The BAR reported that Castro history facts, LED lighting, mica sparkles, rainbow crosswalks, etc. did not make the final design cut.
A: They did not make the final design cut, which is true, however if bids come in low enough for the rest of the project, some of these additional enhancements may be included into the project.

Q: There was discussion about allowing businesses to place café tables and chairs on the new sidewalks. Where would this furniture go?
A: Café tables and chairs would be allowed in the Frontage Zone which is +/- 4 feet directly adjacent to the buildings and possibly in the Furnishings Zone (nearest the street) where trees, poles, bike racks, etc will be located.

Q: Will the furniture crowd up the sidewalk, defeating the purpose of widening the sidewalks?
A: No, the main Throughway Zone is 9 feet in width and is scored in a 3×3 pattern to distinguish it from the Frontage and Furnishing zones. The scoring will help the city regulate the space and keep it clear of obstructions. In addition, Throughway Zones will be 9 feet wide (around 3 feet wider than the current sidewalks) allowing for plenty of unobstructed foot-traffic.

Q: Will anybody be able to put out a table and some chairs?
A: Whether they’re in the frontage zone or furnishing zone, any tables and chairs placed by businesses would need to be permitted and approved by the City on a case-by-case basis.

If you have any other questions for the Planning Department regarding the improvements to Castro’s proposed streetscape redesign, let us know and we’ll try to get some answers for you!

Planning Department reveals final Castro Street designs

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A neighbor asks questions about the new design

A neighbor asks questions about the new design

Yesterday, the San Francisco Planning Department held their final public meeting to show off the finished designs for the $4 million dollar overhaul of Castro Street. The “Open House” was held over at the Market & Noe Center (the vacant space next to RadioShack) and the turnout was great.

In the front of the room, easels with details of the process and the final design were formed in a semi-circle. Representatives from various city departments were at each station and were available to ask questions. Attendees were invited to grab a sticky-note pad and write down their questions or concerns and stick them to the boards.

In the final design:

  • sidewalks widened from 12′ to 22′
  • sidewalk bulbous at crosswalks
  • Jane Warner Plaza repaving
  • possible nixing of north-bound left-turn onto 18th from Castro (depending on survey feedback)
  • a more direct crossing path across Market Street near Jane Warner Plaza
  • accent trees near intersections will be King Palms
  • trees along the mid-block will be Columnar Ginkos
  • rainbow sidewalks, glittery pavement, led lighting and/or Castro history facts on sidewalks if bids come in low enough
via SF Planning Department
22′ sidewalks via SF Planning Department
Sidewalk rendering via SF Planning Department
Sidewalk Pavement Details via SF Planning Department
via SF Planning Department
via SF Planning Department
via SF Planning Department
More direct route to cross Market planned via SF Planning Department
Life Study – How people live and play in the Castro
Possible enhancements
Survey for possible nixing of North-bound turn-lane from Castro Street onto 18th

Construction is set for January 2014 and is expected to be completed around October.

The Planning Department has not yet made the design available on the project’s website, but as soon as they do, we’ll link to them.

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

 

Planning Dept to reveal final Castro Street design May 14th

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Castro Street Design Open House

After two town hall meetings, two surveys, and lots of feedback from Castro neighbors, the SF Planning Department is ready to reveal the final conceptual design for the revamp of Castro Street. The base of the project rests on widening out the sidewalks on either side of Castro between Market and 19th Street. Additional enhancements include bulb outs for pedestrians, moving the Muni poles for unfettered sidewalk access, reconfiguring the crosswalk crossing Market on the East-side of Castro near Jane Warner Plaza, trees and greenery, and more.

The Planning Department is holding their open house to reveal the final design on Tuesday, May 14th, between 7-9PM at the Market & Noe Center (soon-to-be CVS) at 2278 Market Street. City staff will be on-hand to answer questions and listen to thoughts on the conceptual design.

We’ll see you there!

Renderings of Castro Street Design on public display

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Castro Street Design Rendering in soon-to-be CVS building

Castro Street Design rendering in soon-to-be CVS building

If you are curious about what the SF Planning Department has in store for the Castro Street Design Project, you can check out the renderings of the streetscape at the soon-to-be CVS location at 2278 Market Street (where Trader Joe’s was going to be) near Radio Shack.

As we’ve covered, the Planning Department has been holding town-hall meetings for the past several months, soliciting feedback from the community via surveys to determine what should be included in the new design. The base of the project rests on widening out the sidewalks on either side of Castro between Market and 19th Street. Though the deadline to submit the department’s survey has passed, they are still encouraging folks to email or call (415.575.9066) to share their ideas and opinions on the finer points of the new design such as: crosswalk enhancements, sparkly cement, bulbout locations, tree selection, etc.

The Planning Department has set a tentative date of mid-May for their final town-hall meeting. We’ll let you know the when and where once we find out.

More details at the SF Planning Department’s website.

Old Diesel location to become strip joint?

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Diesel store with "for lease" sign

Diesel store

Our friends over at the SFist reported that an organization called “Randy Rooster” is in escrow to purchase the old Diesel location (400 Castro St– also former home to Bank of America) in order to turn it into a strip club. The club will feature “the highest quality entertainment, locally sourced fine dining, elegant alcoholic beverages, and stimulating music.”

The organization has setup a barebones website that looks like it was built by the same people who built the Space Jam website back in the 90′s to lay out their vision for the new space. The website currently has no info on it save for a picture of snow and links to some pages with no content.

The biggest hurdle for Randy Rooster, if they do indeed intend on opening a strip club, will be changing the building’s currently zoned use and getting permits for nightlife/bar/adult entertainment. Zoning changes for buildings require approval for the SF Planning Department and I’m sure many neighborhood associations in the Castro who are seemingly opposed to the idea of a strip club have their own connections to the board they can call in.

Adding a strip club to Castro’s repertoire of nighttime entertainment may seem a little redundant when you can already go to QBar or The Cafe to get balls (covered in undies mind you) wagged in your face. Many commenters over at the SFist note this will probably solidify the Castro as the “bachelorette party district” of San Francisco. Do you want to see a strip club at the gateway to the Castro?

(via Biscuit tipster Stephen G)

UPDATE: 11 Million Dollar Dolores Park Renovations Face Last Minute Appeal

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r-DOLORES-PARK-REDESIGN-large570Our pals over at the blog Uptown Almanac report local Dolores Park neighbor, Dr. Claudia Praetel, MD, Ph.D, has filed an appeal halting the already way-behind remodel of the popular Park.

Dr. Praetel believes too much of the redesigns open space is given to dog play areas and not enough was set aside for the children. Without this extra play space in Dolores Park she believes that childhood obesity will run rampant in the neighborhood and threaten to engulf us all.

If you’re sensing a certain level of snark on my part within this post you are both observant and right on the money.

Her appeal filed with City last week, states in part, the planned two off-leash dog play areas “are by no means acceptable to many families with school-aged children who are using this park.” She further states;

Serious concern for loss of open space for children: Dolores Park is adjacent to 2 schools and has more than 8 other schools near by – desperate need for open space for children to run and play in order to stem childhood obesity pandemic.

The Mission has a very high to higher density of children aged 6-12 per net acre, a large park with open space is paramount to their healthy development in an inner city setting, were other parks may not be accessible to them.

 

Really? Really, really?!

Dog Play Area Photo: Uptown Almanac

Dog Play Area Photo: Uptown Almanac

As anyone whose been following our posts about the upheaval, debate, remodel, rebuild, refurbish, replant of our beloved Dolores Park which lies at the edge of the Castro you know the process to get $11+ million bucks set aside for this two decade in the making, two year debated, long-awaited change has been excruciating.

Plans have been mangled, remade, rewritten, debated, and met on by the community at large ad-infinitum. The good doctor has had ample time to put up the roadblocks for a long time. One wonders why now? She managed to get this appeal in right under the wire before the deadline to object expired according to City planners.

As the Uptown Almanac noted: “This loner appellant could effectively derail the community-driven consensus redesign process; one that involved dozens–if not hundreds–of park users over the course of two years, specifically to avoid leaving anyone out.”

Community groups and organizations who’ve worked on this final Dolores Park remodel design will be, no doubt, very disappointed.

So, this once done deal is on hold. We’ll keep our ears to the ground since there’s obviously more to come.