Fall 2011

The Richmond is talking about . . . Target Approved at Masonic and Geary: In August, the Planning Commission unanimously approved a new Target store in the empty space vacated by Mervyn’s. Opening is expected in Spring 2013.

West End Wastewater Treatment Plant: The Planning Department’s draft EIR (Environmental Impact Report) on where to put a new wastewater treatment plant will be delayed until the fall of 2012, with the final EIR expected in 2013. This EIR also will address the feasibility of a pump that would blend groundwater with Hetch Hetchy water drinking water for the city’s western neighborhoods. An EIR for a related project, the Beach Chalet Soccer renovation, is expected this fall.

It was standing room only at PAR’s 2011 Mayoral Debate Petco Banned on Geary: On July 26 the Board of Supervisors on September 19 at the Richmond Recreation Center. More voted 8-3 in favor of legislation introduced by District 1 than 250 people were on hand to hear 13 candidates answer questions about issues specific to the Richmond District: the Supervisor Eric Mar that bans chain pet supply stores from Geary transit corridor, economic development, the Veterans opening in the former Walgreens site on the 5400 block of Medical Affairs Center and development in the western end . of . The debate was co-sponsored by the continued on page 2 Richmond Reform Democratic Club, Chinese American Voters Education Committee, Greater Geary Street Merchants, Clement Merchants, The Coalition to Save Ocean Beach, Friends of Sutro Park and New America Media. Fall PAR Meeting • • • Resolved—Recent actions To see the agenda, taken by PAR please go to sfpar.org. Supported the proposed lease agreement between the Recreation & Park Department and the Richmond District YMCA for the Argonne Clubhouse on 18th Avenue. The Board Wednesday, October 20, 2011 noted the “good public use of what would otherwise be a closed 7 to 9 p.m. and non-productive facility” and called the Richmond District YMCA “a responsible lessee to provide creative and affordable Richmond Recreation Center programming.” 251 18th Avenue (between Clement & California streets) Declined to mediate disputes between neighbors and AT&T Paid parking is available one block away concerning the placement of sidewalk cabinets to house its telecommunications equipment. “We felt there were no firm in the lot behind the Alexandria Theatre criteria for making placement decisions and that such mediations between Clement Street and Geary Boulevard. would serve only to achieve AT&T’s corporate objectives, which Muni lines: is incompatible with PAR’s mission of serving members and the 1 California and 38 Geary neighborhood,” said PAR Board Member Brenda Altman, who continued on page 2 Bylaws changes up for vote Richmond is PAR members will vote on changing Article IV, Section B: talking about. . . the PAR bylaws at the October 19 General The Board of Directors shall consist of continued from page 1 Membership Meeting. The proposed a minimum of fifteen and a maximum of Street Lights: The SF Public Utilities amendment will change the number of twenty-three persons. This shall include Commission’s LED Street Light directors from a fixed number of 23 to a the following four Officers: President, Conversion Project will upgrade some range between 15 and 23. Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. 18,600 of the approximately 25,000 “This amendment will give PAR the Up to two of these four offices may be city-owned street lights to LED fixtures. flexibility to adjust the size of the Board held by one Board Member provided there However, PG&E owns about 43% to account for the issues PAR is dealing are at least three different Board Members of the street lights in , with any at particular time and the level serving as Officers and a Board Member including most of the lights located in the of interest by PAR members in serving on serving as either Secretary or Treasurer Richmond district. These lights will not the Board,” said Fred Altshuler, chair of is not concurrently serving as President. be converted. Read more about the LED PAR’s Bylaws Committee. “Many other A Member of the Board other than an Street Light Conversion Project on the nonprofits now have comparable provi- Officer may, with the approval of the SFPUC’s website, www.sfwater.org/bids/ sions in their bylaws.” Board, designate the Member’s spouse or projectDetail.aspx?prj_id=270. The amendments will take effect if domestic partner as an alternate Member two-thirds of the members attending and of the Board with all of the rights and America’s Cup Preparations: voting at the October 19 meeting approve. duties pertaining thereto. Preparations are underway to get The language to be voted on is as follows Section C: At the annual election, the everything shipshape for the 2013 (changes underlined): election of the officers shall precede the America’s Cup sailing races in San election of the other directors. Francisco Bay. One of the first steps is Officers & Directors environmental review at the city, state and federal levels. “This will be a huge Resolved event on every level—environmentally, Officers continued from page 1 economically and socially,” said PAR Raymond Holland, President Maria Sousa, Vice President & Treasurer proposed the resolution. President Ray Holland. For more Jason Jungreis, Secretary information on the local environmental Requested a settlement dispute review, go to www.sf-planning.org/index. Directors resolution meeting with the attorney for aspx?recordid=45&page=2719. Brenda Altman Sharon Gadberry Fred Altshuler Margie Hom-Brown the SF Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Lynn Altshuler Brian Larkin PAR wants to resolve the VAMC’s Proposed GGNRA Overflights: The Dan Baroni Claire Myers failure to comply with its 2008 federal Federal Aviation Administration and the Nick Belloni Cheryl Schultz court settlement agreement with PAR, National Park Service are considering Gene Brodsky Bill Shepard including the VAMC’s failure to issue regulating the skies over the GGNRA, Julie Burns Matt Tuchow Herb Elliott Peter Winkelstein a final Institutional Master Plan and the San Francisco Maritime National Paul Epstein Christopher Wright Environmental Impact Statement by last Historical Park and Point Reyes National Robert Fries December. The VAMC’s attorney has Seashore for commercial helicopter and Emeritus Directors not responded, forcing PAR to seek court seaplane tours. For more information, Jon Bulkley • Jim Lazarus enforcement. go to www.faa.gov/about/office_org/ Ron Miguel • Paul Rosenberg The VAMC’s plans would add headquarters_offices/arc/programs/air_ PAR Representatives on the: about one million square feet of in-fill tour_management_plan/park_specific_ Neighborhood Associations for Presidio construction to the existing campus, plans/Golden_Gate.cfm. Planning: Paul Epstein, Sharon Gadberry, roughly equivalent to two TransAmerica Ray Holland Housing Action Council: Dan Baroni pyramids. Neighborhood Working Group for Presidio This expansion would be for research The 2011 Master Plan: Ray Holland or administration, not patient care for honor roll of Kaiser Permanente Citizens Task Force: Peter veterans. Major construction at the donors and members Winkelstein VAMC continues to plague the area, Presidio Restoration Advisory Board: will be published including a parking facility on Clement Julie Cheever in the Winter 2012 Street and massive soil engineering on Ocean Beach Master Planning Committee: Julie Burns the VAMC’s north slope, threatening the newsletter. Richmond Community Coalition: Ray Holland Lands End trails.

2 The 2000s: A decade of accomplishment Several projects started and supported people to PAR meetings. Board mem- Closer to the Pacific Ocean, PAR sup- by PAR in the 20th century flowered in bers represented PAR on the Community ported the Cliff House redesign and plans the first decade of the 21st century. The Advisory Committees for both museums, to improve the Land’s End Trail. organization saw its influence recog– as well as the Concourse Authority, over- nized at the local, state and federal levels. seeing the new underground parking lot. And, PAR never forgot its mandate to act, Starting in 2008, PAR, park neighbors develop and enhance life in the Richmond and the Recreation & Park Department District. hammered out policies and procedures to govern the growing number of concerts Places for Kids to Play and events held in the park. In the years Five months into the new century, since, organizers of the Outside Lands and and 14 years after PAR first floated the the Hardly, Strictly Bluegrass Festivals idea, the Richmond Recreation Center have largely addressed the noise, park- opened on May 30. Mayor Willie Brown, ing and traffic issues, although concerns Supervisor Michael Yaki and PAR linger. The most recent incarnation of the Cliff President Ron Miguel spoke while happy PAR also spoke out—repeatedly— House features neoclassical details reminiscent of the 1909 structure. kids bounced basketballs and swatted against banning cars on JFK Drive on ping-pong balls. That equipment, and Saturday. Voters defeated the idea twice at Relations weren’t as neighborly with much more, was bought with fundraising the ballot box. A proposal by Supervisor the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. In efforts spearheaded by PAR Board mem- Jake McGoldrick in 2006 eventually suc- 2006, PAR and Friends of Land’s End ber Lynn Altshuler. Donors included big ceeded in closing a large section of the sued the VAMC for its failure to follow names like ESPN, the Koret Foundation park to automotive traffic on Saturdays. the National Environmental Policy Act in and Home Depot, as well as scores of its development activities. A 2008 settle- Richmond district residents. Safer Streets ment of the suit required the VAMC to “At last, some of the Caltrans enforce- follow the law, to develop an institutional ment along Park Presidio that we’ve been master plan and to brief neighbors on fighting for,” was Miguel’s reaction to the activities at quarterly neighborhood meet- installation of red-light cameras at Geary ings. (See story on page 2.) Boulevard, Lake and Fulton Streets along Park Presidio Boulevard. Good Neighbors Throughout the decade, PAR comment- The Land Use Committee continued ed on various proposals to improve Muni to wield its expertise to help residents service in the neighborhood. Presentations and neighbors through the pitfalls of San on the Geary Transit Project (2003), Bus Francisco’s zoning and design regulations. Rapid Transit (2005 and 2010) and the In 2005 alone, the committee worked with Transit Effectiveness Project (2008) all two movie theaters, two hospitals, two Kids and grownups relax at the drew crowds to PAR meetings. private schools and several large busi- Richmond branch library playground. PAR also commented on plans for nesses, not to mention numerous individu- Doyle Drive and supported the demoli- als and families. PAR also got involved with the tion of the Central Freeway and the In addition to the one-on-one assis- redesign of the playground behind the construction of its replacement, Octavia tance, PAR commented on the Planning Richmond branch library when it was Boulevard. Closer to home, PAR par- Department’s new residential design renovated. PAR Board member Camille ticipated in making 25th Avenue greener guidelines, regulations for exterior She organized a “Make a Tile” fundraiser. and safer and supported the Balboa Street residential alterations and Discretionary Today, the tile makers’ artistry enlivens streetscape project. Review criteria and procedures. the low wall surrounding the playground PAR also facilitated discussions equipment bought with the funds raised. Working with the Presidio and VAMC between Safeway and neighbors on As the pace of cleanup and develop- two major store renovations at Seventh Changes in Golden Gate Park ment in the Presidio and the Golden Gate Avenue and Cabrillo Street (2003 to 2008) PAR and the rest of the city devoted a National Recreation Area picked up, so and at La Playa (2008 to the present). lot of time and attention to Golden Gate too did PAR’s involvement. PAR com- Park in the last decade. Discussions of mented on land use, bikeway and trail, PAR looks forward to its next 40 years plans for the new de Young Museum and Main Post and Parade Ground plans in the of safeguarding the quality of life in the California Academy of Sciences drew Presidio. Richmond.

3 Letter from the President ear PAR Members, The number and variety of Join PAR Darticles in this newsletter shows Membership is open to all persons living, working, or owning property in the Richmond that there is no shortage of issues to keep District of San Francisco. PAR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Your contribution is your board of directors busy! Perhaps tax-deductible as provided by law. that is a good sign that people remain Yes! I/we want to support the Richmond District. committed to and involved with the neighborhood. First name(s) Last name The articles on page one will give you a flavor for just a few of the Name of business (for business members) many issues and projects that PAR’s committees follow and comment Address on. Many of these issues are of longstanding concern—construction City State Zip at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center comes to mind. One, however is quite Primary phone Cell/other phone recent. We are commenting on three separate environmental reviews being conducted by the San Francisco Planning E-Mail PAR respects your privacy and will not share your email. Department, the National Park Service, and the Federal Aviation Administration Membership ! Individual ! Business related to the America’s Cup Races in ! Supporting membership, $15.00/year and above 2012 and 2013. ! Subscribing membership, $25.00/year and above Thanks to those who attended the ! Sponsor membership, $50.00/year and above mayoral debate sponsored by PAR and ! Patron membership, $100.00/year and above several partners in September. While PAR doesn’t endorse candidates, we are Please complete and cut out this form and mail it together with your check (payable to the proud to have provided a forum for you Planning Association of the Richmond) to to learn about the candidates and hear PARPAR them address issues of importance to the 57583145 Geary Geary Boulevard, Boulevard, Box #205 356 Richmond District. SanSan Francisco, Francisco CA CA 94121-2112 94118 Ray Holland THANKS for helping to support the quality of life in San Francisco's Richmond District. [email protected]

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