precita.org

Mission Local has a good piece on the Cesar Chavez Redesign:

The first phase, which is likely to start this summer, involves redoing the sewage system to reduce flooding.

Above ground, the second phase will involve planting more trees, using energy-efficient street lights and converting the three lanes of traffic in each direction to two lanes. With concerns over safety, a 14-foot tree-lined median and widened curbs will be paved to decrease the time needed for pedestrians to cross the intersection. Bicyclists will also be able to enjoy the additional street space through permanent bike lanes.

More at Mission Local. It's all part of the Mission Streetscape Plan.

Labels: Cesar Chavez, News, Planning, traffic calming

After a long renovation, the Bernal Heights branch library (500 Cortland at Andover) is reopening on Saturday, January 30 with a big party. Ceremonies begin at 1 p.m. The Friends of the SFPL are organizing refreshments, music, and giveaways, and you can check out books and other materials from 2 p.m. [More details]

Bernal History Project members will be in attendance to answer questions about the neighborhood, show pictures and maps, and gather research for our archives. (Have photos or stories to share? Come on by!)

Labels: News

From the city of SF:

Thursday , October 15th - The Great California Shake Out Drill - (10/15 at 10:15 am) Asking people to register at the website and, at a minimum to practice drop, cover and hold on drills. We will also be sounding the city's outdoor public warning system at this time. (Media outreach will take place prior to notify all members of the public)

Obviously not enough media outreach, because it caught us by surprise this morning.

Labels: NERT, News

On wednesday night, a car parked on Treat in front of the school had the passenger side window smashed, and some items were stolen from the car; including a back pack full of womens' clothing.

The car belonged to someone visiting from out of state and had only been parked there for one day.

Labels: car breakings, crime, News, precita valley neighboars

Vicky Walker from the Bernal History Project writes:

Help us celebrate neighborhood history at the Bernal Heights History Day!

It happens on Saturday, August 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Anthony Immaculate Conception School (299 Precita at Folsom), and is sponsored by Bernal History Project and Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.

Admission is free and open to all, but be aware that the school entrance is not fully ADA-accessible (there is one step leading to the hall). Parking is available but limited in the streets around Precita Park as well as in the schoolyard (via entrance on Shotwell Street), but we recommend public transport, as the event is likely to be well attended.

The schedule tentatively looks like this:

• Welcome and introduction from Bernal History Project and Friends of the SFPL, Bernal branch


• Short set by singer and storyteller Nancy Schimmel


• Slideshow and talk by Terry Milne of BHP on "Activism and Open Spaces," looking at the history and establishment of our parks, open spaces, and gardens


• Q&A -- bring your Bernal-related questions


• Refreshments and a short break, after which Nancy Schimmel will play another setSlideshow and talk by author and historian Peter Wiley on "The Brothers and Sisters of Mullen Avenue," detailing family, social, and political life on that street between 1968 and 1980


• "The Living History Panel of Distinguished Old-Timers," moderated by Peter Wiley. We are looking for volunteers. Longtime Bernal residents, or those who grew up here and would like to share their stories -- please let us know if you'd like to be part of the panel. All that's required is a willingness to talk!


• Short set by Bernal's one-woman-band Jackie Jones and her musical saw and tap-dancing cat


• Following the program, Terry Milne of BHP will lead a History Walk of Precita Valley. Note: The walk does not include steep hills.

We'll have all our usual displays, posters, and scrapbooks, and BHP volunteers will be available to help with genealogical and historical research.

There will also be a raffle (proceeds benefit the Bernal Heights Library Campaign and the Bernal History Project) with lots of interesting Bernal-related prizes, including framed prints and local history books.

Bring your photos and family stories to share. We'll have a digital scanner on hand to copy your pictures and letters. Let us know if you want to be part of the Bernal Heights Archive, to be housed by the Bernal branch library (reopening in early 2010).

We look forward to seeing you at History Day!

Labels: News, Precita Valley Neighbors, pvn

You will likely need to call several times, as the drivers throw papers to every house unless the have a specific "exclusion list".

Call this number: 866-733-7323

Call, don't use the online form, as it's not as reliable.

If you must use the inline forms: there are two: Cancel SF Examiner or Cancel SF Examiner.

Chasing the delivery driver down the street at 2am in the morning won't do much good.

Labels: News

We've heard that the controversial permits for a restaurant at 398 Precita / 3200 Harrison have been withdrawn by the property owner, and that he will be re-filing as a "permitted" commercial use for RH-2 zoning.

Under this "Permitted" commercial use in RH2 zoning, the only thing that is allowed is a "Child-care facility providing less than 24-hour care for 12 or fewer children by licensed personnel and meeting the open-space and other requirements of the State of California and other authorities."

When we peeked in last week, you could see how the walls and ceiling have been stripped down to the studs. From the outside, however, not much has changed. There appears to be a lot of dry-rot in the front foundation that will need to be repaired before the building is occupied.

Labels: News, Precita Valley Neighbors, real estate, Zoning

Treat Avenue residents are up in arms about a rash of DPT ticketing Saturday (1/31/09) on their street.

While Treat Ave does have some significant parking and traffic issues (many due to the fact that it is a narrow dead end street with no turn around), Saturday's ticketing was all about what one person called "petty technicalities that wasn't harming anyone".
What we know is that at 8am Saturday morning, DPT cited over 10 cars on one block for being parked the wrong direction on the street. Because there were no apparent safety issues, many people felt this was a "revenue action" on the part of DPT. People have stated that because it was the last day of the month, that DPT may be trying to reach revenue quotas. (We're trying to contact DPT to find out more about this.)

One neighbor has left signs around asking people to complain about this by emailing Supervisor Campos' office.

Here's a letter that's been posted on the street from Barbara:



Other parking issues have been double-parking and blocking the sidewalk. DPT has repeatedly ticketing the "Tiger Beer" Bajaj Scooter Pickup (which is a motorcycle under California law) for parking on the sidewalk in front of the owner's house; and ticketing of other cars for protruding onto the sidewalk from their driveways.

Many residents have professed that protruding onto the sidewalk is acceptable if it does not interfere with with pedestrians. While some residents do park in a way that impedes the pedestrian right-of-way, those are rarely ticketed.

Double parking is a more-mixed issue. Treat is a narrow street, and sometimes double-parkers make it impossible for wide vehicle (and delivery trucks) to safely pass by them. Other times double parking makes it hard for other residents to get out of their driveways.

What do you think? Leave us a comment!

[UPDATE: this is happening in Sunnyside, Glen Park and other parts of Bernal Heights as well. DPT needs the revenue!]

Labels: Neighborhood Watch, News, parking, precita valley neighboars, Precita Valley Neighbors, pvn

The city is installing a new catch basin at the intersection of Precita (North side) and Folsom, as well as replacing the sewer lines from around 343 Precita to Folsom. There will be no parking during working hours for the first 2 weeks in February along that stretch of Precita. Additionally, there is no parking along Folsom near Precita.
This is part of a more complex project that will also involve the building of "bulb outs" at Precita and Folsom, financed as part of the 'Safe Routes to School' project.

So expect there to be some parking issues around the park for the next few weeks, but the impact is expected to be less severe than most street cleaning times.

Labels: construction, News, Precita Park, Precita Valley Neighbors, traffic calming

There was a fire at the Rite-Way market on Precita and Alabama on December 26th. The fire started in one of the refrigeration units. The store will remain closed for at least a month. There was some damage to the apartments above as well.




We are told the owners had insurance and are waiting on their claim before they can rebuild the store. We wish them well and are glad that no one was hurt.

Labels: News, precita, Precita Park

Remember to vote. Not sure what to vote for?

League of Women Voters SF
ballot recommendations

Courage Campaign recommendations (Progressive)

And a quick comparison of what various groups recommend:

San Francisco comparisons

California comparisons

Labels: News

[Thanks to MMC for this report!]

I attended the Oakes Children's Center Community meeting on August 15th, and I left with a very good impression of the program and the staff.

I was worried about what it would be like to have another school here again. The high school that was here last created some problems, specifically, crazy gridlock on Treat Avenue in the morning and afternoon when parents dropped off and picked up their kids and couldn't turn around on the street, and also a problem of trash and graffiti. The people that ran the school were very unresponsive.

The Oakes people seemed really nice and professional, and assured all the neighbors that attended that their door was always open to us for any questions or comments. They are very happy to be moving to an area with such nice weather after being in the Sunset. There were a couple of parents there and they were really happy with the school and the staff and told some touching stories about how Oakes has helped their kids.

Here are some more notes I took... but keep in mind these may not totally be accurate due to me trying to type and listen, so feel free to contact the school if you have any questions!

• 15 students total at present, up to 25 kids maybe in the future
  


• aprox. 31 staff members
  


• Kids always supervised.
  


• Pick up/drop off: 4 buses a day, (2 morning, 2 evening) all kids ride buses, buses will offload on Folsom or drive through. Aides on the bus. Some small number of kids might come in the afternoon for counseling sessions.
  


• Ages of kids: 5-14
  


• Hours: Morning till around 6pm. No weekends, 11 months school.
  


• Funding: by SF Deptartment of Public Health and SFUSD
  


• They got a long lease
  


• 3 classes k-2, 3-4, 5-8
  


• Referrals come from school district
  


• Education and mental health services
  


• They have after school groups (from other schools) "outpatient" therapy, group sessions, autistic or developmentally delayed, in a small van. 5 groups with 5 kids each.
  


• They are happy to have people serve on their Board of Directors, and you do not need any special qualifications to serve.
  

Labels: News, precita valley neighboars, pvn

Flyers have been distributed in on Treat about the Oakes Children's Center, which is moving into 1550 Treat, the old Immaculate Conception School (which was formerly housing Metro Arts High School).

Some information on Oakes:

The mission of Oakes Children's Center is to help developmentally delayed and emotionally disturbed children develop the independence and self-awareness necessary to live and continue learning in the least restrictive setting possible within their local community.

Oakes will move into the new location on August 20th.

Their website has more information on services provided by Oakes Children's Center.

There will be a community meeting on Friday, August 15, from 4 to 5:30 PM at the school (1550 Treat) with representatives from San Francisco Department of Public Health and Oakes School staff to introduce the school and answer questions neighbors may have.

Unfortunately, this meeting happens during the time that many people are at work.

If you need more information, you can call 415 564-2310.

Labels: News, Precita Valley Neighbors, pvn

Bernal Resident murdered near Holly Park Circle and Newman: William Amrull, a 50-year old man was "shot in the stomach and killed early Thursday [June 26th] around the corner from his home. Amrull's body was found shortly before 3 a.m. on the sidewalk near Holly Park Circle and Newman Street, near Holly Park."

If you're concerned about things like this, please contact Maya Dillard-Smith, of the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice. Maya.Smith@sfgov.org, 415-554-3297. Ms. Dillard-Smith was hired to coordinate the development of a violence prevention plan for the City and County of San Francisco, but this plan has been in the works since February and hasn't been released yet.

Labels: Cortland Ave, crime, Neighborhood Watch, News

SFGATE: Chain store allowed to move into vacant Mission District space:

"The paint store's application for a permit to open at that location, which owners sought after closing a store on Market Street, had been denied by the city's Planning Commission. The supervisors' vote overturned that decision.


In changing the commission's ruling, the supervisors also mandated that the paint store comply with a noise ordinance in the area, not allow delivery trucks to idle and plant trees and shrubs outside the business."

(Via SF Gate.)

We spoke with Supervisor Tom Ammiano's office this morning and they said that they had received a large number of calls about the hearing; and that they were pretty evenly split between those wanting a "upscale grocery store" at that location, and others supporting the paint store.

While it would be great to have a store like Rainbow, Good Life, Bi Rite or Canyon Market at that location; there have been no plans presented by any grocers to build a store at that location.

At a minimum, it will be good to have a non-vacant building at the location, as vacant buildings attract crime.

Labels: News, Precita Valley Neighbors, pvn, real estate

A four-alarm fire happened this evening between Valencia, Poplar, 26th and 25th. Several buildings were destroyed, and many residents lost everything. The Chronicle now has a story up with more details. CBS 5 was the first to report it on their website, here's some video grabs from CBS 5's helicopter:





A commenter on the SFGate story wrote:

I have been watching this for almost 2 hours now, it is almost across the street from me. I think there were some injuries- as I saw people on 3 gernies being wheeled away.

Someone who lived nearby posted images of the fire.

Here's a map of the location:


Here's a picture from the ally behind the buildings the next day. It's sad and tragic to see.

Labels: News