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Tmobile has installed a microcell on a PG&E utility poll at Mullen and Peralta. Most people notice it not so much because of the antenna at the top of the pole, but because of all the equipment that was mounted on the pole. And as the neighbors near it say, the noise from the cooling system for the electronics is really, really loud, and it's mounted on a pole less than 8 feet from the adjacent home's front door.

The neighbors also say that there was no advanced notice that this equipment would be installed, nor any information on who was installing it.

At least Tmobile did try to address appearance issues- the equipment is all painted the same color as the telephone pole and isn't a glaring grey box. But they should be required to make something that operates almost silently. We could understand if it was a very hot day that perhaps the fans might run more loudly; but after dark when it is 50 degrees out and the fans in it are blowing away loudly. And it's making this sound 24 hours a day.

From a design perspective, this is not called for.

Hopefully, Tmobile will deal with the issues of this installation.

Tmobile Microcell Noise Issues from Team Precita on Vimeo.

Labels: Planning, Precita Valley Neighbors, pvn, Zoning

There have been more incidents recently at the Oakes Children's Center, the school for developmentally delayed and emotionally disturbed children on Treat,

Wednesday, October 21st at 8:46 am
1500 blk of Treat

Police report: Vandalism to Property: Officers Saari and Trujillo responded to a school, where a student who was involved in a verbal altercation with another student and became disruptive. The student picked up a chair and smashed a classroom window. The student was cited and released.



This is not the first Police response to Oakes, in fact some neighbors who live nearby say that there are police cars there several times a week. There was also a police car on Tuesday this week.

A few days ago, a neighbor was walking home and saw a student outside the facility on Treat "having a tantrum and throwing around garbage cans, hitting cars". Other neighbor said a student threw a brick and damaged their car (apparently they didn't report this to the police). There have been other occurrences of students outside the building, standing in the middle of Treat Ave, blocking cars and not moving.

We have heard other complaints from neighbors about the busses that bring the children to and from the campus which then have to make U-turns at the top of Treat, and double-park for extended periods of time on the street in front of the school.

This is in contrast to what the Oakes people told neighbors at the August 15th, 2008 community meeting before the school opened, when they said "buses will offload on Folsom or drive through [the parking lot]."

This is the 2nd year of operation for Oakes at perhaps it is time for another community meeting to address neighbors concerns?

Labels: Neighborhood Watch, Precita Valley Neighbors, Zoning

Some neighbors have been concerned that the allegedly "well-connected to the planning department" owner of 55 Manchester may be sneaking a six-family apartment into a two-unit building.

What we do know for certain: the building was sold on 9/18/2008 to the current owner. It had been unoccupied since before 2003 when there were multiple complaints filed with the Department of Building Inspection. The building has 13 rooms and 6 bathrooms according to the Assessor's rolls. The building characteristics were changed in August of 1999 according to real estate databases. But we don't know what those changes were.

We spoke to someone at the planning department who said there appears to be some discrepancies in the permits for 55 Manchester, as the assessors office does indeed show that it is a 2-unit building now, but there are also past references to it being a 6-family unit.

Further online research finds this building inspection report for 55 Manchester:

Permit and old file research reveals that this property was originally a 2 unit building. In 1943 permit #71899 was obtained to convert building to an apartment house of an unknown number of units (at least 4) but this permit was aparently never finalized. In 1964, permit #301752 was obtained to legalize as 6 units, but permit was cancelled. In 1966 permit #330310 was obtained to legalize as 6 units, but permit was cancelled. Several records from the 1960's in microfiche indicate that the Department personel belived the building to be a legal 5 unit building. I assume that this is based on permit #71899 from 1943, but that permit does not appear to have been finilized and there is no CFC. HIS Input Form shows 6 legal apartments and 1 dwelling. This is incorrect, an apartment is a dwelling so this would mean 7 dwellings. It appears from inspections done that there were never more than 6 dwelling units in the building.
It appears that there were 6 apartments in this building at one time. Several of these apartments no longer have full kitchens but it appears that they once did.

The current owner is in the process of of improving the property and has several building permits approved. Some of the permits reference complying with notices of violation for dilapidated housing, unsafe stairs, hazardous building.

The property is Zoned as a RH-2 (residential- house, two family).

We'd like to hear from neighbors who oppose this! You can leave an anonymous comment (link below). In the mean time, we do know that there was a complaint filed over "Exceeding scope of permit 200809192095: Shoring installed and building has been raised.". [Editor's note: An additional permit 200811045805 does allow the shoring to be installed.]

Here are most of the permits for the property:

Permit 200809192095 issued 9/19/2008: remove lath & plaster, rewire, repair plumbing, install gyp board, install new doors & windows @ rear install new trim & casing. Remodel kitchens (2) & baths(4) . Repair dryrot, paint comply w/nov#2000338855 items 2.3.4.5. Reroof

Permit 200811045805 issued 11/04/2008: temporary shoring for dry-rot repair

Plumbing permit pp20081015138 issued 10/15/2008: 1, 2, & 3rd floors: remodel 2 kitchens, 4 baths, 2 laundry. Repipe entire bldg.

Permit 200902061555 issued 2/9/2009: install 28 head fire sprinkler system in basement stairs & hallway

Electrical permit E200810152481 issued 10/15/2008: 1, 2, 3 floors: 24 lights, 20 switches, 42 receptacles, 4 fans, 2 dishwasher, 2 garbage disposal, microwaves, 2 gas ranges, 2 hydro-massage tubs, 8 smoke detectorsl remodel 2 kitchens, 4 baths, 2 laundry, 6 bedrooms , and 2 living rooms. Rewire entire building and 2 new meter panels, 1 house meter. Rough and finish inspections.

Electrical permit E200810313185 Issued 10/31/2008: Roof: roof: 8 roof-mounted solar pv modules; 230 watts per module; 1 interactive inverter; 3300 kw power ratings (each); total no. Of ratings: 2 kw; additional comments: 2 identical systems

Search for Permit and Complaint Info here

Labels: construction, Planning, Zoning

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

There has been some strong neighborhood opposition to a building permit for a restaurant at Harrison and Precita. There has also been some support for a restaurant, so this was a lively topic at the Precita Valley Neighbors meeting last Saturday.

We were brought up to date with the history of this property: about 35 years ago, the ground floor was used as a small store, but for the last 35 years it has been used as a residence by artists Susan Cervantes (of Precita Eyes) and her late husband. The property was not used as a gallery, as alleged by the current property owners, and therefore should not be considered a commercially zoned space. (Someone stated that Cervantes never even took part in Open Studios, but the location is listed in the October 2006 Open Studio guide. [pdf]) Cervantes was evicted in 2005, and eventually came to a settlement with the building owner.

Several immediate neighbors have expressed concerns about increased traffic, parking issues as well as problems from rodents, smells and fire dangers to the surrounding homes. Others are upset at the processes the owner of the building has used to

One of the neighbors that lives one door down from the location stated that she's not opposed to having a restaurant there, but "It's chinese food, it's all fried, which is different than having a sandwich shop." This offended one of the attendees who then walked out of the meeting, saying he would vote for the restaurant just because of her statement. She then clarified and said "We don't know enough about what they're planning on putting in there to make a judgement."

After a heated discussion, it was moved that "The organization [PVN] object to the application as filed because it falsely states that the proposed restaurant space is a commercial use where as it has in fact been residential for more than 30 years, and therefore any commercial use would require rezoning." A majority of the attendees supported this.

There was much more to discuss and time had run out, so it was suggested that a second meeting happen next week to discuss the issues of traffic calming on Stoneman more.

Labels: construction, parking, Precita Valley Neighbors, pvn, Zoning

Please attend the meeting of Precita Valley Neighbors this Saturday at 10am, at Charlie's Deli on Folsom and Precita.

Two important issues will be covered:

Restaurant at Harrison and Precita- a building permit has been granted for a restaurant at Harrison and Precita (398 Precita / 3200 Harrison). Several neighbors are opposed to this, others support development of this site, which is currently a blight on the neighborhood. Please come to discuss the ramifications of a restaurant here.

Stoneman Traffic Calming- there are concerns that there is traffic traveling much too fast down Stoneman, and neighbors will discuss methods to slow down traffic while not impacting available parking on the street.

Also:

Andres Power, Cesar Chavez Street Traffic Planner from the SF Planning Department will present the most current design of Cesar Chavez. There has been neighborhood concern that adding bike lanes and reducing traffic lanes will force more traffic onto Precita.

Demece Garepis will give an update on "Solar Panel District 9 Aggregate Organizing Results" and PVN's plans for the Community Matching Funds for installation of solar panels in Precita Park Children’s Playground.

Precita Valley Neighbors Monthly Meeting
Saturday, January 24th, 10am – 11:00am at the
Charlie’s Deli
3202 Folsom Street -Folsom at Precita

Labels: construction, parking, Precita Park, Precita Valley Neighbors, pvn, real estate, traffic calming, Zoning