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Earlier this year, the Board of Supervisors made changes to the existing SF laws prohibiting parking of vehicles on the street for more than 72 hours. The new rule allows people to park cars for 7 days before they have to move them.

So before you get upset for not moving their car for several days, remember that the law has been changed and now vehicles only have to be moved weekly.

Labels: parking

Wednesday, May 13, 2009, 10:15pm
Anderson/Bernal Heights Marijuana Offense

Officers Obot and Ofc. Jou on-viewed a vehicle illegally parked and contacted the occupants inside. During their investigation, the officers discovered marijuana inside the vehicle. Citations were issued to four subjects. Case #090499720.

Labels: drugs, parking, police blotter

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

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

Once again, No Parking signs have been installed on Alabama Street and Esmeralda Avenue.



This fixes the dangerous traffic situation where there was only enough room for one car to travel around the curve there when cars were parked on both sides.

Labels: parking, traffic calming

On December 11, at Precita Ave. & Harrison St, three cars were found with their windows smashed. It is unknown what was taken from the cars. A suspect was seen and reported to SFPD with the following description: black male, 20's, 5'5", 150, wearing dark flannel shirt

Labels: car breakings, crime, parking, Precita Park

This was posted in several locations on Treat Ave. It points out a growing issue with parking in the neighborhood.

Neighborhood watch meetings have suggested calling 311 to report cars that are not recognized and have been parked in the same place for more than 5 days, as they may have been stolen. But there can be negative repercussions when a neighbor who is on vacation leaves their car on the street for a week and it gets towed.



There are also problems of people double parking on Precita and blocking the full street; people visiting Precita park and parking in a manner that blocks driveways on Treat and Harrison (because they think their car is much smaller than it really is), etc. Not to mention construction vehicles that double park or block driveways.

Harrison, Norwich and Treat also have some special issues because there is no weekly street cleaning which tends to clear out cars that have been left in the same place for over a week.

What do you think should be done? Have you had issues with DPT ticketing or towing your car? What should be done about it? Please click on the comments link below, you can comment Anonymously if you wish.

Labels: Neighborhood Watch, parking, Precita Valley Neighbors, pvn

Many people have asked about the traffic situation near the top of hill on Alabama. This is of interest to residents of Precita Valley because that is the most direct route to Cortland street, and most of us travel that route several time a week.

Lately, cars have been parking on both sides of the street which leaves a very small space in the street for traffic, and there are no painted lines on the street which encourages cars to drive right down the middle of the street on a blind curve.

There is a Muni bus route that also goes down that stretch through the curve, and can block the whole street at times.

So w were happy to received this information from Richard Cho at SFMTA / DPT Engineering:

We have already completed recent reviews for these two streets and in addition, have already processed approved legislation to restrict parking on the south side of Alabama Street/Esmeralda Avenue after holding a public hearing on September 19, 2008. Work orders have been sent to our maintenance shops to install the “Tow Away No Parking Anytime” signs and repaint the centerline striping on Alabama Street/Esmeralda Avenue between Ripley and Bradford Streets. This work will be completed by our shops when schedule permits.

Update: The signs are now installed.

Labels: parking, traffic calming

The second installment of the Cesar Chavez Community Design Workshop happens this Tuesday, August 26, 6-7:30pm at Leonard Flynn Elementary School, 3125 Cesar Chavez Street.

Next week, please join us for the 2nd Cesar Chavez Street Design workshop. Staff will present two design alternatives for Cesar Chavez Street based on feedback from the first community workshop in May.

The project's goals are to:

Make Cesar Chavez Street a safer place for people by improving crossings, widening sidewalks, and enhancing lighting;

Redesign Cesar Chavez Street with high quality landscaping, gracious trees, pedestrian lighting, and other design treatments;

Reconnect the neighborhood by making Cesar Chavez Street a destination, rather than a divide;

Improve the area’s natural ecology by integrating stormwater design elements into the street;

Improve bicycle connections and safety in both directions;

Ensure that traffic doesn’t spill over into surrounding neighborhoods.

Labels: parking, Precita Park, Precita Valley Neighbors, pvn, traffic calming, trees

Since many residential streets in Precita Valley don't have street cleaning, a lot of cars get parked (or abandoned) here. If you notice a car that's been parked over 72 hours, report it to DPT by calling 415-553-1200. They're open 24 hours. Chances are it's a stolen or abandoned car.

They'll come out, leave a pink warning on it, and come back in 72 hours to see if it's still there, and if it is, they'll tow it.

Labels: parking