A new community space for neighbors to gather weekly while Washington Square Park is closed.
Starting this Sunday, join us each week at noon at 699 Columbus Ave (at Filbert). In partnership with Piazza Pellegrini, we're transforming a parking lot into a community space with weekly programs. From recreational classes to social events, we're hoping to give the neighborhood back some of the open space it is losing with the closure of Washington Square Park.
June 3, 2019
San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority
Adrian Leung
Bike Share Program Manager
Re: New Bike Share at Marini Plaza in North Beach
Dear SFMTA,
We are writing to voice our support for a new GoBike bike share station at Powell & Union (Marini Plaza) in North Beach. Improved transit accessibility is an important issue for our 300+ business and residential members, and the new bike station is key to achieving this goal.
Our organization supported North Beach’s first bike share station at Columbus Ave. & Lombard St in November 2018. We did so with the intention of closely monitoring performance and usage to inform our future positions on bike share. Since its installation, we have been encouraged by the demand and believe the station has been a positive addition to our community. The results speak for themselves: 80 average daily trips emanate from the station, and rides are increasing month over month.
Whenever parking is removed, there is immediate opposition. But perspective is needed. Citywide, San Francisco has nearly 275,000 on-street parking spots, enough to line California’s 840-mile coastline. On Columbus Ave, North Beach’s main commercial corridor, only 14% of those surveyed arrived by private vehicle. Studies have shown that bicyclist and pedestrian customers spend as much or more, and more regularly than do motorist customers. Finally, bike share is a critical component of the city’s Vision Zero and carbon-reduction priorities, and District 3 suffers from some of the highest vehicle emissions and traffic injuries in the city.
In deference to those with physical disabilities that may be impacted by the loss of parking from this plan, we suggest that SFMTA consider using a linkage policy to create an additional handicap space near the affected area at the cost of the station operator.
This location is a second iteration of the original plan to place one on Filbert St, in front of St Peter & Paul Church. The modified plan is a testament to Lyft’s sincere effort to work with the community to identify the most appropriate location. This is an ideal location–close to transit hubs, Washington Square Park and neighborhood businesses–and now it’s time to move forward with the installation. We urge you to support it.
In community,
Danny Sauter
President | North Beach Neighbors
cc:
Director of Transportation, Edward D. Reiskin ed.reiskin@sfmta.com
Local Government Affairs Manager, Joél T. Ramos Joel.Ramos@sfmta.com
District 3 Supervisor, Aaron Peskin aaron.peskin@sfgov.org
Adrian Leung, Bikeshare Program Manager, adrian.leung@sfmta.com
Bicycle Advisory Committee, District 3 Representative, Marc Brandt
Charles Deffarges, Senior Community Organizer, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, charles@sfbike.org
Outreach Coordinator, Lyft, Justin Hu-Nguyen, jnguyen@lyft.com
We recently released a Small Business Roadmap that includes 5 recommendations for how we believe North Beach can be a community where small businesses not only survive but thrive. We came to these recommendations based on a year of research and conversations.
Now, we're excited to share that two tremendous neighborhood associations have signed on in support of our recommendations.
Lower Polk Neighbors
Russian Hill Neighbors
Their support indicates that our recommendations not only would be valuable to North Beach but to multiple commercial corridors in the Northeast corner of our city that are going through similar challenges and transitions.
We thank each of them for their support and look forward to continuing to work together on this important topic.
"Lower Polk Neighbors supports North Beach Neighbors 5 recommendations for addressing small business health. Much like our neighbors over the hill in North Beach, the Polk Street corridor suffers from too many retail vacancies due to a variety of factors. While we are working hard to improve the public realm through strategic partnerships, we would love to see the bureaucratic burden on small business eased to make it easier for more interim and creative uses of ground floor retail spaces"
-Adam Mayer | Lower Polk Neighbors
"Russian Hill Neighbors is pleased to join North Beach Neighbors in promoting the recommendations in the road map as well as working with NBN to develop additional data, analysis, strategies and recommendations to support thriving small businesses in our neighborhoods."
-Carol Ann Rogers | President, Russian Hill Neighbors
We spoke in support of Teatro ZinZanni's plans for a new arts venue, public park, and hotel at the base of our neighborhood.
We're happy to share that the entire Planning Commission supported the project. We can't wait to welcome ZinZanni back!
https://www.sfexaminer.com/…/sf-planning-commission-gives-g…
Wow! What a way to kick off our season. Thank you to everyone who came out on Saturday for our first North Beach Farmers Market of 2019. We started by thanking the amazing team of farmers, organizers, sponsors, and partners who made the market possible. We were then honored to have Mayor London Breed 倫敦．布里德 say a few words and help us cut the ribbon.
We loved welcoming you all back to the market, introducing you to a few new farmstands, and getting ready for a great season full of fresh produce and community events. We’ll be here every Saturday, from 9am-1pm, through November. See you again on Saturday morning!
Our neighborhood's most prominent intersection is one which causes confusion and dangerous road conditions for pedestrians, cyclists, and car traffic alike.
We have the chance to reimagine the massive intersection of Columbus, Green, and Stockton. We can add beauty and safety without much disruption or cost.
Today, we're sharing a letter asking for action and solutions on an intersection that has been ignored for far too long.
Read the full letter > http://northbeachneighbors.org/columbus-intersection
Our President, Danny Sauter, was a guest on a recent North Beach Now Podcast to speak about Health & Safety in the neighborhood, alongside North Beach Citizens.
Listen to the episode now:
https://soundcloud.com/…/health-and-safety-episode-released…
Today, we're releasing a Small Business Roadmap that we believe will help ensure businesses in North Beach not only survive, but thrive.
With a vacancy rate 2x the level of 2015, it's clear the current system isn't working.
We just finished our 6-week emergency preparedness series with SFFD and NERT. Nearly 100 neighbors are now ready to assist when emergencies strike in North Beach. Thanks to everyone who gave your time and care to ensure we are all more prepared!
THANK YOU to our members, both newcomers, and long-time supporters.
We just reached 300 dues-paying members. This is a significant milestone and speaks to the amazing community you're helping us build to shape a stronger neighborhood.
Your dues mean more events, a better North Beach Farmers Market, and cleaner streets through sponsored ash cans and trash cans.
We're so happy to be here with you.
Two weeks ago, we sent a letter to the city and elected officials asking for answers on the proposed Navigation Center at Bay & Kearny.
Now, after conversations with the Supervisor's Office and the Department of Homelessness & Supportive Housing, we have an important set of updates to share...
*The proposed site at Bay & Kearny is no longer being pursued. The site was deemed as too small, with space for just 50 beds. This would have meant costs of $150/bed per night, 3x the cost of a traditional and shelter and 50% higher than other Navigation Centers.
*For a site in District 3, the ideal site would have 20,000 sq. feet and be available for 4+ years.
*Along the Embarcadero, South of Market, there are plans for a 200-bed SAFE center. This may be able to accommodate some of the homeless population from our neighborhood.
North Beach Neighbors is committed to continuing to connecting the city to our neighborhood to work together for solutions to homelessness. With firm answers now on the Navigation Center, we will look forward to more viable solutions.
5 Bigbelly Trash Cans are now installed in North Beach!
Why are we so excited?
💪 Can hold 8x as much trash as a regular can
💵 Less pickups = significant $$$ fuel and supplies savings
☎️ Real-time service notifications
🔒 Locks prevent break-ins
We're all looking forward to learning about how these units perform in our neighborhood and growing any and all efforts to make our streets and sidewalks clean.
This is a program we have advocated and engaged on for 4+years. We're proud to work with so many great stakeholders to make this possible. Thank you to the following for their leadership:
North Beach Citizens
San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD)
London Breed 倫敦．布里德
Aaron Peskin
The North Beach Business Association
Telegraph Hill Dwellers
