About 40 people came to the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House (NABE) on Saturday morning December 2 to begin a new and truly community-based planning process for Potrero Hill and its surrounding neighborhoods, including Dogpatch, the Central Waterfront, and Mission Bay.
Potrero Hill’s current population is 11,000. The re-zoning of lower Potrero Hill/Showplace Square and the Central Waterfront is expected to bring about 6,000 housing units, or 10,000 people, to the neighborhood. This doesn’t include Mission Bay, with its plans for 6,000 housing units / 10,000 people on their land. Combined, we may see a tripling of the population of zip code 94107 in the next 30 years.
After a decade long effort to re-zone the eastern neighborhoods, met with delays and frustration, the purpose of this process is to determine as a neighborhood our needs with regard to land-use, affordable housing, open space, public benefits, and amenities, and to develop a core set of recommendations and present a plan to the Planning Department.
A number of folks gave me their notes on the meeting – thanks especially to Dick Millet, Jen Serwer and Tony Kelly - and I’ve compiled them here. This should serve as a recap in advance of this Saturday’s meeting . (This will be the 2nd of these workshops: Saturday, December 16th, 9:30am – 12:00pm, also at the NABE, 953 DeHaro at Southern Heights.)
The 2 ½ hour meeting began with some history and facts on the community planning process to date.
In 1989 the City developed a plan for Mission Bay that was not implemented due to the recession.
In 1999, the Potrero Boosters and residents of Dogpatch created a community plan of land use recommendations for the Central Waterfront. In addition to influencing the current Planning Dept. plans for the area, that process also inspired the Department’s Better Neighborhoods and Eastern Neighborhoods re-zoning programs.
Our model is the central waterfront plan that was developed using a community planning process, which was largely incorporated into the S.F. planning dept. plan.
The following needs were identified:
OPEN SPACE: The City’s current plan for the southeastern neighborhoods says there will be just 1 acre per 1,000 people. Corrine Woods said the Neighborhood Parks Council study determined however, that there should be 10 acres of open space per 1,000 people.
Judy West spoke about opportunities that exist with the sewer right of way, and possible park sites.
RECREATION FACILITIES: (City fields): We need 3 times more than currently exist.
COMMUNITY MEETING SPACES: particularly in Dogpatch. Discussion about the possibility of saving the Quonset hut on 16th and Illinois for use as a community space.
SCHOOLS: All Potrero Hill schools were on the closure/merger list this year. Potrero Hill Parent Group has data available on how to save, change, and improve these schools.
Stacey Bartlett, a member of the Potrero Hill Parents Association, and a research survey specialist, informed the group that there are 450 kids on the Hill: and virtually no child care available on the Hill – particularly lacking is facilities for preschool and toddler care.
UCSF Mission Bay childcare facilities are for staff first, with a waiting list for community members.
Daniel Webster may close next year.
AND the planning department calls for the tripling of the population of Potrero Hill over the coming years. This increase in population is due primarily to the addition of the UCSF Mission Bay neighborhood, 3rd Street, and the expanding areas around lower Potrero Hill. One challenge we face is that the Dept. views these as separate neighborhoods, somehow existing in a vacuum with no effect on Potrero Hill.
WALKABILITY: Residents need to be able to walk to shops, schools, work, and recreation facilities.
LIBRARY: Library being renovated – will it handle 3 times the population?
HUMAN SERVICES: Exist, but frequently on the “threatened”, “to be closed” list(s): See Department of Public Health website. What are the guidelines? And, how do we meet them now and in the future?
ELDER CARE: One convalescent hospital on Potrero Hill. The NABE has lunches daily, and offers Tai Chi on Mondays.
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVING RETAIL: Keith Goldstein discussed trying a new NC district at 16th and 17th (following the work done by the Potrero Hill Merchants Association on developing this idea. Keith is the current President of the PHMA.).
PARKING: try a public parking garage? A “public” garage to make the district a “destination”. Could solve some of the issues that accompany 1:1 parking.
TRANSPORTATION: in the 2002 Better Neighborhoods plan, transportation was not addressed. It was pending a ‘transit effectiveness’ project, which ignores growth.
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Speaking of transportation: here is the link to a S.F. Muni survey. It only takes a few minutes to complete. Copy and then paste this link and the survey should be on the first page: http://www.sftep.com/
Boo to a parking garage - Potrero Hill is already overrun by cars: zooming by either side on the freeway, packed in with parallel, 90 degree, and sidewalk (”driveway”) parking, and double-parked on 18th and 20th streets.