Castro
Trader Joe’s Proposal Raises Questions
CAPA members might have heard by now that the national grocery store Trader Joe’s has plans to build a new store at Sanchez and 15th Streets on the site now occupied by the Dulux paint store just off Market Street. In addition to the 14,000 square-foot store and stock room, the new building, covering the entire site, would have parking for 48 cars on two levels above the store.
Development of underused sites in the Castro and Upper Market Neighborhood Commercial Districts, such as this paint store site, is crucial to creating a more vibrant, safe and livable neighborhood. From our earliest planning recommendations for Market Street, up to our support for the Better Neighborhoods plan which covers this site, CAPA has always favored higher density mixed use development that includes housing. Abundant transit, a walkable neighborhood provide viable alternatives to car ownership, so off-street parking for should be kept to a minimum so that residential and commercial uses can maximize the use of tight infill lots.
Trader Joe’s is a very popular grocery store that offers reasonably priced organic groceries and wine and is an alternative to larger chain grocery stores. However, their popularity has price for neighborhoods. The store at Masonic and Geary is cited as a traffic nightmare with lines of cars waiting to enter the parking lot, blocking traffic on surrounding streets. Locally owned individual grocers and wine merchants will face stiff competition from a well-funded national chain with over 200 outlets.
Trader Joe’s should be able to successfully operate a store in a new building that includes housing rather than enough parking for a suburban store. Many urban retailers, even groceries, offer little or no parking, and instead offer customers free delivery for purchases over a certain amount, rides home on a shuttle, and online ordering. There are many examples of successful groceries with little or no parking in the city, some with abundant housing (and customers) above.
The developers of the project will need a conditional use permit for many of this projects features, so the Planning Commission needs to hear form residents about the proposal. CAPA is in contact with the project sponsors; they are not able to attend the June meeting, but and we hope that they can attend the July 8 meeting. But please plan on attending the June 10 meeting to help strategize CAPA’s response to this proposal which is seriously at odds with the goals of good planning and for the Castro.
Café Flore Seeks Permit For Late Hours, Liquor
One of the Castro’s enduring institutions, the Café Flore at Noe and Market, is seeking a conditional use permit to allow the sale of liquor, later hours and live performances. The Café’s stated plan is to serve martinis, wine and beer from late afternoon until 1:00am, and to occasionally feature individual acoustic performers. The Café’s manager, Matt Pausa, will outline his plans for the café at the June meeting and seek CAPA’s approval.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GENERAL MEETING
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Traffic Calming Meetings Conclusion
The last of three community meetings to discuss traffic calming measures for the Castro district was held on April26. An earlier proposal to install a traffic signals at the intersection of Castro and 19th Streets was opposed by CAPA members present. While supporters of new traffic signals contend that they would improve pedestrian safety at the intersection, opponents argued that traffic signals would likely create more danger. So instead of all drivers having to stop at the intersection, as many as half would be able to drive through at a green signal at relatively high speeds, thus increasing the risk at the intersection and in the more congested commercial area. CAPA recommends construction of curb bulbs, pedestrian refuges and other streetscape elements that shorten the pedestrian crossing and create a physical barrier to speeders, allowing drivers to pass through intersection only at slow speeds.
Unfortunately, while streetscape modifications would be less costly both to construct and maintain than a set of traffic signals, there is currently no city money earmarked for such a project, while there are funds for new traffic signals.
Also proposed was a revision to Castro Street lane markings. The new plan would have as many as two distinct lanes on Castro in each direction, excluding turning or parking lanes. This could allow for through traffic to use the center lane to bypass slower traffic and the frequent double parkers.
Safeway Perimeter Stewardship Project
CAPA has been invited to participate in a project, initiated by the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association and the Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association, to address the untended and unsafe public environment around the perimeter of the Safeway store on Market, Church and Duboce. The long term expected outcomes of the project include improvements to the landscaping and possible relocation of the Community Recyclers site, relocation to the DeCaux toilet on Market Street, and a community visioning process for redevelopment of the Safeway site and perimeter streetscapes. CAPA will continue to monitir the project and provide appropriate input.
AGENDA FOR THE GENERAL MEETING
Thursday, June 10, 2004, 7:30
p.m.
1. Call to Order/Introductions 7:30 p.m.
2. Approval of Agenda and previous meeting’s Minutes
3. Café Flore-Conditional Use Permit
4. Trader Joe’s Proposal
5. Safeway Perimeter Planning
6. Finance Report and Membership Update
7. New Business
8.
Adjournment
9:00 p.m.
584 Castro Street,
PMB 169
San Francisco, CA
94114-2588
Tel.(415) 522-1221
Fax.(415) 522-1221
E-mail: CAPA@home4us.org
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CAPA GENERAL MEETING
Thurs., June
10 , 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Castro Meeting
Room, 501 Castro Street at 18th.
Second Floor,
above the Bank of America
See the full
agenda inside
