CASTRO

CAPA’s Design Forum Enlightens and Energizes

About 50 people attended CAPA’s Design a= nd Context Forum on Friday evening April 28, to hear three presentations about architecture, urban design and San Francisco’s urban context. John Schlesinger started with his presentation= of various strategies for designing new buildings in an established urban cont= ext using examples from San Franci= sco and other great cities. Bob Burnside gave the audience a look at some of San FranciscoR= 17;s architectural oddities, some famous but many unknown (and even lost), but a= ll adding to the city’s character by not conforming. Alan Martinez gave a historical perspective of the city, suggesting ways in which architectural and urban design supports citiesR= 17; historical role as a place where civic values prevail over family/tribal values, from ancient Greece to the Castro.

Following the presentations forum participants express= ed views on how new projects in the Castro have the potential for positive cha= nge. The input of an informed and creative community was important to many participants and BART Director Tom Radulovich offered assistance in getting funds for a comprehensive planning effort like to the one BART helped to organize= in Glen Park (BART built and owns the Muni subway and stations).

Coalition of Castro Neighborhood Groups Forming

At the May m= eeting CAPA will consider an invitation from Dennis Richard= s, the new president of the Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association to join a= new coalition of several Castro District Neighborhood Groups that may include D= TNA, Eureka Valley Promotion Association, Merchants of Upper Market and Castro a= nd the Castro Community Benefits District Committee. The group would be simila= r to District Five Together, which brings together groups in Board of Supervisor’s District 5 to work toward common goals.

Is the Market/Octavia Plan Ready for Adoption? Attend the Pre-Adoption Meeting May 23.

The Planning Department invites everyone to the pre-adoption workshop for the Market and Octavia Neighborhood Plan.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> In 2000, the Planning Department began working with community members, including members of CAPA = to create a new vision for the Market and Octavia Neighborhood, and have issue= d a visionary draft plan for the area. Now this plan is about to come to fruition.

At the workshop, Plann= ing Department staff will present proposed adjustments to the plan in light of new informa= tion and community comments, including whether a survey of historic resources in= the area should be completed before adoption of the plan, or if there is a way = to adopt the plan with intent to incorporate findings of the survey.

The workshop will be held on Tuesday May 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Bahá-í Center Auditorium, 170 Valencia Street (@ Duboce Avenu= e). You can view the plan and get updates at: www.marketoctavi= a.betterneighborhoods.org

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GENERAL MEETING

Thursday, April 13, 2006=

The goal = of the meeting was to review CAPA's policies on Market Street development.

Housin= g. Affordable, below-market-rate hous= ing and a diversity of housing types: studios, units for two adults sharing, secondary (in-law) units, even cooperative housing.

Parkin= g and Transit. To take advantag= e of transit, higher density housing, at least along the Market St. corridor, with mixed use= s, jobs, and infrastructure for a walkable neighborhood. Parking should be "unbundled&= quot;, i.e., charged separately from the cost of the housing. In new structures parking should n= ot be required, as it is now under the planning code.

Zoning= . Commercial parcels should be kept = at sizes appropriate for locally owned businesses in order to discourage their replacement by formula retail (large chains). But there should always be ample provision for grocery shopping in the Castro.

Massin= g of Buildings/Architecture. A= ttention to the transition between public and private space, flexibility in street overhang, protection from the rain, no ribbon balconies. Sustainable green buildings.

Street= scapes. Wider sidewalks, especially on Cast= ro between 17th and 18th, building setbacks, adequate ceiling heights for reta= il stores, attention to shadows from tall buildings.

Lively Streets. CAPA supports ni= ght life, bars, places open late at night as part of the Castro as an LGBT mecc= a.

Archit= ectural Preservation. Support for= the historical survey to be conducted under the Market-Octavia Better Neighborh= oods plan.

Arco S= tation at Market & Castro. T= he City Planning Dept. and CAPA agree that architecture of significant value is needed for a building at this corner. It should be something worthy of "postcards from the Castro". Bob proposes a building with terraces and a setback on the upper floors facing the existing apartment building on the = Castro St. side.&nbs= p; The loss of square footage would be made up by a sixth storey, all within the building code.

Sue Mi= lls Site near the LGBT Center. The developers of a residential and retail building were accommodating to neighborhood concerns, but the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Council opposes the project as proposed.

AGENDA FOR THE GENERAL MEETING

Thursday= , May 11, 2006, 7:30 p.m.

1.&n= bsp; Call to Order/Introductions 7= :30 p.m.

2.&n= bsp; Market/Octavia Better Neighborhoods Plan-Historic R= esources Survey

3.&n= bsp; “Castro Together” Neighborhood Coalitio= n

4.&n= bsp; Castro and Market Development Proposal Update

5.&n= bsp; Finance Report and Membership Update

6.&n= bsp; New Business

7.&n= bsp; Adjournment &nbs= p; 9:00 p.m.