CASTRO PLANNER                                    February 2008

Upper Market Planning Process Topic of February SPUR Forum

Following on the work of the Market & Octavia Better Neighborhoods Plan, the Upper Market Design Plan seeks to set forth On Wed., Feb. 27, San Francisco Planning and Urban Research (SPUR) will host city planner Sarah Dennis and representatives of Moore Iacofano Goltsman (MIG) for a lunch time forum on the Upper Market Planning Workshops. The project team will discuss how they are crafting clear guidance regarding retail uses, housing types, public realm and other community improvements for development on key opportunity sites in the Upper Market Corridor in an open community based process that included three well attended workshops last fall.

MIG are currently working on creating the draft plan for presentation in the next two months or so. After the draft plan is submitted to the City Planning staff they will make changes to it, if necessary to meet community expectations, and present a draft plan in March. To see the results of the community meetings, go to the project website at

http://uppermarket.sfplannning.org.

Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Library Renovations Begins with a Celebration

THE Castro’s Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch Library will be closing in March for a long awaited renovation in March. The community is invited to a celebration on Saturday, March 1 at 1:00 pm at the library at 1 Jose Sarria Court on 16th Street between Noe and Sanchez Streets. In addition to music and tours, the celebration will hone Steve Coulter of the Library Commission for his service to the LGBT Community and the San Francisco Pubic Libraries.

The renovation, funded by a $106 million bond passed by voters in 2000, will preserve the mid-century modern structure and includes seismic strengthening, improved heating and ventilation, better handicapped access, and new furniture, plus new space for various programs and user groups. During the project expedited to last about a year, library service will be provided at alternate sites in the neighborhood.

A proposal to incorporate an addition housing the GLBT Historical Society at the library is not going forward, but the Society is still considering a new location in the Castro, possibly as a co-development with new private housing on Market Street, pending the completion of the Upper Market Plan.

Detailed plans for the renovation can be viewed at the San Francisco Public Library’s Branch Library Improvement Program (BLIP) website, www.sfpl.org/blip.


HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GENERAL MEETING

Thursday, January 10, 2008

1.    Business Attraction Survey: Link to the LGBT Center’s Business Attraction Survey will be added to the CAPA website.

2.    Upper Market St. Workshop Update: Discussion of proposals introduced in Upper Market Workshop, including density bonuses for projects that incorporate community uses and expedited approvals for projects conforming to goals identified in the workshop by the community. Joe Curtin asked that CAPA determine what the conditions for expedited approval are, and what part of the approvals process is expedited (conditional use, EIR, design review). Further, what are the conditions that CAPA supports? Conditions should conform to CAPA’s goals for housing density, “good density”, parking requirements, affordable housing, design and quality construction, and community uses. Steve Hall expressed preference for moderate sized units at higher density preferred to larger units at lower density. Balance rentals vs. ownership. More detailed recommendations for guidelines will be presented for approval at the February Meeting.

3.    Eureka Valley Recreation Center: Several sources report that the Recreation Center will start charging for use of the meeting room, due to an increase in demand. Gary Weiss will provide contact to staff for confirmation and reservations so that CAPA can verify its status. Lion Barnett has also informed neighborhood groups that the Castro Meeting Room above the Bank of America is also available for a moderate fee.

AGENDA FOR THE GENERAL MEETING

Thursday, February 14, 2008, 7:30 p.m.

1.    Call to Order/Introductions          7:30 p.m.

2.    Upper Market St. Workshop: Proposed guidelines

3.    Historic Context Statement: Letter of Support

4.    Business Attraction Survey

5.    Harvey Milk Plaza/Streetscape Improvements Update

6.    Finance Report and Membership Update

7.    New Business

8.    Adjournment               9:00 p.m.

Agenda Highlights:

Upper Market St. Workshop: Proposed guidelines for expedited approval will be discussed for submittal to the Upper Market Planning staff (see the January minutes above).

Business Attraction Survey: Members will share their ideas for types of businesses that should be encouraged to open in the Castro and Upper Market area, to be submitted to the LGBT Center’s Economic Development Office.

Historic Context Statement: Vince Marsh and Gerry Takano of the Friends of 1800 Market have asked for CAPA’s support of their application for a city grant to survey the Castro and complete a neighborhood specific historic context statement.