As members might remember, this last summer we devoted two of our monthly meetings (see May and July, 2013 Voice) to a set of presentations and discussions of four development sites occurring on Page Street, between Stanyan and Broderick: the reuse of 1500 Page Street (at Masonic) for a permanently affordable,16-studio independent living residence for developmentally disabled people; the expansion into the St. Agnes Oak Street parking lot of the Urban School; the expansion of the French American International School at 11 55 Page (between Baker and Broderick), site of 9 pre school and kindergarten classrooms for 180 children; and the pending sale and reuse of the Boys and Girls Club at 1950 Page (between Stanyan and Shrader).

One of the projects (1500 Page Street) was recently approved by the panning commission and two others- the Urban School and the French American International School made major headway in the last four weeks.

At the December 19th Planning Commission hearing the adaptive re-use of 1500 Page Street was unanimously approved. HANC endorsed the project and testified in support at the hearing. The 16 studio rehab of the old Page Street Guest House at Masonic will result in minimum changes to the attractive building with the greatest exterior change being the addition of a wheelchair-accessible entrance on the east (Masonic Street side) of the building (see developers rendering at right).

The SFUSD structure at 1155 Page Street and old retaining walls have been completely removed and the site prepared for the new classroom construction by the French American International School (see photo at left). Construction is expected to start this summer and the new facility opened in 2015. The agreement between the School and the SFUSD leaves the actual planning and design of the site, including the key aspect of morning drop-off of children at the site totally up to the School. There will be no required public planning process as is common with developments under the jurisdiction of the Planning Department as is the case with the Urban School and was the case with 1500 Page Street. The School has met neighbors but has not yet presented a fully designed plan for the all important “drop-off and pick-up” issue. HANC is working closely with the neighbors and hopes to address this critical issue before the school opens.

The Urban School has submitted its preliminary plans for expansion to the Planning Department and is currently awaiting the Department's comments. HANC understands that these plans are basically the plans presented to HANC in July, 2013 and to which HANC gave initial approval pending the resolution of four issues. The first deals with the nature of the roof top uses proposed for the new gym facility in the current St. Agnes parking lot and HANC’s concern that it not create sound and noise issues for the residential neighbors to the site.  The second is a concern over the use of Oak street as an entrance to the new building. HANC strongly opposes any use of Oak street for drop-off of students. Third, HANC expressed concern on how students will access the new site from the existing Page Street campus as there is a very narrow passageway just east of the existing gym that is to be used for the new gym facility. Finally, HANC expressed concerns about accessing the new gym from the underground portions of the proposed parking garage. HANC plans to continue to monitor this development.