By Richard Ivanhoe, HANC Board Member
On October 15, 1959, 200 neighbors met at the Dudley Stone School (now the Chinese Immersion School at De Avila) and unanimously decided to form the Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Council. Times were different (the meeting began with the Boy Scouts presenting the colors and with the pledge of allegiance), but the meeting touched on issues that are still relevant—Schools, Housing, Health, and Recreation.
In March, 1960, HANC adopted bylaws “amid flaring tempers and rollicking laughter.” (Haight-Cole Journal, March 24, 1960) HANC’s earliest work included planting trees, setting up tuberculosis screenings, clearing brush at Buena Vista Park, addressing overcrowding at neighborhood schools, and seeking supervision of play areas in the Panhandle and at the Dudley Stone School playground. But we are probably best known for our opposition to the proposed Panhandle Freeway, which was defeated at the Board of Supervisors in a close vote in October, 1964, but needed to be defeated again, with another close vote at the Board in March, 1966. In November, 1966, HANC incorporated as a non-profit corporation.
Here are some of HANC’s other accomplishments:
- Co-sponsored zoning legislation that protected 45 square blocks from high-rise construction, speculation, and resident displacement (1970)
- Key participant in Golden Gate Park Master Plan (1970 to present)
- Began one of the earliest recycling programs and operated a recycling center (1974-2012)
- Led a coalition that drafted the Mt. Sutro Master Plan to limit UCSF expansion (1974 to 1982)
- Helped create the Space Ceiling and average daily population to limit UCSF growth and protect our neighborhoods. (1976 to present)
- Saved the Park Branch Library from closing (1978 and 1987)
- Worked with neighborhood coalitions to convert former Polytechnic High School to Parkview Commons affordable housing development (1980 to 1990)
- Helped lead the fight to convert the former Southern Pacific / Harkness Hospital to 200 units of senior housing (1981 and 1988)
- Helped downsize and rebuild Kezar Stadium as a community and youth facility (1981-1987)
- Helped create Haight Ashbury Neighborhood Commercial District (1987)
- Stopped McDonald’s drive-through (1993)
- Operated Native Plant Nursery (2003-2012)
- Advocated for repaving of Panhandle Pedestrian Path (2003-2017)
- Operated Community Garden (2011-2012)
- Helped prevent re-route of 6 bus line (2013-2014)
- Helped form coalition to plan interim and long-term uses for former McDonald’s site (2018 to present)
These are only some of our accomplishments. We also report on neighborhood news, provide a local perspective on election results, and advocate for residents, neighborhood–serving merchants, and our underserved populations—seniors, families, and homeless youth. We look forward to your participation in HANC in our future years.