By Christin Evans, HANC Merchant Liasaon / HAMA
At HANC’s February meeting, the preview of the final draft of the Haight Ashbury Public Realm plan was presented by SF Planning Department representatives Lily Langlois and Patrick Race. First, handouts summarizing the results of the community survey conducted in the summer of 2014 were distributed and discussed. The data reflected input from more than 150 survey respondents. The community priorities identified in rank order were: 1) Lighting, 2) Greening, 3) Identity, 4) Signage and 5) Seating. (Note: The survey results and handout are available as a PDF on the SF Planning website.)
The final plan includes a proposal for numerous sidewalk extensions at corners, also referred to as “pedestrian bulbouts.” With a primary goal of the Transit Effectiveness Project being the speeding up of the buses down the corridor, the SFMTA has included the pedestrian safety measure which shortens the distance one must walk to cross the street. A preliminary design of the intersection of Haight & Ashbury includes 3 such pedestrian bulbs.
Also shown for the first time were possible additions of planters to add greening, and historic plaques and artistic elements embedded in the pavement and planter edges. Discussion focused in on the need to prioritize foot flow through the intersection instead of necessarily encouraging people to linger in an intersection already regularly frequented by tourists. Concerns about the need for a maintenance plan and the ability for the buses to successfully turn and clear the corner were also raised.
At the Open House held at the library a week later on February 25th, from 6pm-7:30pm, additional details were revealed. Distributed for the first time was 75 page booklet summarizing the ‘Final Report’ from the two and a half year Public Realm planning process. Included in the posters displayed in the room and in the booklet were numerous of the plan’s ideas detailed. One proposal is for trees to be planted throughout the corridor along Haight Street referred to as “new infill street trees” to support the community priority for public realm greening. Also shown were artistic sculptural elements at T-intersections at Haight & Cole and Haight & Belvedere, the implementation plan of which would still need to be further developed. As would a proposal for one mid-block sidewalk extension in front of the Pork Store and Panini SF shop which would involve the merchant’s participation in maintaining occasional seating at that location.
As the format for the evening’s Open House encouraged 1-on-1 discussions and called upon individuals to write down comments on feedback sheets collected, the reactions of the 50+ people who circulated in and out of the room were nearly impossible to surmise. Representatives from the Planning Department, DPW and SFMTA were on hand to answer questions people had. In attendance were members of HANC, HAIA, HAMA and other neighbors who perhaps came as a result of postcards about the event which were sent out the prior week.
SF Planner Lily Langlois said the materials presented would soon be available at the Haight Ashbury Public Realm website: http://www.sf-planning.org/index.aspx?page=3295 She also said they are open to feedback which can be directed to her via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and to her colleague Patrick Race at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..