Tag Archives: Audrey’s Bench

Audrey’s Bench on Sanchez Hill

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The beautiful redwood bench on Sanchez Street near the corner of 21st is dedicated to Audrey Rodgers, received a cleaning and refresh from her family members on Saturday, August 2.

Audrey Rodgers, the DHIC chair from the late 70s through early 80s, led the campaign to have Dolores Heights designated as a Special Use District in the planning code.  Audrey understood Dolores Heights’ unique characteristics that drew people to walk and enjoy its green spaces and dramatic views. She realized that citywide rezoning proposed in the late 70s would “flatten” the hills and reduce the midblock open spaces.  So she and other leaders organized for months to preserve the space and vistas where future generations have lived, enjoyed, and raised their families.

The Dolores Heights Special Use District that Audrey and other neighbors successfully got the City to enact into law in 1980.  It will be overridden by the proposed upzoning described in the article above. If you agree that we should sacrifice the many unique characteristics in San Francisco for a massive upzoning for development, please email our supervisor and mayor.  

Audrey’s Bench on Sanchez Hill Gets Annual Brush-up 

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One of our local landmarks is Audrey’s bench – at the southwest corner of Sanchez & 21st Streets. It recognizes the leadership of Audrey Rogers. She led the campaign that secured passage of the Dolores Heights Special Use District in 1980. She also obtained City upgrades, like moving utilities under ground.  

The bench was designed by acclaimed wood carver, J.B. Blunk. Her children who grew up at 3732 21st Street help to maintain it.   As they worked to clean the area and polish the wood bench on Sunday, August 20, neighbors walking by thanked them.  If you haven’t already, spend a few minutes seated in this beautiful memorial to a neighbor who led the effort to preserve the unique character of our neighborhood.  

Photo: Members of Audrey Rogers’ family hard at work.