Tag Archives: San Francisco CA

Attend D8 Town Hall on Upzoning – Monday, September 9 at 6 pm

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In November 2023, the SF Planning Department published this current proposed map which doubles height limits along Church Street, 24th Street and other areas of District 8.  Combined with SB 423’s “ministerial” approval of residential projects (see article below), it opens the door to tall luxury condos and hinders the construction of affordable housing.  To learn why upzoning is the wrong solution for D8 (& SF), come to the D8 Town Hall on Housing sponsored by DHIC and other D8 neighborhood groups on Monday, Sept. 9 at 6pm at the Noe Valley Ministry (1021 Sanchez Street.)

Want to know more now?  The proposed map was driven by the State’s mandate that SF produce 82,000 new housing units by 2031.  But wait, San Francisco has over 73,000 permitted projects in its pipeline, including 16,000 affordable units. And in 2022, the Board of Supervisors up zoned – allowing four-plexes on single family lots and six-plexes on all residential corner lots – creating capacity for over 480,000 more housing units.  Moreover, the State Density Bonus law provides additional height when projects include at least 10% affordable units.  

So where’s the housing shortage?  The SF Planning Department has since announced that SF only needs 36,200 additional housing units (beyond those in the pipeline.)  However, 80% of these need to be affordable housing.

San Francisco doesn’t lack sites for housing.  It lacks subsidies for affordable housing and favorable interest rates and construction costs for market-rate housing. Cities themselves do not construct housing.  Instead, they issue permits for housing projects. Current economic factors and lack of affordable housing subsidies, rather than zoning restrictions, primarily influence the slow pace of construction in San Francisco.

Simply put, an “upzoning” plan to double height limits and disregard public input is radical and will not benefit the city’s residents or small businesses. Rather, such moves would destroy our neighborhoods and displace the people and local businesses that make San Francisco special. A top-down, one-size-fits-all approach to zoning undermines the vibrant character of our amazing neighborhoods. 

Attend the D8 Town Hall on Housing – Monday, September 9 at 6pm at the Noe Valley Ministry. 

SB 423: You’ve Lost Your Voice on Adjacent Housing Projects

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What if you wake up one morning to a construction site next door – with no warning or discussion?  It can happen.   

SB 423, one of scores of housing bills passed by our state senator, Scott Wiener, deprives neighbors of the tools to give input on nearby projects.  And starting this July, the state is applying this law to San Francisco, and San Francisco alone, because of last-minute language inserted into the bill by Senator Wiener.  

What does this mean?  The tools … in place for over 40 years to provide neighbors with a voice in housing projects affecting them  … are abolished for most projects:

  • No neighborhood notification of proposed projects near your property
  • No pre-application meeting where project sponsors are required to review the project scope and plans with neighbors, answer their questions, and discuss areas of concern
  • No discretionary review process in which affected neighbors can appeal a project that has negative impacts on their property and be heard at the Planning Commission 
  • No Planning Commission review of demolitions or monster homes

Developers are already taking advantage of SB 423’s preventing neighbors from having any voice in housing projects.   The San Francisco Chronicle reported that “one market-rate developer intends to line up paperwork in the next few weeks to take advantage of SB423. Developer Chris Foley plans to submit an application for a 200-unit, 23-story tower … in Castro neighborhood at 1965 Market Street [the current FedEx Office location.]”  

DHIC has a long history of involvement in planning and land use.  We will continue to advocate for balanced development and against policies that enrich developers at the expense of the communities where they are building. 

For more information or to get involved, email PLU@doloresheights.org 

Meet Mayoral Candidates & Your Neighbors at the DHIC FallFest

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Saturday, September 28

DHIC’s Fallfest, our annual neighborhood block party, is happening on Saturday, September 28 from 11am to 1pm on Sanchez Street between 21st and Hill Streets.  Everyone is welcome!

The FallFest will feature two mayoral candidates: Mayor London Breed and President of the Board of Supervisors, Aaron Peskin.  Mayor Breed will join us at 11:30am for 30 minutes of talk and Q&A. Supervisor Peskin will do the same from 12:15-12:45 pm. 

Join us to meet your neighbors, learn about our activities, hear from our Supervisor Rafael Mandelman and the mayoral candidates, and participate in our great raffle.  

This is an-all volunteer event.  If you can help, email us at info@doloresheights.org

Here’s what’s on tap for you:

  • View the historic Dolores Heights photos
  • Join your neighborhood block safety group
  • Get safety and security handouts; talk with savvy neighbors about home safety
  • Learn about the proposed mural project at 20th and Noe Streets
  • Meet the people behind the Green Gardens monthly hillside clean-ups
  • Bring your kids to “Kids Korner” activities
  • Hear from our District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman

And enter the raffle to win gift cards to great area restaurants and other services! (Note the raffle drawing will occur at 12:45pm.  You must be present to win.) 

SAVE THE DATE: DISTRICT 8 NEIGHBORHOOD MAYORAL FORUM

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Thursday, September 5

Thursday, September 5 at 6:30pm at the Randall Museum Theater:  All five major candidates are scheduled to participate. The forum is strictly a non-partisan, public education forum, organized by ten neighborhood groups. DHIC is proud to be a co-sponsor of this non-partisan forum along with nine other neighborhood associations from across District 8.  No sponsoring organization endorses any of the mayoral candidates. Doors open at 6pm.  Seating will be limited.  Mark your calendar for Sept. 5 at 6:30pm.    

Can you help out? Share your volunteer interest to make the forum a success. 

Safer Together: DHIC Block Safety Groups & Home Defense 

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Dolores Heights has block groups covering nearly every block in our neighborhood.  We also have a network of block safety captains who share information across groups.

If you’re not on one of our block safety aliases, email info@doloresheights.org with your name and block/cross streets (e.g., 3600 block of 21st St between Church & Sanchez.)

Report any key safety alerts/incidents on your block safety alias.

If you’re seeking info on how to make your home more secure, one neighbor has summarized his home defense recommendations here.

DHIC has a safety page on its website with more information and links to resources. Join your local block safety group for more updates as they occur.  Email info@doloresheights.org.

Want to learn more about home security. Use this QR code to read a summary put together by a Dolores Heights neighbor.

Please Patronize the Merchants Who Donated Raffle Prizes

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Once again, generous local merchants and restauranteurs donated gift cards and other prizes for our annual raffle. Please patronize these businesses who support our neighborhood.  If you’re already a customer, please thank them for their donation to the DHIC raffle.  

Coyotes in Dolores Heights

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Over the past several years, numerous people in Dolores Heights have seen a female coyote who frequents the area and Dolores Park.  Some (especially those with small dogs and cats) are concerned about coyotes.   

For the last 16 years, Janet Kessler has been documenting the San Francisco coyote population, their territoriality, and their behaviors, including their family life and behaviors towards dogs and people.  She emailed DHIC suggesting that we provide more education about the coyotes to dispel concerns and/or give people a solid base of information.  She posted this information on her blog.  We encourage you to read it.  

(Coyote spotted on the south side of Liberty, Street, between Church and Sanchez. Photo: Jennifer Bury.)

What’s Up with the Flying Car?

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Thanks to all neighbors who responded to the carjacked Lincoln that crashed through the barrier and landed upside down on 19th Street on Saturday, July 22 (see minute 1:25 on linked YouTube video.)  Many shared video and photos of the incident with SFPD.  That evidence helped SFPD to arrest the two ringleaders in this carjacking/reckless driving incident on July 26  

Unfortunately, the two individuals arrested are not being charged owing to lack of sufficient evidence to bring a strong case.  Specifically, the owner of the carjacked vehicle is unwilling to serve as a witness.  Sergeant Wren of Mission Station is investigating the crime.  It is still an open case.  As of September 2 he’s awaiting lab results on a piece of evidence that’s key to any further action.

DHIC has asked Supervisor Mandelman’s office to help us obtain a vehicle safety strategy and “calming” plan from SFMTA.  

Good news:  earlier in August, DPW workers replaced the broken metal railings on the top and bottom of the staircase.  

What you can do:

  • Continue to be vigilant when you are out in the neighborhood including when entering/exiting a car
  • Join us on Sat. Oct. 14 between 11am – 1pm at the 800 block of Sanchez (at 21st Street) when we host the DHIC Fallfest with info on safety, green gardens, and other DHIC-sponsored activities.  

(Surveillance camera footage of the crash. Start watching at 1:25.)

A Mural Beside the 20th Street Hillside

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Neighbors’ vision to fill the empty retaining walls next to the 20th and Noe hillside garden (see photo above) is getting legs (or arms and paintbrushes).  Dave Dea, co-chair of the Green Gardens Committee, reported that they’ve selected a wall mural artist. Her name is Melanie Getman, a native San Franciscan born in North Beach/Chinatown.  Her website has many  images of nature scenes with diverse color palettes, hopefully appealing to all tastes.  The group wants the mural to be a nature scene – with the landmark Cork Oak tree as an anchor image, along with insects, plants, birds and raptors nesting, flybys etc.

Dave is asking for feedback and for more volunteers to help set up a GoFundMe and to raise money for the conceptual drawing of the mural to submit to the SF Arts Commission. You can reach him at ddea888@gmail.com.