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NOPNANews
A Publication of the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association
2018 : issue 2
5 FULTON:
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Connecting the neighborhood to
ever, must be watchful when entering
downtown San Francisco for over a
the crosswalk (signs are posted in
century, the 5 Fulton bus line now
case motorists have any doubt that
serves passengers with faster speeds
pedestrians have the right of way in
and increased capacity to match the
crossing at the roundabout). Except for
city’s rapidly growing population and
citizen input, this quiet neighborhood
fast-paced culture.
The changes to the 5 Fulton rolled out
over the last four years, culminating
with an unusual construction, right in
the middle of the neighborhood: a
roundabout, fortified with deep cement
walls, built at the intersection of Lyon
and McAllister Streets. Formerly a
four-way stop, the intersection now
allows McAllister Street traffic to flow
without stopping. Pedestrians, as
intersection might have seen a run-of-
the-mill traffic signal. Jodie Medeiros,
Executive Director of Walk SF, the
pedestrian advocacy group, said her
group advocated for the roundabout as
an important traffic calming feature and
would like them to be used more often.
As another way to reduce delays, at
Broderick Street, the four-way stop was
replaced by a new traffic signal that is
held green by the approach of Muni.
(continued on page 4)
The 18th Annual NOPA Block Party
Baker between Fulton and Grove
Saturday, June 2nd: 11am-3pm
2 | NOPNANews
FROM THE BOARD
The NOPNA Board recently welcomed three new members. Julian
Mackie, Meg Rahner, and Carmen Chan each have demonstrated their
commitment to helping the community, and bring fresh ideas and
energy to the board. In their own words:
Carmen Chan: I am a San Francisco native who has lived in NOPA
for the past 8+ years. I hope to bring my professional experience in
client management and operations as well as my passion for local
businesses to build a stronger relationship between NOPNA and the
local business-owners we all rely on.
Meg Rahner: After volunteering in a variety of ways since moving
here in 2010, I decided wanted to take the next step be more
actively involved in the conversation and to be an advocate for our
community, bringing a new perspective. I am looking forward to
helping with promotions and event planning — and in particular,
looking forward to the June 2nd Block Party!
Julian Mackie: I started volunteering with NOPNA because I wanted
give back to and become more deeply invested in the community.
My interest lies in using data to improve our community, particularly
housing and pedestrian safety. In my free time you can catch me
exploring San Francisco or enjoying our beautiful parks.
LETTERS TO THE BOARD
Thank you for your responses to the last NOPNA News! Good/bad/otherwise
— your feedback, praise, criticism, and input helps influence and shape what
we focus on and do. Here’s some of what we’ve heard:
I am very pleased to see the emphasis on pedestrian safety and
transportation. I work in the transportation field for a national
environmental organization, and think very much about making our
neighborhood safe enough for my 9 and 11 year old daughters to
walk to school alone.
-A.E.
I am just appalled how dirty Divisadero Street is. Cigarette butts,
newspapers, cardboard, a mattress, plastic bottles, clothes, eggshells,
orange peels, and food containers were some of the sights. Isn’t it
time to address the filth that plagues Divisadero Street?
-L.P.
Like everyone, I meet the changes underway in this neighborhood
with apprehension, excitement and sometimes, anger. I want to find
ways to balance advancement with advocacy, affordable housing with
productive growth, and encourage engagement between the old-
timers and the newcomers.
-D.S.
The NOPNA News is published by the North
of Panhandle Neighborhood Association for
the residents, businesses, and friends of
our neighborhood, which is bounded by
Masonic Avenue and Turk, Divisadero and
Fell Streets.
PUBLISHER
NOPNA Board of Directors
EDITOR
Jason Cauthen
LAYOUT AND GRAPHIC DESIGN
Brian Donovan
BUSINESS OUTREACH/ADVERTISING
Carmen Chan
COPY EDITORS
Nathan Lovejoy
Erika Alexander
Ann Kim
DISTRIBUTION
Will Valentine
PRINTING
Image Printing, San Francisco
NOPNA’s mission: The purpose of this
association shall be to establish neigh-
borhood unity, maintain multi-ethnic and
multi-cultural diversity, foster a sense of
neighborhood pride, promote a safe and
clean community, and improve the quality
of life for all residents of the neighbor-
hood.
Contact NOPNA
Interested in donating to NOPNA? Check
if your employer double your donation
with a matching gift! NOPNA is a
registered 501c3 organization
THOUGHTS ABOUT
FORD GOBIKE’S ROLL-OUT?
Make your voice heard in our online
survey -
available through
JUNE 30th
at
North OfPanhandleNeighborhoodAssociation
PRESENTING: THE DIVISADERO
MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION
We’re happy to announce that we’ve recently reinstated
the Divisadero Merchants Association. As a group of
merchants, we strive to support and represent a growing
and changing community by advocating for merchants and
neighbors. We represent businesses on Divisadero Street
from Haight to Golden Gate and Divisadero-adjacent
streets. We welcome and encourage all businesses to
participate, please contact us if your business is interested.
One of the projects that we have been working on is the
Art Walk. We’ve been so happy to see both merchant
and resident neighbors get excited and participate in
the Art Walks in a big way. With the leadership of Jessie
Flo Mcdonald, our goal is to produce these events once
a quarter. We would love to get even more artists to
participate. If you are an artist or musician and would like
to know how to get involved or show your work during the
Art Walk, please reach out to us.
The 2018 Art Walks have been scheduled on June 21st,
October 4th, December 6th.
You can reach the Divisadero Merchants Association at
divisaderomerchantsdma@gmail.com
issue 2 : 2018 | 3
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOPNA ANNUAL BLOCK PARTY
Baker between Fulton and Grove
Saturday, June 2nd, 11am-3pm
NOPNA GENERAL MEETING
Oasis Cafe • 901 Divisadero
Thursday, May 17th, 2018 - 7pm
Thursday, July 19th, 2018 - 7pm
Thursday, Sept 20th, 2018 - 7pm
SFPD PARK STATION COMMUNITY MEETINGS
Park Station Community Room
Second Tuesday each month, 6pm
DIVISADERO FARMERS MARKET
Grove@Divisadero, Sundays, 10am–2pm
PANHANDLE PARK STEWARDS
Second Saturday each month, 9am-12pm
Bulletin Board near Panhandle Playground
Giselle Gyalzen is the owner of Rare Device and is the President of the
Divisadero Merchants Association for 2018.
Contact us:
board@nopna.org or www.nopna.org
THOUGHTS ABOUT
FORD GOBIKE’S ROLL-OUT?
North OfPanhandleNeighborhoodAssociation 4 | NOPNANews
PHOTO: The new traffic circle located at the intersection of McAllister and Lyon Streets.
Photo credit: Joseph Wilinski / Erika Alexander
TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS (continued from cover)
A suite of improvements to the 5
delays by reducing the impact of
Others have been more receptive to
Fulton was legislated by the board
automotive traffic on bus boarding
the changes overall and appreciate
of directors of the San Francisco
times.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
in 2015, after a two-year planning
process. Besides the conversions of
four-way stops, other changes were
the creation of the 5 Fulton Rapid,
making limited stops (see NOPNA
News, Sept/Oct 2015); new electric
coaches (60-foot long, articulated
busses went into service in 2016);
increased frequency of service;
boarding islands at major stops such
as at Divisadero; prioritization of traffic
signals for transit; routing the inbound
5 Fulton directly to Market Street
via a transit-only lane from Larkin to
Market; and removing a few bus stops
(e.g., at Lyon and Central). New right-
turn pockets and boarding islands at
several intersections have shortened
These changes have also resulted in
the removal of some parking spots.
Noreen Vokic, who lives on McAllister,
relies on street parking, and drives
to work in Santa Clara county, says
that changes including the new traffic
light have made street parking nearly
impossible for her. The difficulty has
her considering a move out of the
city. Other residents who also rely on
the speedier rides and greater
seating capacity. 5 Fulton seems to
move faster from Masonic to Market,
and riders are more likely to get a
seat when they board in NoPa. The
promised average speed increase
of about 20% has not yet been
documented by Muni, though it
has reported that the rapid line and
increased frequency of service have
increased ridership.
their cars are displeased by changes
Yet more change for the 5 Fulton
to the streets that make parking
begins this summer, when its
more challenging or expensive (such
downtown terminus shifts to a street-
as replacing parking spaces with
level bus plaza within the new, $2.2
Ford GoBike docking stations, or
billion Transbay Transit Center on
the expansion of residential parking
Mission Street. The transit center will
permits) and have expressed concerns
that the new San Francisco lacks a
offer transfers to AC Transit, a rooftop
park, and in the distant future, high-
place for them.
speed rail service.
Dale Danley a neighborhood resident since
2001, Dale travels to work daily in Mission
Bay, a trip that often begins or ends with the 5
Fulton.
NEW PANHANDLE PLAYGROUND
APPROVED AND UNDERWAY
issue 2 : 2018 | 5
PHOTO: The current Panhandle Playground structure.
Photo credit: Joseph Wilinski / Erika Alexander
IMAGE: Artist rendering of the new Panhandle Playground design
NOPNA parents rejoice! The rumors are true, a new panhandle playground is coming soon.
Today’s playground near the intersection of Oak and Ashbury can be generously described as “basic.” In fact, in 2014,
the playground scored a miserable “D” on the SF Parks Alliance’s playground report card. Among other reasons, arsenic-
treated wood exists on some of the play structures. As a result, the Panhandle was chosen to be one of 13 San Francisco
playgrounds to undergo renovation as part of the SF Parks Alliance’s “Let’sPlaySF! Initiative,” and progress is very much
underway.
After a thorough community input process — with several input sessions coordinated by NOPNA — a new design
concept was approved by the city last month and by all accounts, it’ll make you wish you were 6 years old again.
Big and bright, the new playground will emphasise its natural setting with boulders to climb on, a log structure and
plenty of swings and traditional play gear. Ramps abound to run on, which double as ADA-compliant pathways. On
top of one little hill will be what are described as “musical and sensory play elements.” On an adjacent embankment,
“ropes, handholds, rings, a slide, and scramble steps” will give kids a near infinite number of ways to climb and enjoy
themselves.
The design even features a sand play area with buried shells and sea creatures to discover. The sand is not without
controversy as some neighbors have expressed concern about what else might wind up buried there. Nonetheless, the
variety of options at the playground should make kids and parents very happy. It’s all organized into age-appropriate
sections with a toddler area protected from areas where older kids might rough-house.
The whole project was made possible by a $2 million Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond and a $1 million private grant. With
design approved, the project is now in the final bidding process to get construction underway. Once all is said and done,
we’ll be looking at a spring 2019 start with an opening date sometime in the fall of next year.
Nick Aster is a 20 year San Francisco resident and media architect with a strong interest in sustainability and city life.
6 | NOPNANews
NEIGHBORS GIVE FEEDBACK TO 400
DIVISADERO DEVELOPERS
The project’s proposal would also contain 75 parking
spaces, 155 bicycle parking spots, and 8,000 square feet
of ground-floor retail space designed to attract smaller,
local merchants. Kriozere also cited the firm’s desire to
reduce car traffic and improve pedestrian safety through
design elements such as a designated drop-off area
on Oak Street and wider sidewalks at the front of the
building.
The project will soon enter the environment review
stage, but Genesis Real Estate plans to continue its
public outreach through open forums and weekly meet
and greets at Madrone (Wednesdays from 5 – 7 p.m.).
Charles Dupigny and Julian Mackie. Julian Mackie has lived in
the neighborhood for two years and his one of our newest board
members. When he isn’t working, he’s focused on housing and
pedestrian safety. Charles Dupigny is the President of the NOPNA
Board and focuses on sustainability and quality of life issues in our
neighborhood.
IMAGE: Conceptual rendering of 400 Divisadero
On March 19th, the North of Panhandle Neighborhood
Association (NOPNA) held a joint community meeting
with the Alamo Square Neighborhood Association
(ASNA) to discuss the proposed 400 Divisadero Street
development. The meeting, held at The Independent,
was attended by 75 members of the public as well
as representatives of Genesis Real Estate Group, the
project developers. The chief developer, David Kriozere,
and architect, Will Duncan, both spoke in detail about
the proposed plan, before the session opened to public
for Q&A.
The project, which has been in the works for nearly two
years, plans to replace the Touchless Car Wash and Gas
Station with mixed-use residential development. The
project’s proposal is for a six story building (65 feet)
containing a total of 177 apartment units (80 studio
units, 24 one-bedroom units, and 73 two bedroom
units), averaging 570 square feet per unit. According
to Kriozere, the decision to design smaller units was
to increase the overall units, in hopes of decreasing
the rental cost of each unit. However, members of
the public expressed concern that these units would
not adequately support the families the building aims
to attract. The exact number of below market rate
(BMR) units are also yet to be determined but the final
numbers will be watched closely by members of the
community.
issue 2 : 2017 | 7
8 | NOPNANews
SAN FRANCISCO DAY SCHOOL EXPANSION
PROJECT IN PLANNING
PHOTO: Entrance to San Francisco Day School.
Photo credit: Joseph Wilinski / Erika Alexander
The independent school, San Francisco Day School (SFDS),
directing proper drop-off procedures.
located on Masonic Avenue at Golden Gate, is moving
forward with plans to develop the parcels of land they
Dr. Walker for his part has taken a hands-on approach to
own, adjacent to the eastern edge of the current campus.
traffic issues. Hot tea in hand, the Head of School has done
The project will replace an empty lot and an unoccupied
his own informal patrolling of Golden Gate and Central
residential unit with additional instructional and gathering
Streets, reminding parents of the drop-off rules when the
space, as well as renovate an additional, unoccupied
signs have not been enough.
residential building for faculty housing.
The new three-story building will include extra classrooms,
The Head of School, Dr. Mike Walker, and his staff
an art area, an innovation makerspace, a performance
have engaged the community throughout the planning
space, and a roof garden. With the additional capacity,
process, saying that “we know how important it is to be
Dr. Walker hopes to begin offering summer programming
good neighbors.” In neighborhood meetings held at the
to the public. This will not only allow more families in the
kindergarten through eighth grade school, two primary
community to benefit from the space, but could ease
concerns surfaced: increased traffic congestion and
the city-wide challenge they face in finding activities for
allowing community members access to the space.
school-age children on summer break. SFDS will also
Traffic, particularly during morning drop-off, is already
continue to invite partnerships with neighborhood non-
an issue for some neighbors and there is fear that the
profit organizations that seek a place to convene.
additional 80 students enabled by the expansion could
worsen the situation. The SFDS project, like all city projects
Even as they broaden access to their space, the school
of this scale, will be subject to an environmental review
remains committed to continuing to share its campus
which will include a transportation impact analysis. Once
during the summer with Breakthrough, a non-profit that
completed, a report will recommend mitigations and
helps students with limited educational opportunities
improvements to be incorporated into the final plans.
attend four-year colleges.
Already the school maintains signage around campus
Sam Test Cauthen has lived in Nopa since 2011 with her two sons and husband.
She is committed to a diverse and inclusive community.
SAN FRANCISCO DAY SCHOOL EXPANSION
WELCOME CAPTAIN BAILEY!
PROJECT IN PLANNING
We want to welcome our new Park
believed as a police officer, I could be
Station Police Captain, Captain Una
in a position to make a difference in
Bailey, to the neighborhood! We were
people’s lives with every interaction.
fortunate to ask her a few questions
I wanted a job where I could listen
so we could get to know her better.
to people and make a difference by
keeping them safe. I also wanted to
hold people accountable for their
actions, especially in cases where the
victim is a child.
What was your greatest experience
in SFPD?
issue 2 : 2018 | 9
What do you want neighbors to
know about safety in our area?
My goals are to make the district
the safest it can be, to improve the
quality of life for all the residents and
visitors, and to make it a district where
children are kept safe on our streets
and in our schools.
If you see a crime in progress, call
911 and report it. We have made
numerous arrests recently thanks to
In one of my first child abuse
911 calls, especially auto burglaries.
investigations, I got a confession from
Recently we were also able to
a step-father who had been abusing
connect a person caught on a home
his step daughter for years. He
surveillance camera to an actual
surrendered himself, pled guilty, and
burglary that happened up the street
was sentenced to 8 years in prison.
with four other burglaries in and
PHOTO: Captain Una Bailey of the SFPD.
I feel like I have had a number of
around our district.
Please tell us about your history in
SFPD
I joined the department in 2001. I
trained at Ingleside Station and have
since worked at Central, Mission,
Tenderloin, Richmond, and Taraval
stations. My duties have included
patrol, and later Patrol Sergeant,
the Special Victims Unit, Homeless
Outreach, the Investigative Unit, and
Risk Management where I investigated
criminal allegations against officers.
In 2016, I was promoted to captain of
the Special Victims Unit. In October
2017, I was assigned to Park Station
as Commanding Officer.
How did you decide you wanted to
be a police officer?
great cases but this one was the most
rewarding.
The community’s engagement really
makes a difference and we want to
What is a typical day like for you at
thank you for your collaboration and
Park Station?
A typical day is busy, from minute
I arrive to the minute I leave! Every
support in helping to make this district
the safest it can be.
How do you hope to further engage
day I respond to concerns and emails
our community?
from the residents. I really appreciate
people emailing me because it
allows me to keep a finger on the
neighborhood pulse and these emails
are an indicator as to whether we are
being effective. We also spend time
addressing crime trends, with a focus
on how reduce the crime stats in the
area.
Please sign up for our newsletter
[email: SFPDParkStation@sfgov.org]
and come to our monthly community
meetings, the second Tuesday of
every month at 7pm. We also host
“Coffee with a Cop”, announced via
our newsletter and twitter, where we
encourage community members to
meet with us. With this input, I want to
Another part of my day involves
meeting with community groups. It is
bring various agencies, like Park and
Rec, District Attorney Office, the City
only through community collaboration
Attorney’s Office etc. together to help
Growing up, I had always been
that we will succeed in resolving
solve community issues.
interested in law and order; seeking
neighborhood issues and crimes.
justice was always important to me. I
Leela Gill has lived in the area for more than 20
years.
10 | NOPNANews
WHAT’S IN A (STREET) NAME?
PART 2: NORTH/SOUTH
MICRO HISTORY
In the previous issue, we shared the origins of the names of the streets that
run East/West in our neighborhood. This second installment will focus on the
North/South streets.
Contrary to online sources, El Divisadero wasn’t the Spanish name for Lone
Mountain and doesn’t mean tall summit. The best guess is that the name
derives from the fact that Divisadero was once SF’s western boundary,
separating it from the Presidio.
David Broderick, California and US Senator, and corrupt SF political boss in
the 1850s, is best remembered for losing a fatal duel at Lake Merced with
California Chief Justice David Terry. Terry ran for re-election as Chief Justice
on a pro-slavery platform and lost. He held Broderick, a member of the Free
Soil Party (a political party that opposed slavery in the Western territories),
responsible — thus, the duel.
PHOTO: David Broderick, who campaigned
against extending slavery into California in the
mid-19th century.
SOURCE: U.S. National Archives and Records
Administration.
issue 2 : 2018 | 11
WHAT’S IN A NAME? (continued)
Edward Dickinson Baker, lawyer, congressman, and friend of
President Abraham Lincoln, campaigned to keep California
in the Union and organized its first Union infantry regiment.
He was killed in 1861 while serving in the regiment and also
as a US senator from Oregon, the only sitting senator to be
killed at war. He’s buried in the Presidio.
Nathaniel Lyon was the first Union general killed in the Civil
War. His participation in the 1850 Bloody Island Massacre
of between 60 and 200 Pomos — old men, women, and
children — could be a reason to change the name of the
street.
The Masonic cemetery was originally located to the west of
the street, between Fulton and Turk streets.
Linda Ackerman leads free City Guides tours of NOPA. For the next tour
see http://sfcityguides.org/current_schedule.html.
5 FULTON:
NEW
AND
IMPROVED
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