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NOPNANews
A Publication of the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association
2019 : issue 1
DEVELOPING
NOPA
HOW NEIGHBORS INFLUENCED
PETRINI PLAZA
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOPNA GENERAL MEETING
New Location! City Real Estate - 629 Divsadero
Thursday, May 16th - 7pm
Thursday, July 17 - 7pm
NOPNA BLOCK PARTY
Saturday, June 1st
Baker between Fulton and Grove
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
Bulletin Board near Panhandle Playground
Second Saturday each month - 9am-12pm
Contact us:
board@nopna.org or www.nopna.org
IMAGE: Market Street Cable Car Company (highlighted). Panhandle; 1883. Source unknown.
When it comes to change, especially to
The block bounded by Fulton/
somewhere as personal as your street
McAllister and Masonic/Central was
or your neighborhood, most people
owned by the Market Street Cable
have a hard time seeing the positive.
Car Company and the block was used
And what brings change to NoPa? New,
as a cable car barn. The car house,
large real estate developments.
originally built to house McAllister
Will it block a view? Shadow my outside
space? Bring more cars to our already
crowded street parking? But this fear
of change, and a tendency to react
too quickly with opposition, is less
likely to garner the best outcome for
our neighborhood. It may seem like
yesterday to some, but two decades
Street cable cars, was built in 1883. It
occupied the entire block and originally
had a powerhouse to drive the cable
car machinery. The powerhouse was
decommissioned after the 1906
earthquake and fires. After the
earthquake, the car house was used to
contain streetcars.
ago our neighbors organized a coalition
“In June 1951 the property was sold
to work together and influence the
to F Petrini Company (FPC), a fruit and
developers that built Petrini Village at
Fulton/McAllister at Masonic (current
home to Lucky supermarket).
vegetable outlet in the city. Four years
later, in 1955, the ‘Plaza Foods’
(continued on page 3)
North OfPanhandleNeighborhoodAssociation 2 | NOPNANews
FROM THE BOARD
Focus for 2019
At the end of 2018, the NOPNA Board met to take stock of our neighborhood, our
work, and ourselves and to set forward the areas where we wanted to focus our energy
in 2019. In 2018, we focused on community events, growing the board, transportation
safety, better communication and marketing, and becoming more financially stable. In
2019, we are seeking to build on those areas, while addressing what we believe are the
central community needs.
Community Engagement — In 2019 we want be more proactive in our outreach:
growing and extending our email list (sign up at NOPNA.org), strengthening our
volunteer community and outreach, and ensuring we are engaged with as many
neighbors as possible.
General Meeting Improvement and Community Input — Local politicians,
entrepreneurs, and others look to the NOPNA General meeting as way to collect input
from our neighborhood. Oasis has been a very generous host for the past several years,
but we decided we want to try an alternate location with more seating and where
speakers may be easier to hear. In March, we will be moving the General Meeting to a
new location with more seating and where speakers are better able to be heard.
Housing and Land Use — To help address planned developments in our neighborhood,
the NOPNA Board has kicked off a Housing and Land Use subcommittee, led by newly
elected VP Julian Mackie. Please email Julian at julian@nopna.org to learn more.
Board Effectiveness — We will continue to improve our internal function to be more
responsive and active (through greater financial stability, improving board meeting
effectiveness and decision-making speed, and updating our outdated bylaws).
This doesn’t mean we stop the work from previous years and we’ll work to deliver a
best-ever Spring Block Party, Halloween, and Holiday event. Additionally, we’ll address
long-standing issues such as pedestrian safety through existing subcommittees like the
“Vision Zero” subcommittee.
We’d like to hear from you if you would like to get involved in any of these areas, or if
you think we’ve got it wrong and should be focused on other things. This neighborhood
will be what we all make of it — so if you have some thoughts on what it should be,
we want to hear from you! Please send any questions, comments, concerns, or other
thoughts about NOPNA’s 2019 Priorities or other board work to
Jason Cauthen - NOPNA board member; Editor of NOPNA News.
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 IN CHIEF
Jason Cauthen
LAYOUT AND GRAPHIC DESIGN
Brian Donovan
BUSINESS OUTREACH/ADVERTISING
Carmen Chan
PHOTOGRAPHY
Joseph Wilinski
COPY EDITORS
Nathan Lovejoy
Erika Alexander
Jessica Stoneman
Lydia Horne
DISTRIBUTION
Will Valentine
PRINTING
Image Printing, San Francisco
NOPNA’s mission: The purpose
of this association shall be to establish
neighborhood unity, maintain multi-eth-
nic 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 neighborhood.
Your financial support allows
NOPNA to cover the costs of our
newsletters, community b u i l d i n g
e v e n t s l i k e o u r b l o c k p a r t y and
holiday party, public art projects in the
neighborhood, and other activities that
enrich our dynamic neighborhood. It
also supports this site.
Make a difference on our streets and
become a member today!
Contact NOPNA
North OfPanhandleNeighborhoodAssociation
PETRINI PLAZA
(continued)
issue 1 : 2019 | 3
PHOTO: Petrini Plaza at the corner of Fulton at Masonic. Photo Credit: Joseph Wilinski. www.joewilinski.com
complex was built to house several small specialty stores
As Michael Helquist noted, a new organization formed
— butcher, baker, general grocery items, wine, etc. The
to represent the neighborhood. Friends of the Plaza
buildings were situated across the northern section of
Coalition (FPC) was led by active members of NOPNA.
the block, along McAllister Street. The rest of the lot was
(Michael Helquist, former NOPNA President, and Jim
dedicated to surface parking,” said Michael Helquist,
Cowan, long-time NOPNA member, were co-chairs as
former NOPNA President.
the effort got underway.) A committee of about a dozen
The property was sold again for a large, modern
members met weekly to set goals and strategies.
commercial development in the 1990s, when our
neighbors stepped in.
The advocacy of FPC led to a reduced number of units,
major changes to the positioning of the commercial
At the time, the neighborhood was in the midst of change;
buildings on the lot (setback rather than lining the Fulton
the composition of the neighborhood was changing,
sidewalk as originally planned), limited hours of operation
historic homes were being upgraded, and rent and real
(not after 10 p.m.), less generic building styles (avoiding
estate prices were rising. Neighbors didn’t want to see
a “Walnut Creek” look), enough reserved parking
their favorite market disappear. They were concerned
underground for shoppers, and several neighborhood
about a loss of street parking. The original, modern
improvements: funding for NOPNA newsletter, financing
design was not in character with the historic homes in the
for a porchlight program, and others.
neighborhood.
NOW SERVING
LUNCH AND DINNER
Open 6 am – 9:30 pm
everyday
(continued on page 4)
Authentic Ethiopian and Eritrean dishes,
prepared with natural ingredients and
served with special “injera” bread
Meat and vegetarian options • Beer and wine
Cafe specialties (pastries, sandwiches, and
“one-cup-at-a-time” coffee) available all day
Great selection of Ethiopian coffee blends for sale
Wheelchair accessible • No reservations required
4 | NOPNANews
PETRINI PLAZA (continued)
There are several new developments currently proposed
play a role in the shaping of their community.
for our neighborhood (such as 400 Divisadero, 650
Divisadero, and 1355 Fulton). When it comes to these new
Reasonable, calm communication and focusing on the
projects, change makes us uneasy and private developers
items we CAN change is a good place to start.
don’t exactly have great reputations in the community. But
one hostile meeting with neighbors isn’t going to scare
Special thanks to Suzanne and Jim Cowan and Michael
them away. The majority of our beautiful city was planned,
Helquist for sharing notes and memories regarding the
designed, built by and financed by private developers.
FPC.
Our city badly needs new housing and developers are
vital to that growth.
Editor’s Note: If you are interested in engaging to shape
neighborhood development, get involved in NOPNA’s newly-
On the other side of the coin, developments affect
formed Land Use Committee - chaired by NOPNA VP Julian
everything from home values, to views, to the use of
Mackie — julian@nopna.org
public streets. As such, members of the community should
Michelle Petersen has lived in NOPA for 2 years and loves walking
her dogs around the neighborhood and researching the history of her
surroundings.
When I shop, I shop local. Pota was the natural choice
for our Realtor when the time came to sell our NOPA property.
She has local knowledge and lots of it.
- J. Briscoe
Pota Perimenis knows NOPA!
20
16
12
8
4
0
#1 in
Sales
and
Volume
Over the past 3 years, Pota has closed more
home sales in NOPA than any other agent.
Pota
Perimenis
#2
Agent
#3
Agent
#4
Agent
#5
Agent
Real Estate Questions?
Contact Me.
POTA PERIMENIS
#1 NOPA Realtor 2016-2019
415.407.2595
DRE 01117624
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only
and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified. Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All
measurements and square footage are approximate. If your property is currently listed for sale this is not a solicitation.
VISION ZERO
GETTING AROUND NOPA ON TWO WHEELS
issue 1 : 2019 | 5
PHOTO: Cyclist on Panhandle bicycle path. Photo Credit: Joseph Wilinski. www.joewilinski.com
Many would consider the neighborhood north of the
First, on shared-use paths like the one winding through the
Panhandle ideal for people who love to bike, with its
Panhandle, people on bikes should yield to people on foot
proximity to the hill-avoiding commuter route the Wiggle
or in wheelchairs. They are most vulnerable on the path,
and to beautiful Golden Gate Park. But what if you’re not
and thus their safety is highest priority. People on bikes
already one of those people?
should ride slowly and politely use their bell or voice —
People all over the city who don’t yet ride a bicycle
“On your left!” — to announce their approach.
frequently repeat dueling sentiments when I encourage
Second, a person on a bike has the right to take up a full
them to attend the SF Bicycle Coalition’s free bike
general traffic lane if it feels like the safest thing to do,
education classes: either “I don’t feel safe!” or “I’m not one
particularly to stay outside the dangerous “door zone”
of those people!” I’m reminded of the importance of robust
of parked cars. Taking the lane on narrow neighborhood
bicycle education. It empowers those who don’t yet bike
streets communicates to people driving that it’s not safe to
and reminds people who do to adhere to the rules of the
pass, so please stay behind for now.
road, generating a more welcoming environment for all.
Enabling more people to use healthier, more sustainable
What are the most important urban biking guidelines to
transportation options will require cooperative efforts to
keep everyone safe? I recommend checking out sfbike.org/
make everyone feel safe. If you’d like to sign up for the
rotr for a quick primer on the rules of the road. Two are of
monthly Bike Ed Newsletter, visit sfbike.org/education.
particular importance in and around the Panhandle.
Christopher White - is the Program Director of the San Francisco Bicycle
Coalition.
6 | NOPNANews
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH IN NOPA:
A SHORT SKETCH OF ONE HISTORIC INSTITUTION’S WILL TO SURVIVE
PHOTO: First A.M.E. Church on Golden Gate Avenue. Photo Credit: Joseph Wilinski. www.joewilinski.com
The decline of the African American population in San
of African American resilience, pride, place of worship and
Francisco is well documented and much lamented by San
respite from the varied multitudinous slings and arrows of
Francisco politicians, policy-makers, and citizens of every
American racism.
ethnicity. With this steady exodus of African Americans
from San Francisco, one would presume that the African
American church would be in similar demise — but is that
so? My interest in this phenomenon was piqued late last
year when I glanced at the “Church Directory” in the San
Francisco Sun-Reporter, which in this particular edition
(October 18, 2018) listed 24 African American churches
with addresses in San Francisco. As a homeowner on
Broderick Street since 1977, I was particularly curious as to
the number of African American churches in NOPA.
I recently walked through our neighborhood in search of
African American churches and my count is seven, two of
which are listed in the Sun-Reporter “Church Directory.”
My count of seven includes: First A.M.E. Zion, 2159 Golden
Gate Avenue; New Strangers Home Baptist Church, 1442
Fulton Street; Pentecostal Temple Church of God In Christ,
1915 McAllister Street; Mt. Herman Missionary Baptist
Church, 429 Lyon Street; St. John Coltrane AOC, 2097
Turk and Lyon; New Liberation Presbyterian Church, 1100
Divisadero Street; Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church,
1245 Divisadero Street. In this and future articles, I hope
to provide narrative portraits of several of these churches,
excepting those that have already been featured in recent
issues of NOPNA News. The African American church —
wherever it is located — is a deeply rooted institution in the
long arc of the African American struggle. Regardless of its
physical size, number in attendance on any given Sunday,
the African American church stands as an enduring emblem
Of my seven count, First A.M.E. Zion has the deepest
legacy in San Francisco. In the very accessible publication,
Images of America African Americans of San Francisco, Jan
Batiste Adkins writes that First A.M.E. Zion was organized
in 1852, with its first home on Stockton Street, between
Broadway and Pacific. First A.M.E., now frequently referred
to as “First Church,” has had several locations in San
Francisco before locating to its current site in 1960.
The current pastor, Rev. Sharon Cheek, was assigned to
First A.M.E. in June 2017 and has been an ordained Elder
in the AME Zion Church for 20 years. Because First Church,
like the majority of the other six is nestled on all sides by
well-appointed Victorian and ultra-modernist structures, I
asked Pastor Cheek in an email, “What concerns, if any, do
you have for the future of First A.M.E. at its current site?”
Her response typifies her effervescent ministry and steely
resolve: “My major concern is that First Church would
continue to stay relevant in a changing community.” To that
end, she said, “We have a Compassion in Action Ministry
that meets the needs of those who have basic, food,
clothing, transportation, and minor financial assistance.”
With a current membership of 76, all African Americans,
Pastor Cheek says that “other races have begun to visit.”
Exposure to one of her ebullient sermons and the genuine
Christian fellowship exhibited by the congregation will,
I believe, cause many, many others to visit — again and
again.
Carl Williams is an attorney and writer with a wide-ranging interest in African
American history, religious and literary culture; he and his wife Jayne, also an
attorney, are homeowners on Broderick Street since 1977.
issue 2 : 2017 | 7
8 | NOPNANews
MICRO HISTORY
THE SANS SOUCI ROADHOUSE
sat at the edge of a vernal pool called
bookkeeper. Except, that is, for taking
Sans Souci Lake, roughly between
part in the Committee of Vigilance,
Fulton and Fell St. and Broderick and
the vigilante group that took the law
Divisadero. A vernal pool is a seasonal
in lawless San Francisco into its own
body of water that’s created by winter
hands in 1851 and again in 1856.
rains but disappears during dry summer
months in places with a Mediterranean
The Sans Souci lost the cachet of
climate like that of San Francisco.
being even an ephemeral waterfront
Between 1850 and 1856, William Fell,
property during the very wet winter
PHOTO: Sans Souci Roadhouse in the early 1920s;
photo attributed to Jesse Brown Cook.
the Danish immigrant after whom
of 1861–62. One night heavy rains
Fell St. is named, was the off and on
broke the bank of Sans Souci Lake
One of NOPA’s earliest buildings
owner of the roadhouse. If you think
and the water ran downhill, although
was a ten room hotel called the Sans
San Francisco real estate is a blood
it’s not clear where it ended up. The
Souci (French for “without a care”)
sport now, consider that Sans Souci
hotel was encroached upon by the
Roadhouse, located at what’s now
changed hands six times in 1851,
growing city and put to other uses,
1333 Fulton St., just west of Divisadero.
appreciating by 200 percent from its first
but the building survived until the
It was the Sonoma Mission Inn of its
sale in February for $1,000 to $3,000
1920s, when it either burned or was
day, a rustic retreat from the alcohol-
when it was last sold at the end of the
torn down.
soaked kernel of the Gold Rush city that
year. Fell eventually leased it in 1856
boomed around Portsmouth Square. It
and subsided into the quiet life of a
Linda Ackerman leads free City Guides tours
of NOPA. For the next tour see http://sfci-
tyguides.org/current_schedule.html.
HOW DID NOPNA VOTE?
issue 1 : 2019 | 9
NOPA
SF
(Yes)
Authorizes bonds for existing affordable housing programs.
Prop. 1
(Yes)
Authorizes bonds for housing individuals with mental illness.
Prop. 2
(No)
Transportation taxes/fees for road repairs and public transit.
Prop. 6
Prop. 10
(No)
Restricts the scope of rent control policies.
Measure C
(Local)
Increase business taxes to fund homeless services in the city.
86%
89%
90%
36%
73%
74%
79%
83%
47%
61%
CA
56%
63%
57%
59%
NA
NOPA
SF
CA
NewsomGovernor
94%
(D)
64%
62%
Feinstein
U.S. Senate
(D)
57%
86%
54%
The elections were months ago and I’m always curious as I walk around and wonder if my neighbors disagree with me on
policy issues and who we want to represent us. How do our votes compare to our city or our state? How many of us vote,
and how do we submit our ballots?
Thankfully, the Department of Elections publishes the data so we can determine just how others voted in the community.
Some of the hot issues up were Proposition 10 (repeal of Costa Hawkins, a 1995 rent control limiting law), Local Measure
C — Additional Business Taxes to Fund Homeless Services, and some of the state races. I hope this information is
interesting, but the NOPNA board wants readers to know that we use this information to determine how to best
represent the will of our community.
Proposition 6, (which would have repealed the 2017 Road Repair and Accountability Act that raised gas taxes for
repairs and improvements to local roads, state highways, and public transportation) was rejected by 90% of residents,
something that indicates a mandate for us when determining if there’s support for transportation improvements among
our neighbors. This is important input for NOPNA as we consider our positions to local infrastructure projects.
https://www.sfelections.org/results/20181106/data/20181126/20181126_psov.xlsx
https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2018-general/sov/2018-complete-sov.pdf
Tim Hickey is a NOPNA Board member, father, and advocate for improved infrastructure for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit.
10 | NOPNANews
NOPA NEIGHBORS READY TO HELP NEIGHBORS
What can you and your family do to prepare for the
next earthquake?
Following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the
citizens of San Francisco helped the San Francisco Fire
Department and various emergency services manage
and recover from its effects. This ad hoc collaboration
spawned the creation of the Neighborhood Emergency
Response Team program (NERT) in 1990.
San Francisco Fire Department NERT is a community-
based training program dedicated to a neighbor-
helping-neighbor approach. Training includes hands-on
disaster response skills to help individuals manage a
personal emergency as well as act as members of a
neighborhood response team.
In our neighborhood, NOPA NERT is here to help our
community in the event of a catastrophe. NOPA NERT
is coordinated by David Dull and Nathan Karkoski,
both long time residents of NOPA. Monthly NERT
meetings include training and review of skills necessary
PHOTO: The NERT crew.
to be a valuable NERT, including the basics of personal
preparedness and prevention. NERT Rule No 1 “NERTS
don’t get hurt!”
Are you ready for the (next) “big one”? Geologists tell
us that there is a 70% chance of a major earthquake
occurring in the Bay Area in the next 30 years. Learning
what to do for a major earthquake and taking the steps to
become prepared for it increases our knowledge, skills,
and confidence. Volunteering to work with our neighbors
increases our connection with them.
Anyone over 18 can become a NERT. For more
information check the NERT website, which includes
the current training schedule at https://sf-fire.org/
neighborhood-emergency-response-team-nert.
Elisabeth Kvitashvili has been a member of NOPA NERT since April 2018.
issue 1 : 2019 | 11
NEIGHBOR SPOTLIGHT:
ATTICUS, THE BELOVED PANHANDLE PIG
If your morning routine involves a walk to the Panhandle,
approached us, smiling ear-to-ear, asking a range of
chances are you may have seen a 120 pound pig on a
questions. She then pointed out Atticus was eating a piece
leash. Meet your neighbor, Atticus. Born in Michigan and
of bread off the grass. Luke joked, “It’s okay, he’s not a
now seven years old, Atticus lives with Luke Sweeney, his
gluten-free pig.”
wife Rohini, and their six year old daughter Pele. Luke, a
laid-back musician originally from Chico, and his family
Atticus lives his life similarly to the existence of a San
moved to NOPA from the Sunset district about a year ago.
Francisco dog. He has a large dog bed he typically sleeps
“I like this neighborhood a lot,” said Luke, “In some ways
on in the Sweeney apartment, but occasionally sleeps on
it’s strange because the Sunset seems more classic and
the couch. Luke whistles at him, he responds to commands
suburb-ish, but here it
feels more tightly knit.”
I had the pleasure
of meeting Atticus
on a recent drizzly
Tuesday morning to
tag along on his daily
morning walk. Atticus
was coaxed down the
twelve porch steps
with a tortilla chip and
off we ventured to the
park. “He’s cleaning
up our streets,” said
Luke as Atticus almost
immediately got into
remnants of Chinese
food on Masonic. Over
PHOTO: Atticus (and Luke). Photo Credit: Meg Rahner.
like “sit,” and will
instantly become your
best friend if you’re
eating a snack (notably
chips, bread, and
Chinese food, so it
seems.) Atticus eats
organic pig food and
goes on walks regularly.
He also roams the
backyard with a pair
of bunnies, Patti the
chicken, and a puppy,
Princess Crystals (you
guessed it, named by
Pele).
2019 is Year of the Pig
according to Chinese
the next several blocks, nearly everyone we encountered
Zodiac, so make sure you say hello to Atticus next time you
reacted with an instant smile, often pulling out their
see him out and about. In the meantime, you can follow
phones to snap a photo. “Can we say hi?” said a neighbor
Atticus virtually; he’s on Instagram @AtticusthePig.
walking her chihuahua. “Be nice,” she told the barking
dog, “This is a pig!” Shortly thereafter, another woman
Meg Rahner is a Pennsylvania native who has lived in NOPA since she moved
to San Francisco in 2010. She works for a public relations agency downtown and
recently joined the NOPNA board.
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