Last March, we reported that St. Peter’s Episcopal Church was breaking ground on a new housing facility for the developmentally disabled, called St. Peter’s Place.

The 20 housing units in St. Peter’s Place will allow adults with developmental disabilities to live on their own, with supervision by a social worker who can link them to education, employment, medical care and social activities. Residents will be able to choose from one and two room spaces, with the option of having aides live with them.

St. Peter’s Place sits on the land that was once the church’s sanctuary on 29th Avenue between Geary and Clement. The sanctuary had been vacant since it was damaged during the 1989 earthquake.

The project received funds from the Mayor’s Office of Housing, the state and the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. St. Peter’s teamed up with the Bernal Heights Neighbohood Center for the construction, whose Housing Services Affiliate has been developing affordable housing since 1982.

St. Peter’s Place has 14 studios, 4, 1-bedrooms and 1, 2-bedroom unit for tenants as well as a community room, community kitchen, laundry facilities and a backyard patio. The building is expected to receive LEED certification.

Construction is nearly complete and interest in the housing units has been high. They received 97 applications for the 19 available units (one of the units will be for a resident staff person/manager). Last week, Supervisor Eric Mar was on hand to help draw winners in the St. Peter’s Place housing lottery.

The facility is expected to officially open in April.

Special thanks to Faith Kirkpatrick of the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center and Myrna Melga of Supervisor Mar’s office for the photos.

Sarah B.

Supervisor Eric Mar (L) draws winners in the St. Peter’s Place housing lottery.

Kitchen facilities inside one of the new units.

Supervisor Eric Mar with BOS commendation recipient, Nino Parker.

At Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Eric Mar presented a commendation to Nino Parker, a Richmond District resident and staff member at SF Pretrial Diversion, a non-profit that offers first-time misdemeanor offenders an alternative program of education, rehabilitation and community service work.

As part of his work with youth at SF Pretrial Diversion, Parker works with the SFDPW’s Graffiti Clean Team Projects to remove graffiti around the city. His “crew” is made up of first time misdemeanor offenders of non-violent charges, providing them with a court-approved opportunity to have their case dismissed by completing a program.

In honor of his work with youth in the community, Parker’s commendation from the Board of Supervisors reads:

To honor your dedication and hard work servicing the diverse community of San Francisco and the Richmond District, for your leadership and mentorship of disadvantaged youth, and for your devotion to helping those who need it most, the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco extends its highest commendation.

Parker is a San Francisco native and attended both Roosevelt Middle School and George Washington High School here in the neighborhood. He lives in the Outer Richmond district with his 3-year old son.

Sarah B.

First he wanted to ban happy meals, now it looks like Richmond District Supervisor Eric Mar may also want to ban a bit of of fun from Golden Gate Park…

As we reported back in September, a Segway tour company was approved to operate in Golden Gate Park.

Tours started a couple of weeks ago and so far, everything has gone smoothly. However Supervisor Mar has expressed concern over the safety of Segways operating in the park on pedestrian paths and roadways, some of which are not even open to bicycles.

The issue will be on the agenda of the regular City Operations & Neighborhood Services Committee meeting on March 14, in Room 250 of City Hall. Supervisors Mar, Avalos and Elsbern chair the committee.

The purpose of the committee is defined as such: The City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee shall be referred measures related to public works, infrastructure, traffic and parking control, parks and recreation, utilities, public protection, delinquency prevention, public health, emergency services, seniors, the disabled, children and their families.

I took a tour in the park when the Segway tours were being piloted and I have to say, it was a blast. I’ve never gotten to the top of Strawberry Hill with such ease!

Segways can reach a top speed of 12mph, however only adults are allowed on the tours after completing a 30 minute training session (yes, I had to do that too). The tours always have a guide, which can be a great deterrent to that rogue rider who wants to be a show off or unsafe.

What do you think? Is there something the Rec & Park Commission overlooked that Supervisor Mar can bring to light?

Sarah B.

Here’s a video shot by K9VidBlog, showing the ceremony today in the Music Concourse of Golden Gate Park. Chase Freedom donated $30,000 to replace the seventeen elm trees that were cut down by a vandal last summer; replanting began today. The trees are being replaced with sycamores.

Supervisor Eric Mar was in attendance, along with representatives from Chase, the Recreation & Parks Department and San Francisco Parks Trust. If you ever wanted to see city officials shoveling something, this is your chance.

Sarah B.

The San Francisco Recreation and Park Department announced on Tuesday that a $30,000 from Chase Freedom will be used to replace the seventeen elm trees that were vandalized in the Golden Gate Park’s Music Concourse last July.

A total of 44 trees and some rose bushes were destroyed in the park last summer. At the time, Elton Pon, a parks department spokesman told the Chronicle, “We don’t know if it is someone with a political agenda, or a mental problem or something else. It does seem like someone knows what they’re doing.”

The department even offered a $2,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the tree vandal, but nothing ever came of it. At one point, police were staking out potential targets 24 hours a day with undercover and uniformed cops patrolling more than 40 hot spots in the park.

Today at 11:30am, representatives from Chase Freedom, the San Francisco Parks Trust, the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department and city officials including Supervisor Eric Mar, will be in the Music Concouse for a tree planting ceremony (also open to the public).

Glad these trees are getting replaced – thanks Chase! But the cost of $1764.70 per tree seems outrageous, no? Does that price include Lloyds of London insurance?

Sarah B.

Saw this men’s t-shirt tonight at Park Life on Clement. For those of you new-ish to the neighborhood, you may not know that for a long stretch – we’re talking 1917 until 2009 – our ‘hood was officially known as “Park Presidio”.

Even after all that time, it never really caught on so after taking office in 2009, Supervisor Eric Mar did the right thing and got us our original name back. More on how the Richmond District got its name.

Sarah B.

Earlier this month, the Bay Guardian spoke with every San Francisco Supervisor about their priorities for the year. Supervisor Eric Mar has two more years in office and in his talk with SFBG, he identified the top issues he plans to focus on. Below is their full discussion with Supervisor Mar.

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They have issues: Members of the new Board speak
SFBG Politics Blog
January 18, 2011

Supervisor Eric Mar
District 1

Issues:

• Budget
• Assisting small businesses
• Programs and services for seniors
• Food Security
• Issues surrounding Golden Gate Park

Elected in 2008 to represent D1, Sup. Eric Mar has been named chair of the powerful Land Use & Economic Development Committee and vice chair of the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee.

Asked to name his top priorities, Mar said, “A humane budget that protects the safety net and services to the must vulnerable people in San Francisco is kind of the critical, top priority.”

It’s bound to be difficult, he added. “That’s why I wish it could have been a progressive that was chairing the budget process. Now, we have to work with Carmen Chu to ensure that it’s a fair, transparent process.”

A second issue hovering near the top of Mar’s agenda is lending a helping hand to the small businesses of the Richmond District. “There’s a lot of anxiety about the economic climate for small business. We’re trying to work closely with some of the merchant associations and come up with ideas on how the city government can be more supportive,” he said. Mar also spoke about the need to respond to the threat of big box stores, such as PETCO, that could move in and harm neighborhood merchants. “I’m worried about too many of the big box stores trying to come in with an urban strategy and saying that they’re different — but they sure have an unfair advantage,” he noted.

Programs and services for the senior population ranked high on his list. Mar noted that he’d been working with senior groups on how to respond to a budget analyst’s report showing a ballooning need for housing – especially affordable housing – for seniors. “It’s moving from the Baby Boom generation to the Senior Boomers, and I think the population, if I’m not mistaken, by 2020 it’s going up 50 percent,” he said. “It’s a huge booming population that I don’t think we’re ready to address.”

Addressing food security issues through the Food Security Task Force also ranked high on Mar’s list, and he noted that he’s been working with a coalition that includes UCSF and the Department of Public Health to study the problem. “We’ve had a number of strategy meetings already, but we’re trying to launch different efforts to create healthier food access in many of our lowest income neighborhoods,” Mar said.

Finally, Mar talked about issues relating to the park. “I do represent the district that has Golden Gate Park, so I’m often busy with efforts to preserve the park, prevent privatization, and ensure enjoyment for the many residents not just in the Richmond but throughout the city that enjoy the park.” Although it’s not technically in his district, Mar noted that he is very supportive of HANC Recycling Center – and plans to advocate on their behalf to Mayor Lee.

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What do you think of Supervisor Mar’s priorities? Leave a comment to let us know.

Sarah B.

Earlier tonight, PETCO representatives got a rough reception from Richmond District residents at a community meeting set up to discuss one of their Unleashed by PETCO stores moving in to the vacant retail space at 5411 Geary.

PETCO currently has two large stores in San Francisco; one of them is in the outer Sunset on Sloat Boulevard. Representatives at the meeting said that many of the shoppers at those stores are from the Richmond District, based on zip code data that is collected at checkout.

PETCO believes there’s a strong market for pet supplies and pet food in the Richmond District, and they are eager to provide a third location to service their west side customers. PETCO estimates that $9 million is spent annually at stores in the Richmond District on pet food, supplies and services. The store they’re proposing to open is one of their Unleashed by PetCo stores, which are typically half the size of their usual superstores. The 5411 Geary location is roughly 5,000 square feet.

In addition to selling pet supplies, Unleashed by PETCO also offers pet services like dog training, pet insurance, pet sitting, vaccinations, and DNA breed testing. Neither live animals nor grooming services are offered at Unleashed locations, which is typical of the larger PETCO stores. There are currently 28 Unleashed stores across California, DC, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia.

The meeting drew about 50 residents to the Richmond District Recreation Center, where it began with Yvette Davis from Berg Davis Public Affairs introducing the project. The firm had been hired to assist PETCO in their community outreach about the new store.

Davis said they had engaged in community outreach to alert residents and merchants about last night’s community meeting and PETCO’s plans to move in, but when pressed by an audience member, she admitted that their outreach only went as far out as a 300 foot radius of the 5411 Geary location (about one square block).

PETCO later clarified via email that they also sent multilingual notices to 250 residents, neighborhood groups, newspapers, local blogs (including this one), and emailed their customers that live in the Richmond.

As we reported earlier today, pet store owners in the Richmond District have organized to block PETCO’s arrival over concerns of unfair competition that would drive them out of business.

Two neighborhood pet store owners were on hand at the meeting – Roy Schmall of Cal’s Pet Supply (California & 22nd) and John Todgya of B&B Pet Supplies (Geary & 12th Avenue).

Several residents spoke up in support of Cal’s Pet Supply, with one woman saying “We like this hometown kind of touch.” Cal’s has been in operation for 25 years and would be just 1/4 mile from the new PETCO.

One man, identified as Bob Starzel, said he and 29 other neighbors invested in Cal’s to keep it afloat after it suffered extensive damage from a construction accident in June 2009. Starzel spoke strongly to the PETCO representatives, telling them that if their store “threatens the continuation of Cal’s Pet Supply, then you will have a very hostile community.”

Another resident was also wary of the large retailer making a move into the neighborhood and its potential threat to the small pet shops. “We know these businesses and we’ll fight very hard to make sure that they’re protected. We’ll dig in if we have to.”

Not everyone at the meeting was opposed to PETCO moving in. Locksmith owner Brian Jones, who runs a shop on Geary Boulevard, said he would like to see the empty storefront filled. 5411 Geary has been vacant for nearly two years since Walgreens closed and moved further up Geary. He believes that the additional shoppers PETCO attracts would be good for all merchants in the neighborhood. “I think it would help my business. I’d like to see something move in there.”

Also at the meeting was a representative from CB Richard Ellis, a firm hired by PetCo to help them find new retail locations. He shared an interesting statistic with the audience – 25% of retail space in the Richmond District is currently vacant. That’s one of the highest among city neighboroods where the average retail vacancy rate is 4%.

The Richmond was at just 5% in the first quarter of 2008, but in the last 3 years, it has soared to 25%. PETCO opponents countered that the statistic actually boosted their argument, because the chain store moving in could mean the demise of several small pet shops. “You’re making our argument – we don’t want more empty space.”

The CB Richard Ellis representative asked the audience what kind of retailer would be suitable to take over the 5,000 square foot space with its sizeable rent? A plucky high school student raised his hand and said he thought an electronics store like Apple would be perfect. That got some applause.

The PETCO representatives also took some heat at the meeting over the company’s history of animal neglect at their San Francisco stores. In 2002, the city filed a lawsuit against PETCO, alleging animal “cruelty and pattern of brazen violations of San Francisco health and safety standards.”

Though the Unleashed by PETCO stores do not sell live animals, B&B Pet Supplies owner John Todgya said many of his customers were opposed to any PETCO moving in because of their poor reputation for animal care. He said he had 3,000 signatures on a petition opposing PETCO, and vowed to collect many more to block their arrival.

The interior of an Unleashed by PetCo store in Hillcrest, CA

Richmond District Supervisor Eric Mar was also at the meeting, and was asked by a resident to share his thoughts on the issues being discussed. Mar said “I am proud of the Richmond District for standing up for their small businesses,” but he did not reveal whether or not he supports PETCO moving in to the neighborhood.

Mar also said he was “sensitive to their fears of the process”, referring to the small business owners at the meeting. He also said that more outreach should be made to be made to the Chinese and Russian speaking residents and merchants in the area.

Last night’s public meeting was one of the first steps in the process for PETCO as they apply to the city for their conditional use permit. Once they file their application, it typically takes two to three months to reach the Planning Commission for final approval at a public hearing. If approved, the Unleashed by PETCO store could open by the end of the summer.

However the residents and small business owners that are opposed to PETCO seem prepared for a long fight. Also of note is a new Pet Food Express that will be opening soon at the corner of California and Presidio. Just ask them about what neighborhood opposition means. They ended up at the California Street location because the retail space they originally wanted on Lombard was never approved due to intense opposition from Marina residents and pet store owners.

KTVU News was also at the meeting and aired a segment on last night’s 10 O’Clock news.

Sarah B.