LETTER FROM PHAN PRESIDENT
CHARLIE FERGUSON
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Renaming Julius Khan Park; 3333 California & Other Projects
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December 2018
Dear Neighbors,
As we enter the final months of the calendar year, I am pleased to be able to report to you that PHAN directors continued to work on the projects I outlined for those of you who were able to attend PHAN’s annual meeting last May. What follows is an update on progress we have made.
Renaming Julius Kahn Playground
I will begin with a report and request that you participate in one of our projects,
the renaming of Julius Kahn Playground
. The City itself has already determined that the playground must be renamed. PHAN’s role is to recommend a new name, working together with both Chinese American, Jewish and neighborhood groups. You can help, perhaps even have the distinct honor of suggesting the new name that is ultimately approved by the City. Send your suggestions to PHAN to our email,
info@phansf.org
. A working group composed of representatives of the organizations I mentioned will tabulate the three or four most popular names suggested and then solicit your vote on those names and report the winner to the City, which will either approve or disapprove of the final choice. So, although we’ve just gone through a lengthy mid-term election and voting cycle, please send your own or your family’s suggestions to us. There is no limit on how many names you can suggest!
Fire Prevention
Fire prevention and protection were important focal points in our annual meeting,
particularly along the Presidio Wall.
I am pleased to report that the Presidio Trust seems to have heard and understood our concerns, as the Trust has done much of what our fire prevention consultant recommended. Removing lower branches of trees and cleaning up under the trees has occurred between the Presidio and Arguello Gates on the Presidio’s side of the wall. As was pointed out at the May meeting, fire prevention activities are not a one-time event; they must be performed year after year. PHAN’s board will continue to monitor the Presidio’s fire prevention efforts and encourage the Trust to do what we feel is necessary for our safety next summer as well.
Development Projects: 3333 California Street, CPMC Campus and Litke Development
The major development projects, 3333 California Street, CPMC Campus, and the Litke development on the south side of the 3600 block of Sacramento Street, were discussed at the annual meeting. All three remain active developments. Given the interest of residents in these three projects, PHAN will start carrying links on its website (
www.phansf.org
) with information concerning the status of each project.
At this time, it appears the City is intent on pushing more housing into our neighborhood than any of these three developers originally planned or requested. The Planning Department has indicated an interest in increasing the
3333 California Street
project to a level of approximately 770 units. As many of you know, our neighbors in Laurel Heights have legally established that the project should be treated as a state historic resource (both the building and the grounds). The exact impact that legal status will eventually have on the project is unknown at this point. The City Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors will have to decide, as well as the courts if anyone is dissatisfied with what the City decides to approve. PHAN has not expressed support for the project in writing yet. Generally, my sense is that the board would vote in favor of supporting the project if the number of units was limited to the mid-500’s. It is unclear to me what position the PHAN board would take if the City insisted that 770 units had to be built before the Supervisors would approve it.
The developers of the TMG project on the
CPMC California Street
campus will learn what the City thinks of its proposed project relatively soon. PHAN has already gone on record and submitted a letter to the Planning Department supporting the project as proposed. To my knowledge, no surrounding neighborhood association has opposed the TMG project, but some members of PHAN who reside close to the project have objected to specific buildings or portions of the project on the ground that they block their current views or sunlight. Whatever number of housing units the City insists on for this project, the number will be smaller but the size of individual units will be larger than will be the case at the 3333 California Street project.
The
Litke development
on the
3600 block of Sacramento Street
contains an additional story as compared to what was once presented to PHAN. PHAN understands that this was requested by the Planning Department. Due to the heavy involvement of the Planning Department in this project, there is nothing that PHAN can oppose with any hope of success, although I know that many of you object to the aesthetics of the project. We will be watchful when the project breaks ground and will give serious consideration to opposing any construction techniques or processes that contravene the City’s building code which you bring to our attention.
There are merchants on Sacramento Street who have expressed serious concerns about the economic impact due to the timing of both the Litke and TMG development projects in their immediate vicinity. They fear that they will be affected in much the same way as the construction on Van Ness Avenue has harmed businesses along that street. Accordingly, PHAN recommends that all residents of Presidio Heights continue to support the merchants along the Sacramento Street corridor throughout the construction phases of these projects, no matter how messy the streets may become.
Meanwhile, PHAN will work with the Sacramento Street Merchants Association to induce those at City Hall and in the Building Department to regulate the construction processes on the three development projects to minimize the negative impacts on our business neighbors as much as possible, as well as ourselves.
Home Renovation: Being Good Neighbors
Turning to construction on our own homes,
PHAN will be issuing a set of guidelines for residents to adopt when they launch home renovation projects.
These will appear soon, certainly before the spring of 2019 when home sales and renovations begin to pick up. The guidelines will be published on PHAN’s website (
www.phansf.org
).
Halloween in the Neighborhood
We survived Halloween without incident. I must congratulate PHAN Board Member and Sacramento Street merchant Traci Teraoka on organizing the Merchants Association to provide an opportunity for youngsters to trick or treat on Sacramento Street. It seems to have triggered an earlier start to the trick or treating on the residential streets, which I know many of us appreciated. Special guests Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Stefani briefly joined in the fun this year.
I will publish another letter in mid-winter. In the meanwhile, please do not hesitate to contact me or other members of the PHAN board through
info@phansf.org
. As many of you know, we do respond promptly and comprehensively to your inquiries. I look forward to seeing your suggestions for renaming JK Playground. I send you my best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season!
Warm regards,
Charlie Ferguson
President
Presidio Heights Association of Neighbors
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Halloween in
Presidio Heights
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Halloween is a fun and sometimes frenetic time in Presidio Heights. This year, as in years past, Sacramento Street merchants hosted a Halloween trick-or-treating event for younger children that began earlier in the afternoon to many families' delight. And, we had some special guests, including Mayor London Breed and District 2 Supervisor Catherine Stefani!
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Photo captions: Mayor London Breed brings the Roaring 20's to Halloween; Our police force is getting younger by the day; Supervisor Catherine Stefani with son Dominick, daughter Gigi and friends at the Sacramento Street Merchant's Halloween Trick or Treat
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A Message From the District Attorney's Office:
Consider Registering Your Security Camera
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The San Francisco District Attorney's Office invites you to register your security camera on our web site. The goal of the program is to deter crime and promote public safety through collaboration between the San Francisco District Attorney's Office and the communities we serve.
Registration is voluntary and there is no cost associated with registration. Registering your information does not provide the District Attorney's Office with direct access to your camera. All information on the form will be kept confidential by the District Attorney's Office unless subject to disclosure by court order. Your information will be accessed by law enforcement personnel who are investigating criminal activity. You may be contacted by law enforcement to request a copy of any video captured by your camera, which may assist in a criminal investigation. Thank you for your assistance!
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Porch Pirates & The Holiday Season
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You may have experienced the theft of a package that was delivered to your door, or at least was supposed to be delivered to your door. During this holiday season, consider requiring a signature for deliveries on your package or have your packages sent to your office or other secure location. Neighborhood mail store LPH Shipping at 3701 Sacramento (cross street Spruce) will accept packages for a fee or with the rental of a mailbox.
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Real Estate Roundup with Carol Solfanelli
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I have lived in Presidio Heights for almost 20 years now and have seen changes in the composition of people who live in this beautiful leafy neighborhood. As more people move out of their homes and downsize, younger families have moved in to buy, and some, to renovate homes. It is a great place to live with an unbeatable location near the Presidio and the charming shops of Sacramento Street.
The
San Francisco real estate market
is beginning to change as a greater number of properties come on the market. Price reductions have increased due to overly exuberant sellers who initially priced their homes too high. While the luxury market has slowed overall, with job vacancies at a record high and good job and income growth, the San Francisco real estate market has stayed relatively strong.
Let’s see what property sales have been like in Presidio Heights for the past year:
Home Sales
According to the Multiple Listing Service, 16 homes have sold in this neighborhood over the past year (ending October 8, 2018) at an average price of $8,347,688, up from $6,615,000 in the prior year. The highest and lowest sales prices in the past year were $18,500,000 for a 11,700 square foot, 9-bedroom home and $4,300,000 for a smaller 4-bedroom home. The average time on the market for these homes has been 38 days this past year, much less time than the prior year’s 57 days. Volume is down slightly with 2 fewer homes having sold this past year than the prior one.
Condo Sales
Over the past year (ending October 8, 2018 ), 23 condos have sold in this neighborhood at an average price of $2,141,375, slightly down from an average of $2,266,519 in the prior year. The highest and lowest sales prices in the past year were $4,975,000 for a 5- bedroom condo and $537,500 for a studio. The average time on the market for these condos has been 25 days this past year, longer than the prior year’s 19 days. Volume is up with 7 more condos having sold this past year than the prior one.
The above numbers do not include any off-market sales that may have occurred.
Conclusion
Not surprisingly with the recent very hot market, home values have increased in Presidio Heights over the past year. However, the value of condos has remained about the same. Since there were some smaller units, including the 385 square foot studio that sold earlier this year, this may have skewed the average price of condos lower than it normally would have been. Our neighborhood continues to be highly sought after and the value of all properties, but particularly homes, has done very well.
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Back in the Day, Part II: The 6th Army in the Presidio
by Bruce McKleroy
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The Presidio has played a major role in my life as a resident of Presidio Heights. PHAN area residents inhabit the heights above the Presidio of San Francisco, a former Army base that was the headquarters for the 6th Army. As a young man who grew up with this military base next door, I enjoyed many memories associated with the 6th Army.
Each evening, everyone in Presidio Heights could hear the blast of the parade ground cannon as the Army color guard retired the colors for the night. This retreat ceremony was accompanied by bugle calls- two distinct ones that are quite beautiful. One was played before the cannon blast and the other after. Those familiar with military protocols knew that it was appropriate to salute in the direction of the parade field flag after hearing the cannon during the 2nd bugle call. In the evening at 10 pm, one could hear "Taps" sounded on the bugle, as the post’s residents were alerted to the daily rhythm of an army base. In the morning one could also hear "Reveille." These sounds were not always audible due to the wind direction, weather, fog horns, seals, sea lions, or other reasons.
I attended numerous “Army Days” in the 50’s and 60’s where in the parade field (paved for the benefit of marching soldiers) was filled with Army personnel, information tables, and tents showing off field hospitals, and other modern technology. But for a kid, the big trucks, tanks, and artillery was most noticeable. I remember being quite frightened when soldiers demonstrated red smoke grenades that they set off near the street drains.
The military police, the MPs, were always around, often wearing their white helmets and MP armbands. They drove army green and white painted Chevys. They patrolled around JK on occasion to watch over the local kids who liked to bother them with water balloons and retreat uphill into Presidio Heights where the MP’s would never go.
The base was always a nice place for VIP visitors, and the top ranked ones were guests of the Commandant. One of my favorite memories was riding in a staff car with Admiral Nimitz who was in town, and who kindly participated in my Boy Scout Troop’s Eagle ceremony by pinning an Eagle Award on my friend Ricky Goldman, Richard Goldman’s son.
When the base closed in 1994, I volunteered to participate on the Restoration Advisory Board as a “stakeholder” monitoring PHAN’s interests. That work was a wonderful way to help move the Presidio to the place it is today. Some other time I tell you about the amazing opening party for the Letterman Art Building.
Editor's Note: See this fascinating
short movie
of the 6th Army in the Presidio circa 1954 and read Bruce's reminisces in Part I of Back in the Day on the
PHAN website
.
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Support Our Local Merchants
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The vitality of our neighborhood is due in part to our access to wonderful shops and restaurants. This holiday season (and all year round), please support our local merchants on Sacramento Street. Unique shops, cafes and restaurants add so much appeal to this neighborhood that we all love, but unless we support these businesses with our dollars, they cannot survive, much less thrive. With the departure of CPMC, our local businesses need our support more than ever.
Be a good neighbor: Buy Local.
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HO HO GO!: Santa Is In The Neighborhood
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San Francisco's finest know that you can visit Santa every weekend on Saturday and Sunday up to Christmas from 10 AM to 2 PM at Dottie Doolittle, 3680 Sacramento Street.
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Join PHAN. We Need Your Support!
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PHAN is open to all residents in Presidio Heights. Our strength is in our numbers, and we keep our membership dues at $40 a year to encourage as many residents to join as possible. If you aren't yet a member of PHAN, it's easy to sign up. Go to our website
www.phansf.org
or send a check to PHAN at P.O. Box 29503, San Francisco, CA 94129.
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Comments? Questions? Concerns?
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You can reach out to PHAN by emailing
info@phansf.org
. We welcome your comments, questions and concerns. Happy Holidays!
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