Russian Hill Neighbors

Creating Community in the Russian Hill Neighborhood of San Francisco

Swensen’s is 70!

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Swensen’s is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.  The company was started in 1948 by Earle Swensen, who learned to make ice cream while serving in the U.S. Navy World War II. He opened the original Swensen’s  at Union and Hyde in what had been a failed ice cream parlor.  One RHN member remembers when single scoop cones for children  were 5 cents, or 6 cents dipped in chocolate.

Swensen sold the franchise rights in the 1970s but retained exclusive rights in San Francisco and operated the original Swensen’s until 1994, a year before his death at age 83.

There are now about 300 Swensen’s worldwide in the USA, South America, Middle East, South America, India, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Pakistan and Myanmar

From the President’s Desk

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Dear Members, Merchants and Friends,

How fortunate RUSSIAN HILL NEIGHBORS is to have more than 50 individuals volunteering to serve on our Board of Directors, Advisors, and Committees. If you too want to make a difference in this wonderful neighborhood, meet new friends and have a lot of fun, consider joining us. Currently, we have positions open as Chair of the Social and Chair of the Families with Children Committees. Please email me if you are interested in serving president@rhnsf.org. 
 
By keeping our expenses lean, we have been able to build up a reserve fund. At its September meeting, our Board voted to donate $15,000 of these funds to help meet the exciting challenge grant that will bring $6 million dollars to the Francisco Park Conservancy so that construction of this wonderful new open space can begin in early 2019. This is definitely a “stretch gift” for our organization – the largest we have ever made, I believe – and we hope that it inspires every resident here to make your own stretch gift to meet this challenge. Find out more about making your own gift HERE.
 
Congratulations and sincere thanks to the 65 graduates who took the rigorous 6-week NERT training in August and September. We are all safer and better prepared with these trained volunteers in our neighborhood. RHN is in the process of creating a neighborhood wide resiliency and preparedness plan to involve, eventually, every block and every residential high-rise. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THIS PLANNING, PLEASE EMAIL ME DIRECTLY, PRESIDENT@RHNSF.ORG.  This is important work.  

One last word, please join us in helping to make our neighborhood clean, at the October 13th, Sterling Park Spruce UP sponsored by both RHN Neighborhood Improvement & Park Committee.  Thank you.
 
Carol Ann Rogers
President

CALL TO ACTION – Whole Foods 365 at 1600 Jackson Street – UPCOMING HEARING

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Thursday, October 4th is the new date for the continued hearing by the SF Planning Commission on the Conditional Use of 1600 Jackson Street (old Lombardi’s) for a full-service grocery by Whole Foods 365. Many of you wrote letters and attended the Commission meeting last April  when a final decision was postponed by the Commissioners.

Because the October 4th hearing is a continuation of the earlier hearing, public testimony is closed and therefore will not be allowed. However, now is the time to let the Commissioners hear from you again.

On behalf of its membership, Russian Hill Neighbors has submitted an additional letter of support for the Whole Foods 365 project. A copy of that letter is available for your review RHN Letter. RHN Board and committee members are also planning to attend the hearing to show our support, albeit silently. If you can join us, please let us know you will be attending here so that we can look for you, perhaps sit together, and also keep you updated on the expected timing of this Agenda item as the date nears.

Meanwhile, your additional letters of support should be emailed to the following:

Commissions.secretary@sfgov.org (Jonas Ionin)

With copies to:

RichHillisSF@gmail.com  (Commission President Rich Hillis)

myrna.melgar@sfgov.org   (Commissioner Melgar)

planning@rodneyfong.com  (Commissioner Fong)

milicent.johnson@sfgov.org  (Commissioner Johnson)

joel.koppel@sfgov.org   (Commissioner Koppel)

kathrin.moore@sfgov.org   (Commissioner Moore)

dennis.richards@sfgov.org   (Commissioner Richards)

John.Rahaim@sfgov.org (Director)

Nicholas.Foster@sfgov.org  (Planner)

 

From the President’s Desk

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Dear Members, Merchants and Friends,

In case you missed it in the media, Russian Hill has moved excitingly closer to having a once-in-a-lifetime new public open space in our neighborhood. The Francisco Park Conservancy, which has already raised more than $12 million toward creation of the new Francisco Park on the northern slope of Russian Hill between Hyde and Francisco, recently received an anonymous challenge pledge of $6 million contingent on an additional $5 million being raised by the end of the year. Assuming success, construction could then start early next year. $400,000 has already been raised toward the $5 million needed to meet the challenge. The Francisco Conservancy Board members have pledged to double their own contributions.

The Russian Hill Neighbors’ Board of Directors is committed to helping achieve this goal by urging ourselves and our members to make a “stretch” donation toward meeting this wonderful challenge! All donations must be received by December 31 to qualify. Click DONATION to connect to the form and for more information.

Many thanks to all who made our Summer Picnic such a fun and successful event – Sarah Taber, Event Coordinator; Ian Maddison, “barbecuer extraordinaire;” Le Beau Market for delicious food donations; Phoebe Douglass and her Neighborhood Improvement Committee for their advance sweeping of the park and immediate area – and all who brought such an amazing array of culinary contributions to share!  Click PICNIC to see photos of the picnic.

Carol Ann Rogers 
President

Letter from the President

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Dear Members, Merchants and Friends,

Your RHN Board of Directors and fellow neighbors are looking forward to seeing you at the August 11 Summer Picnic. This very local, low-key event is a great way to meet new friends in the neighborhood.  Click PICNIC.

We will also be excited to see those of you who are signed up for the NERT training sessions beginning Monday, August 6, at the San Francisco Art Institute.

At our recent Annual Retreat, the RHN Board participated in a hands-on exercise in responding to the first few hours of a major disaster. It became clear that the key ingredient to success is ongoing preparation at the individual block level. Toward that goal, we will be working with our District Supervisors and the City’s Neighborhood Empowerment Network, led by Daniel Homsey (who led us in the Retreat exercises) over the coming months. Please stay tuned for details. Remember, we need to rely on ourselves and our neighbors because outside help, based on the experience of disasters in other cities, will likely be unavailable for many days, if not weeks.

“Do not wait for the cavalry. The cavalry is not coming. The cavalry is you!” (Latoya Cantrell, Mayor of New Orleans.”)

Carol Ann Rogers
President

President’s Letter

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Dear Members, Merchants and Friends,

How well do you know your immediate neighbors? Do you have a plan and the resources to help each other if disaster happens?

Research has shown that social cohesion is an essential ingredient of any community’s ability to withstand the impact of a natural or man-made disaster. Neighborhood organizations like Russian Hill Neighbors provide ongoing opportunities to build and maintain that cohesion.

Toward that end, RHN is sponsoring a NERT (Neighborhood Emergency Response Team) training program. This free program will take place at the SF Art Institute on Monday evenings beginning August 6 through September 17. Consider enrolling yourself and bring a friend from your block!  Click NERT for further information.

Another important opportunity to connect with your neighbors and increase our neighborhood’s resilience and interconnections will take place on Saturday, August 11 at RHN’s Summer Picnic. Bring a dish to share and enjoy hot dogs, hamburgers and the “fixings” on us!  PICNIC.

This month the RHN Board of Directors will hold its Annual Retreat to discuss ways our organization can be proactive and strategic in fulfilling its mission. We look forward to sharing the results of this effort.

Happy Summer!

Carol Ann Rogers
RHN President

Lombard “Crooked Street” Project

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RHN has been working with affect neighbors, other organizations, and the City to resolve the severe impact on our neighborhood of the Lombard “crooked street.” These impacts include traffic congestion on Lombard Street stretching from Hyde Street, west to Van Ness Avenue and beyond. The result is not only traffic impacts and reduced access for residents on Lombard Street, but the virtual isolation of Russian Hill from the Golden Gate Bridge and Van Ness Avenue, given that left turns are no longer permitted on Van Ness from Lombard to Broadway and it is proposed that Broadway’s lanes be narrowed and constricted.
The City is currently studying a plan whereby non-residents will be permitted to drive down Lombard Street only if they have a reservation for a particular window of time. Reservations would be obtainable, for a reasonable fee, only up to a number that can be accommodated without producing adverse impacts. Those who try to drive down the street without a reservation would be subject to a fine. Enforcement would be via a camera-reading technology similar to that used on the Golden Gate Bridge. This technique would require special state legislation, which the City’s representatives are pursuing.
Even if this provision is effective in limiting the number of cars lining up and driving down the “crooked street”, RHN recognizes that there are other impacts, including tourists who illegally park their cars and congregate at the top and bottom of the “crooked street” and often engage in anti-social actions. Attention needs to be given to these problems as well.
Supervisor Stefani has been instrumental in getting the MTA’s attention and keeping the efforts on track. We hope to be able to report substantial progress in the near future.

From the President’s Desk

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Dear Members, Merchants and Friends,

As members of Russian Hill Neighbors, we can all take pride in the contributions this organization makes to our local neighborhood. There are so many ways that we all act individually and in concert to fulfill our mission: to preserve and advance neighborhood character and quality of life through collaboration, volunteerism, and celebration of community.

Recently, the RHN Board of Directors approved the funding of three special projects:

  • $1,000 was donated to Yick Wo elementary school for the purchase of 2 iPads to be used in the classroom by first graders
  • $1,000 was donated to the San Francisco Coalition for Undergrounding Utilities toward the goal of undergrounding 100% of all SF neighborhoods
  • In August and September, RHN will sponsor and cover the expenses of a NERT (Neighborhood Emergency Response Team) course here on Russian Hill.(Link)
Perhaps more important than the dollars we put into the community are the countless volunteer hours. Every year, neighbors give their time to such activities as planting trees, sweeping streets, attending hearings, writing letters, planning events, sharing information, educating themselves and others about personal and community safety – all of which have a positive impact on the quality of life on Russian Hill.

Take a look at the calendar and plan to celebrate our wonderful neighborhood by joining other neighbors at one of our Social Events. The Summer Picnic will take place August 11.

Hope to see you there!

Carol Ann Rogers

RHN President

From the President’s Desk

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Dear Members, Merchants and Friends,

Tremendous thanks to all who made our Annual Membership Meeting on April 19th such a wonderful gathering. The SF Art Institute opened its doors to a perfect venue. We had great weather, a lively pre-social hour hosted by RHN’s Social Committee and an interesting panel moderated by the very able Judson True, chief of staff to Assembly Member David Chiu, assisted by District 2 Supervisor Catherine Stefani, Assistant Chief Toney Chaplin, Commanders David Lazar and Ann Mannix, and Captain Paul Yep. A written report of RHN’s 2017-2018 activities and accomplishments was distributed and can be read here.

Another notable April occasion was the conditional use hearing before the SF Planning Commission on the proposal to locate a Whole Foods 365 full-service grocery at 1600 Jackson Street. The site has been vacant for a number of years since the former Lombardi’s Sports departed. RHN was one of several organizations that conducted surveys showing very strong support for a grocery there. During the 2 ½ year planning review process, RHN submitted three letters of support. We also joined numerous nearby residents and others from Russian and Nob Hills at the hearing to express our support. Project opposition stated a preference to demolish the existing structure and build housing, as well as concerns about formula retail and the potential impact of Amazon’s recent acquisition of Whole Foods.

During the Commissioners’ discussion, a “catch-22” soon became clear. If a grocery is approved to go into the current site, it can occupy 20,000 square feet on the ground floor and retain the existing parking. If the building is demolished and new housing over commercial is built instead, no more than 4,000 square feet may be for commercial use under any circumstances (which is not enough space for a full service grocery) and the parking would come within the strict limits of current zoning.

The Commissioners voted to continue the decision and allow Whole Foods and the building owner 90 days to come back with a revised project that includes a housing element within the existing structure.

Those of us who attended the hearing on behalf of RHN heard loud and clear that our neighborhood wants and needs a full service grocery option, both now and to serve future residents of the new housing projects in our area already in the pipeline or contemplated. We will continue to monitor the project and keep our members informed. During the 90-day continuance period, you can still share your thoughts with the Planning Commissioners and other city officials by email or snail mail.

RHN will sponsor a NERT (Neighborhood Emergency Response Team) course in August and September. This is a free training program wherein individuals learn the basics of personal preparedness and hands-on disaster skills. This is the first time in years that the course has been offered in our neighborhood. Space is limited. You can sign up before registration is opened to the whole city at this link: https://bit.ly/2EXGw7G.

For a number of years now, RHN’s Neighborhood Improvement Committee has conducted regular “street sweeps” on Russian Hill. You likely have seen the volunteers with their colorful work vests. While those participating have enjoyed both the camaraderie and satisfaction of participating in this activity, there is an increasing sense that the problem of dirty streets in our neighborhood is just too great to be addressed effectively in this way. After receiving  many inquiries regarding the possibility of establishing some kind of regular schedule of mechanical street cleaning, the Committee recommended to the RHN Board of Directors that we conduct an online survey of our members on this issue.  Thank you to the 321 of you who responded. The results have been compiled and can be viewed here. A solid 70% favor mechanized street cleaning. We will be meeting with city officials to determine appropriate next steps and will continue to report to you on our progress.

Look elsewhere in this newsletter for details about the May 18th CHEERS night (at Rouge/Nick’s Crispy Tacos on Polk Street from 5:30 – 8:00 PM) and other upcoming social events. Thank you for your membership and partnering with us to preserve and advance our very special neighborhood!

Carol Ann Rogers
RHN President