The April General Public Meeting will be filled with great opportunities for neighbors to get involved and help build a community that supports us all:

●      Logo Contest: Creating an identity and brand for the neighborhood

●      Help Plant Trees and expand the Duboce Triangle Tree Canopy

●      Install Sidewalk Gardens near your homes – Bureau of Urban Forestry

●      Sidewalk Garden Park Safety Repairs on Noe and Sanchez, Department of Public Works

●      DTNA’s Vision 2030 projects – Hans Galland Coordinator

○      Safer Sanchez/Duboce/Steiner intersection

○      Duboce Triangle Commons: Activation of retail/restaurant/social Noe at Market

●      SF Housing Element updates

●      Rescue SF: Supporting shelter and care for the most vulnerable

●       

Let’s meet up, have fun and work towards creating opportunities that build community. We need your optimism and energy to help make a difference.

At our March meeting the Board certified the 2023 Board Election Results and welcomed three new Board Members - Secretary David Troup, Director Corbin Muraro, Director Dennis Richards, and new DTNA News Editor, Erik Honda. The Board approved an organizing resolution which describes logistics of how the board will operate this year. Dennis Richards was appointed Land Use Chair.

The Board also discussed and approved expenditures for some updates to our web presence, and explored the possibility of seeking National Historic District recognition. In addition, we planned community workshops to take input on the city’s newly approved Housing Element, as well as other topics to address with neighbors at the April General Meeting.

Erik Honda, DTNA Secretary

At our February General Meeting your neighborhood organization announced the results of our Board election, and welcomed new Secretary David Troup, new editor Erik Honda, as well as new Board Members Dennis Richards and Corbin Muraro. We also got out in front of other neighborhoods in the city by being the first neighborhood association to have the Planning Department present on the just-approved Housing Element, which is San Francisco’s road map for how to guide and invest in housing, which this cycle includes a plan to add 85,000 new housing units to the city by 2030.

A thoughtful and energetic group of neighbors, along with Super- visor Mandelman, gathered at Harvey Milk Rec Center to hear Planning’s Joshua Switsky lay out the plan. He noted that San Fran- cisco was one of the few cities to have its plan approved by the state, and also that the penalty for not approving the plan this time were strong – the plan had to be approved to get state afford- able housing and transportation

funds, and there were non-financial penalties like losing control of zoning and planning if was not approved. He also noted that it was the first Housing Element to really focus on racial and social equity – as seen in the accompanying illustration, the legacy of racist redlining in the 1940s and 1950s is still with us in terms of the economic and racial segregation of our neighborhoods, and in the recent steep decline in the Black and Native American populations in many parts of the city, including our own.

Switsky showed statistics reveal- ing that almost all (95%) the affordable housing that has been built over the last ten years has been in on the on east side of the city, so this plan focuses on the west side – upzoning building heights along Geary Boulevard in the Richmond district for ex- ample. More germane to Duboce Triangle, the plan also focuses affordable housing in highly re- sourced neighborhoods close to transit, which certainly includes ours. He showed three possible maps the city is considering, and all involve increased building heights along Market Street, but less so in what he called the “interstitial” blocks, which is the rest of the Triangle. He congratulated

us on being the first neighbor- hood association to engage in the process, and encouraged folks to sign up to engage more – you can get on the email list to give input by going to www.sfhousingelement.org. He explained that the input process will continue for the rest of this year, with the final plan fleshed out by late 2023.

Switsky and Supervisor Mandelman then took a number of thoughtful questions from the audience, including questions about the design standards for the new buildings, city subsidies to get stalled developments to start construction, repurposing office buildings into housing, housing as racial reparations, our terrible city process for permitting new construction, vacant units in Triangle affordable housing, streetscape redesign, and green space (which is part of the plan). One neighbor asked how they can support more building in general. The answer to that, as Joshua and a DTNA Board member told him, is to stay involved and have your voice heard at DTNA Land Use and General Meetings, and at the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. So... see you all at those meetings! Our next General Meeting is April 11 – see you there.

Joshua Switzky from SF Planning Department discussed the newest SF Housing Element and how the focus on the new housing density program will focus on equity and inclusion. Supervisor Rafael  Mandelman shared his vision for 2023 and how the challenges of a smaller tax base may impact all of us.

See the SF Planning presentation on the Housing Element here.

Contact Frank Tizedes, DTNA President, or Dennis Richards, new DTNA Land Use Chair, if you have any questions.

Communication Tools

Your Mail List Program (YMLP) is a software we use sending notifications to members. This includes letting subscribers know when a new issue of Duboce Triangle News is available for viewing online. YMLP will now include periodic messages from DTNA President. The Board of DTNA will continue to use Slack for internal communications.

DTNA Editor

After serving the neighborhood for two years, Rose Linke will be stepping down from her role as Editor of Duboce Triangle News, but will continue to contribute articles on neighborhood history, culture, and green spaces. Secretary Erik Honda to run for Editor in the upcoming election.

Website/Membership

The Board discussed website activation, adding a homepage carousel, and developing a page for Greening of the Triangle. Members-only online directory now populated with all member names. See the Membership/Website Tips article for all the details.

Land Use Updates

DTNA will take a critical look at proposed San Francisco Housing element and impacts on the neighborhood. Kevin Riley is stepping down as Chair of the Land Use Committee. We are grateful for his service and leadership for the last several years, and all that he has accomplished for the neighborhood. We know he will continue to do great things for the neighborhood, the City, and the greater Bay Area in his work as architect, educator, and advocate.

2023 DTNA Board Election:

There are two open Director seats and the Secretary position will be open with Erik Honda running for Editor. See 2023 DTNA Election article.

Upcoming Tuesday, February 14^th Public Meeting Agenda: DTNA Election

• Erik Honda, DTNA Secretary

  A healthy group of neighbors was on hand for the October DTNA general meeting at the Harvey Milk Community Center in Duboce Park. DTNA President and Noe Street neighbor Frank Tizedes opened the meeting by lauding the recent Bureau of Urban Forestry tree trimming which is finally taking place in the Triangle, and thanked neighbors who have stepped up to water trees that Friends of the Urban Forest will install in empty tree wells in front of their houses. If you have an empty space you ’d like filled, please contact us via our website at dtna.org.
  

  We also heard a presentation from the new captain at our local SFPD Park station. Captain Jack Hart says he will respond to every email to jack.hart@sfgov.org, so contact him with your concerns, it ’s better than calling 311. But call 911 in an emergency, and ask to speak to an officer (who can call you) if you make a report to find out what the resolution was.

• Neighbors asked Captain Hart about recent media reporting around “do nothing” police officers, a serial harasser (Bill Jean Hobbs) that as of the meeting day remained at large despite multiple police and DA contacts, a lack of traffic enforcement, and racial bias in policing. Hart responded that the investigation was ongoing with the harasser (he was arrested the following week) and that the department has been engaged in collaborative reform with the US Department of Justice. He conceded that the department is still both implicitly and explicitly biased, but believes he is doing his part to improve his department. Re: traffic enforcement, Hart said that the motorcycle detail is low on officers but asked us to email him about problem intersections and he will make it a priority. 
• We then heard a presentation on a proposed Duboce Triangle Historic District from Shannon Ferguson, a Senior Preservation Planner at the SF Planning Department. Shannon (a 15^th Street neighbor), explained how historical context statements provide a framework for evaluating historic resources, highlighting significant events or trends, important people, and distinctive architecture, and encouraged folks to check out ours on the SF Planning or DTNA websites. She explained that following community engagement this fall, our district will go to the Historic Preservation Commission in December. Former DTNA President and Planning Commissioner Dennis Richards explained how the process started way back in 2002, and emphasized that for most homeowners or renters, this designation would not change anything, except perhaps to increase the value of the property. It is already true that for major modifications to any property over 45 years old, they must be looked at by the Historic Preservation Commission. 
• Architectural Historian Christopher Ver Planck presented the broad outlines of his survey, which is 175 pages long, and which he encourages everyone to read on the website. The history of the Triangle is covered back to 10,000 years of Ohlone occupation, the Spanish era, the construction of the Victorian and Edwardian architecture in the 1870s through 1910s, little Scandinavia 1910-1930, the post WWII Fillmore-extension era, and the emergence of the Triangle as an LGBTQ+ neighborhood. He notes that the survey identified 37 structures that meet the standards for historic landmarking – a lot for such a small area. He suggests a 2^nd historic district called “Hillside Homes” landmarking the Victorian villas uphill from Noe between 14^th and 16^th. 
• Neighbors asked a lot of detailed and wonky questions, and Frank encouraged everyone to remain involved and engaged as the process moves forward. Land Use Chair Kevin Riley then gave an update on the last two years of the Slow Triangle process, now known as Duboce Triangle Vision 2030, and told neighbors how to get involved to set priorities for immediate action - painting out parking spaces, adding stop signs, yield signs, and raised crosswalks, and to help plan more rigorous interventions starting with a Noe Plaza “town square”, which DTNA is pursuing in collaboration with the Castro Merchants association. Email landuse@dtna.org if you’d like to be part of the planning.

Board Membership:  With a newly vacated seat, the Board will begin recruiting for the current opening in advance of the upcoming Board election.

Website/Membership:  The Board discussed changes to the Membership Directory on DTNA’s website.  See the Membership/Website Tips article for all the details.

Land Use Updates:  DTNA has endorsed YES on Props D and L. At the August meeting, the Board discussed November ballot measures Prop D (Affordable Housing – Initiative Petition), Prop E (Affordable Housing – Board of Supervisors), Prop L (Sales Tax for Transportation Projects), and Prop M (Tax on Keeping Residential Units Vacant). A majority of Board members voted to support Prop D, and Prop L was unanimously endorsed. See the Land Use blog post for additional information and a summary of the Land Use committee's discussion. 

October Block Party:  In lieu of an October 16^th Phoenix Day Block Party, DTNA will support the Sunday, October 30^th Castro Merchants Halloween Family Block Party.

Greening the Triangle:  There are 22 open tree wells in the neighborhood. DTNA is looking for volunteers to commit to watering new trees after they are planted. Email DTNA President Frank Tizedes at president@dtna.org if you are interested in helping with this project.

Upcoming Tuesday, October 11^th Public Meeting Agenda:  Duboce Triangle Historic District Report, conversation with Captain Jack Hart (Park Station SFPD), Bureau of Forestry update on trees and repairs in the Triangle.

Bob Bush, DTNA Vice President

The Board of Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association meets every month. At the June and July 2022 meetings, the Board discussed the following:

President’s Report

Mayor’s budget approved including $15,000.00 for repairs and improvements to Street Garden parklets on Sanchez and Noe Streets.

Halloween Events on Noe Street: Comfort and Joy “Glow in the Streets 2022” on Saturday, October 29^th and Castro Merchant’s “Halloween Family Block Party,” Sunday, October 30^th.

Discussed Newsletter Byline standards.

Board Slack channel to discuss Social Media presence.

President to interview Capt. Jack Hart, new Park Station SFPD Captain

Newsletter

Jessica Martines willing to be Distribution Manager and maintain the Distributor spreadsheet list.

Website

Need to maintain Peter Otte as consultant with limited funding. New “Initiative” pages created.

Slow Triangle/Land Use Updates

See related newsletter articles. Summer Slow Triangle interns to present their final report at the Tuesday, August 9^th Public Meeting at the Harvey Milk Center of Recreational Arts.

Membership Committee

Will add Slow Triangle participants to Wild Apricot Contact list if not current members.

Environmental Protection Impact Committee

Great neighborhood turnout for June Pride Sweep. Fall 2022 Street Tree planting approaching.

by Erik Honda, DTNA Secretary

On June 14, our second in-person meeting since the beginning of COVID-19, and the first at the Harvey Milk Center for the Arts (HMCA) in Duboce Park, brought together a lively group of neighbors to hear a San Francisco Fire Department presentation sparked by the major fire on Noe Street in May.

The meeting was chaired by Membership Coordinator and Beaver Street neighbor Paige Rausser. Robby Roller, the facility coordinator for HMCA, described multitudinous programs now going on at the Center. 

Lieutenant John Baxter, the Fire Department’s public information liaison officer, presented information about how fires are handled, how the public should respond when there are fires in the neighborhood, and various ways for the public to protect themselves. He said that recent fires in the area have been from undetermined causes, but most are suspected electrical fires. The Noe Street fire started between the buildings, but within the walls, the most likely cause again being electrical.

Lt. Baxter particularly recommended watch- ing the “Close before you doze” video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Nu5ICj3LwqE which explains the importance of keeping bedroom doors closed at night to give extra time to escape a fire. He also suggested having a working smoke alarm in every room, even though current code only requires alarms in hallways and bedrooms. If you can’t afford it, contact the fire department, they have donated alarms.

Baxter also went over some of the SFFD’s new services; they are taking care of some of the things that police used to do. They have a Street Opioid Response Team, which responds when people are shooting up or overdosing, and that includes follow-ups to get folks into services or on a medication regime. Soon there will be a system to call this Team directly and not get the police. They also have a Street Crisis Response Team which handles unhoused individuals in crisis, as well as a Street Wellness Response Team for people suffering psychological breakdowns or bothering other citizens in a nonviolent manner. For more information text your zip code to 888-7777 for Alert SF, or email Lt. Baxter at firepio@sfgov.org.

Our new DTNA Summer intern Martine Kushner then went over the series of Slow Triangle Workshops she is planning so that neighbors can help design the neighborhood upgrade plans we will present to the City. DTNA Secretary Erik Honda gave a brief history of Slow Triangle efforts so far, and introduced Martine, who is a graduate student pursuing a dual masters degree in City Planning and Architecture, with a concentration in Environmental Planning & Healthy Cities. Martine explained that the work- shops would start the following week and include a June community meeting for initial design input, an early July charrette to con- sider various alternatives, a community meeting in late July to look at the designs based on input, and a final presentation and discussion in early August. Many neighbors at the meeting eagerly signed up to be involved, and if you missed it you too can participate by emailing landuse@dtna.org to be put on the contact list.

We adjourned in concord at about 8:10, and several neighbors stayed to chat and to volunteer to deliver the Duboce Triangle News. Thanks neighbors!

The Board of Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association meets every month. At the May 2022 meeting, the Board discussed the following:

Meetings

The Ballroom at the Harvey Milk Recreation Center has been secured for bimonthly in-person Tuesday evening Public Meetings as the venue is currently closed on Mondays. The community room at Chase has been secured for in-person Board Meetings. A hybrid format with both in-person and Zoom options is being developed.

Treasurer’s Report

Transfer of records and accounts to new DTNA Treasurer, Kimyn Braithwaite, should be completed in May. Last month DTNA Board approved opening a QuickBooks account which Wild Apricot is set up to work with.

Newsletter

Rose continues to solicit contributors to provide more varied content.

Website

A map depicting membership eligibility “one block beyond” DTNA boundaries has been posted. So far $4,065.00 of the 2021 $4,275.00 budget has been expended. Additional work is needed to make the site more dynamic and highlight current DTNA initiatives. A new budget for 2022 is needed.

DTNA Board Updates

Board approved DTNA support for Supervisor Mandelman’s ‘A Place for All’ ordinance.

Slow Triangle Updates

Slow Triangle Working Group selected two excellent interns to work this summer with goal of (1) obtaining Community Input regarding creation and nature of a Slow Triangle, holding 3 to 5 Community workshops, (2) design concept for bulb-out gardens/public space, and (3) design suggestions for the Duboce & Sanchez-Steiner intersection. Waymo has donated $2,500 for the summer project. Additional funding is needed to reach a goal of $10,000.

Land Use Updates

The mixed-use multi-family apartment buildings at 2135 and 2140 Market Street are being presented to the San Francisco Planning Department in June for entitlement. The Committee reviewed the updated designs, which include more on-site affordable units and higher quality facades. The Committee voted to endorse both projects and will issue a letter of support.

The 1 Church Street apartment building is looking to activate its ground floor, which could include reopening the child care center on Webster St. and finding a new use for the retail space on Church St.

Membership Committee

A brainstorming meeting was held. Suggestions for expanding membership are being developed.

DTNA Logo Contest

A Zoom meeting is being set up.

Environmental Protection Impact Committee

Street pruning has begun, starting with Castro Street. The latest pruning appears severe, but MUNI requires clearance of 10 feet from wires and 2 feet from poles. Street gardens are spreading on Potomac Street. Survey for tree plantings continues.

Safety Reports

Fire safety concerns can be addressed by inviting SFFD to make a presentation at a Public Meeting.

April Community Public Meeting

The April 11^th in-person meeting at Café du Nord which included a Zoom hybrid component was well attended. See Public Meeting article.