The METNA News Newsletter of the Merced Extension Triangle Neighborhood Association

Volume 15 Number 2 February 2015

METNA MEETING  

Tuesday,    February  10,  2015  7:00pm,  Palmetto  Meeting  Hall  

640  Palmetto  Avenue  

(between  St.  Charles  and  Chester)  

 

Invited  Guests  

Edwin  Lee,  Mayor  City  and  County  of  San  Francisco  

 Norman  Yee,  Supervisor  

SF  Board  of  Supervisors,  District    7    

Nick  Josefowitz,  Director  BART  Board,  Distirct  8  

Molly  Burke,  Govt.    &  Community  Relations  

Tim  Chan,  Senior  Planner,  BART  

 Liz  Brisson,  Project  Manager  

Kelley  McCoy,    19th  Avenue/M-­‐OceanView  Project  

SF  Municipal  Transportation  Agency    

Curtis  Lum,  Captain  J.  L.  Kato,  Sergeant  

Taraval  Police  Station    

ALL NEIGHBORS WELCOME

OCEANVIEW  VILLAGE  RETAIL  UPDATE  

         There  is  interest  in  the  Albertson’s  supermarket  space.    Ongoing  negotiations  are  taking  place.  It  is  hopeful  that  positive  news  regarding  the  space  can  be  reported  soon.    An  early  December  meeting  at  City  Hall  with  the  leasing  agent    for  Albertsons  and  chaired  by  Joaquin  Torres  (Deputy  Director,  Office  of  Economic  and  Workforce  Development),   with   Jen   Low   (Legislative   aide,   Supervisor   Norman   Yee’s   office),   Tom   Culligan   (Owner,  OceanView   Village   Retail   Complex),   along  with   Glen   Hatakeyama   (President,   METNA)   and  Marc   Christensen  (President-­‐elect,  METNA),  clarified  the  difficulties  in  finding  a  viable  leasee  for  the  41,000  sq.  ft.  space.    At  the  east  end  of   the  retail   complex  Hertz   is   ready   to  open  an  office.    There  will  be  more   to   report  on   that   in  May.                                     Finally,  Bally  Total  Fitness  was  acquired  by  24-­‐Hour  Fitness  on  December  21st.    They  absorb  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the  lease,  according  to  Tom  Culligan.    24-­‐Hour  Fitness  states  that  they  will  honor  to  contracts  of   those   who   joined   Bally’s   prior   to   their   acquisition.     24-­‐Hour   Fitness   hours   of   operation   remain   Mon-­‐Fri:  5:00am  to  11:00pm,  and  Sat-­‐Sun:  7:00am-­‐9:00pm.    

DALY  CITY  TO  THE  OAKLAND  AIRPORT  

IN  LESS  THAN  ONE  HOUR  VIA  BART              The   BART   Oakland   Airport   Tram,   a   3.2-­‐mile   connector,   from  the   Oakland   Coliseum   BART   Station   to   the   Oakland   Airport  opened   on   November   22nd   of   last   year.     The   8-­‐minute   ride  replaces   the   ground   level   AirBART   shuttle   bus   that   took  approximately   fifteen   minutes   from   station   to   terminal.     The  Airport   Tram   cost   $484   million   to   build   and   has   a   $3million  annual   operational   budget.     The   connector   is   projected   to   carry  2,745  passengers  a  day  during  the  first  year  in  operation.            BART  will  operate  the  Airport  Tram  from  5:00am  to  midnight  on  weekdays,   6:00am   to  midnight   on   Saturdays,   and   8:00am   to  midnight   on   Sundays.     The  Tram  operates   at   5-­‐minute   intervals  during   the   8:00am   to   8:00pm   daily   time   frame,   and   every   10  minutes   between   8:00pm   and   10:00pm.     From   10:00pm   to  midnight  trams  currently  run  every  twenty  minutes  each  day.          Direct   service   to   the  Oakland  Airport   from  Daly  City   is  via   the  Fremont   line   or   the   Dublin/Pleasanton   line   to   the   Oakland  Coliseum   Station.     The   trip   from   Daly   City   to   the   Oakland  Coliseum   via   BART   is   37  minutes,   then   an   additional   8  minutes  once  you  board  the  Airport  Tram.            The   cost   for   the   tram   is   $6   one   way,   with   youth,   seniors,  persons  with   disabilities,   and  Medicare   Card   holders   enjoying   a  62.5%   discount,   provided   you   have   a   discount   ticket   or   a  designated  discount  Clipper  Card.    The  normal  fare  from  Daly  City  to   the   Oakland   Airport   is   currently   $10.55   ($3.96  w/   discount).    Visit   www.bart.gov   or   pick   up   a   “BART   Fares   and   Schedules”  brochure  for  all  schedules  at  any  BART  Station.      

 

 Page 2 The METNA News February 2015

 

METNA OFFICERS President Vice-President Marc Christensen Glen Hatakeyama 60 Kempton Ave 207 Chester Ave. (415) 585-2465 (415) 333-0197 christensen.marc. ragtime217@ metna@gmail.com                  gmail.com Secretary Treasurer Terry Watson Richard Zerga 272 St. Charles Ave. 24 Kempton Ave. (650) 992-8583 (415) 334-8237 watsoclark@ rjz1comcast.net comcast.net Sergeant at Arms Neighborhood Neil Hunt Improvement 239 St. Charles Ave. Steve Heide (415) 308-3486 306 St. CharlesAve (650) 991-0463 Executive Committee Glenn Rogers Eric Berquist 3425 Alemany Blvd. 233 Chester Ave. (415) 333-9317 (415) 939-2377

METNA MEETING SCHEDULE 7:00pm  Palmetto  Meeting  Hall      (640  Palmetto  Avenue)  Tuesday,  February  10,  2015  Tuesday,  May  12,  2015  Tuesday,  August  11,  2015  Tuesday,  November  10,  2015  

POLICE  COMMUNITY  MEETING  3rd  Tuesday  each  month    @  Taraval  Police  Station,  2345  -­‐24th  Avenue,  Tuesday,  February  17,  2015,  7:00  pm  Tuesday,  March  17,  2015,7:00  pm  *Tuesday,  April  14,  2015,  6:00  pm  *@  M&L  Ward  Rec.  Center,  650  Capitol  Ave.  OCEANVIEW  VILLAGE  HOA  MEETING  7:00pm  @  OceanView  Village  HOA  Office  Tuesday,  March  17,  2015  Tuesday,  May  19,  2015  

TARAVAL  POLICE  STATION  WEBSITEwww.taraval.org  A  partial  cost  of  the  printing  of  this    Newsletter  is  being  underwritten  by  FedExOffice,  Colma  

         As  we  again  transition  from  Glen  Hatakeyama  serving  as  president  to  my  service   as   president   we   have   quite   a   bit   to   be   proud   of   in   the   Merced  Extension  Triangle.    Many   improvements  have   taken  place  and  many  more  are   in   the   planning   stages.     I   wish   to   thank   Glen   Hatakeyama   for   his  leadership   in   providing   for   these   changes,   and   to   the   executive   board  members  of  METNA  who  work  together  to  provide  meaningful  change  while  serving  the  community.            METNA,  over   the  past   two  years,  has  been  responsible   for  working  with  city   and   regional   agencies   to   improve   safety,   security   and   beauty   of   our  neighborhood.    A    few  of  the  major  projects  that  METNA  has  been  involved  with   are:   (1)   working   with   PG&E,   through   community   meetings   and  outreach,   to  request   the  hydrostatic   testing  of  Gas  Transmission  Line  #109  on  Alemany  Blvd.,  (2)  working  with  DPW  to  secure  a  sidewalk  for  pedestrian  safety   on   Niantic   Ave.,   (3)   continuing   improvements   at   the   Alemany-­‐Brotherhood   Dog   Park,   including   signage,   a   decomposed   granite   base,   the  pruning  of  bushes,  and  overall  maintenance,  (4)  talking  with  neighbors  and  working   with   DPW   to   repair   and   improve   sidewalks   and   repave   Alemany  Blvd.,   (5)   working,   again   with   DPW,   to   improve   conditions   along   the  Brotherhood   Way   Greenbelt,   and   (6)   working   with   CalTrans   to   clean   up  their  property  at  the  corner  of  St.  Charles  and  Niantic  Avenues.          Over   the  next   few  years  METNA  will   focus  on  new  or  continued  projects  with   city   and   state   agencies.     They   include:   (1)   meeting   with   all   parties,  including   Albertsons,   to   secure   at   the   earliest   possible   time   a   grocery  supermarket  at  OceanView  Village  that  will  serve  the  entire  community,  (2)  working  with  CalTrans  to  secure  a  guard  rail  along  the  John  Daly  Blvd.  exit  off   of   I-­‐280,   from   behind   OceanView   Village   to   along   Niantic   Ave.,   (3)  working  with  SFMTA  to  provide  a  28-­‐Limited  19th  Avenue  bus  stop  at  Arch  and   Alemany,   when   the   28-­‐L   is   rerouted   from   San   Francisco   State,   via  Brotherhood   Way,   to   the   Balboa   BART   station   in   both   directions,   (4)  working   with   a   coalition   of   neighborhood   groups,   city   and   state   agencies,  and  Parkmerced  developers   to   focus  on  air  and  soil  monitoring  of   the  area  prior   to   and   during   the   planned   demolition   and   reconstruction   of  Parkmerced,  (5)  working  with  neighbors  and  community  groups  to  plan  and  develop   Sisterhood   Gardens,   along   the   north   side   of   Brotherhood  Way   at  Arch,   (6)  working  with   the  SF  County  Transportation  Authority  and   the  SF  Municipal  Transportation  Agency  to  continue  to  develop  and  evaluate  plans  for   the  proposed  west-­‐side  grade  separated  alignment  of   the  M-­‐Oceanview  Metro   line   along   19th   Avenue   and   into   the   OMI   neighborhood,     (7)  advocating   for   and   working   to   develop   a   sidewalk   for   the   south   side   of  Brotherhood  Way,   from  Thomas  More  Way   to   the  St.  Charles  walkway,   (8)  refurbishing  of   the  Alemany-­‐Worcester   lot,  and  (9)  working  with  DPT  with  regards  to  the  installation  of  radar  speed  limit  detection  devices  on  Alemany.                I  wish  to  publically  acknowledge  our  elected  officials  at  the  city  and  state  level   who   provide   continued   support   to   our   area   of   their   districts,   and  especially  to  District  7  Supervisor  Norman  Yee  and  his  staff.            I  wish  to  further  thank  Captain  Curtis  Lum  and  Sergeant  J.  L.  Kato  and  the  police  officers  at  Taraval  Station  for  their  crime  suppression  and  community  support,  and  to  the  staff  at  Fire  Station  33,  and  nearby  fire  stations,  for  their  continued  service  to  the  residents  of  the  area.            Furthermore,   a   special   thanks   goes   to   the   men   and   women   of   BART,  CalTrans,   SFDPT,   SFDPW,   SFMTA,   SFPUC,   and   SFSAFE   for   their   ongoing  work   in   providing   vital   and   quality   services   to   our   neighborhood   and   the  City.                                                                                                                                                                                  (continued  on  page  3)          

  A  very  special  thank  you  goes  to  the  members  of  the  Palmetto  Meeting  Hall  for  allowing  METNA  to  host  our  quarterly  neighborhood  meetings  at  their  church  site.    We  are  extremely  grateful  for  their  ongoing  support.  

MESSAGE  FROM  YOUR  METNA  PRESIDENT  

METNA COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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 February 2015 The METNA News Page 3  

The  Merced  Extension  Triangle:  photo  taken  February  15,  1950                                                                    photo  courtesy  of  the  History  Guild  of    Daly  City/Colma    

Center  Right:    3900  block  of  Alemany  shows  twenty-­‐two  flower  hot  houses,  where  OceanView  Village  now  sits.    Lower  Right:    The  beginning  of  construction  of  the  Alemany  Bridge  over  Junipero  Serra  Blvd.  

           NEIGHBORHOOD  WATCH  

SFMTA’s  19TH  AVENUE/M-­  OCEAN  VEIW  PROJECT,  

PREPARES  FOR  ENVIRONMENTAL  REVIEW  

MESSAGE FROM METNA PRESIDENT continued

           Another   well   deserved   thank   you  goes  to  Tom  Culligan  and  his  staff  who  over   the   years   has   maintained   a   high  level   of   security   and   cleanliness   at   the  OceanView   Village   Retail   Complex;   a  very   important   aspect   of   this  community.    We   further  wish   to   thank  FedEx   Office,   service   center   manager  Tess  Gondogdu  and  her   staff   in  Colma,  for  printing  our  quarterly  newsletter  at  a   substantial   discount.   A   very   special  thank   you   goes   to   the  members   of   the  Palmetto   Meeting   Hall   for   allowing  METNA   to   host   our   quarterly  neighborhood  meetings  at   their  church  site.     We   are   extremely   grateful   for  their   ongoing   support.   Finally,   to   our  wonderful   neighbors   who   live   and  work  in  the  Merced  Extension  Triangle,  thank   you   for   supporting   METNA.                                                                                                      Now  is  the  time  for  you,  if  you  have  not  done  so  already,  to  join  METNA.    I  urge  everyone   in   the   Merced   Extension  Triangle,   including   residents   of  OceanView  Village,   to   join  and  support  your   neighborhood   association,   as   we  support  you.    As  we  move  forward,  plan  to   attend   our   informative   community  meetings   and   perhaps   volunteer   for   a  committee   or   neighborhood   project.    Together   we   can   make   a   difference   in  our  community  and  in  the  City.    

-­‐-­‐Marc  Christensen  

 

The   San   Francisco  Municipal   Transportation  Agency   (SFMTA)   is   now   the   lead  agency  with  regard  to  the  19th  Avenue/M-­‐  Ocean  View  realignment  project.    During  the   next   six   months   SFMTA  will   be   studying   some   of   the   project’s   variants   that  were  of   interest  during  the  feasibility  study.    There  will  be  more  detailed  designs  for   the   longer   subway   and   bridge   alternatives.     Documents   will   be   prepared   to  include  how  both  surrounding  neighborhood  streets  and  19th  Avenue/Highway  1  will   be   affected involving   SFMTA,   the   Department   of   Public   Works,   the   Public  Utilities  Commission,  and  CalTrans.          Funding  has  been  finalized  for  this  phase  of  the  project  as  the  project  moves  forward.    The  Environmental  Review  phase  should  begin  in  the  summer  or  fall  of  this  year,  and  is  anticipated  to  last  three  years.            Liz  Brisson,  19th  Avenue/M-­‐  Ocean  View  Project  Manager,  and  Kelley  McCoy  at  SFMTA  will  make  an  updated  presentation  at  the  February  10th  METNA  Meeting.    

INITIAL  FLOODING      ALONG  ST.  CHARLES            

IS  MITIGATED  QUICKLY  

         During   the   initial   rains   in  early  December  several  homes  along  the  west  side  of    the  200  block   of   St.   Charles   had   sewer   backups   in  their   basements.     As   soon   as   METNA   was  informed,   METNA   president   Marc  Christensen  contacted  representatives  at  the  SFPUC  and  received  quick  attention.    Within  24  hours  the  PUC  responded  with  a  crew  that  cleaned  out  the  sewer  line  at  both  ends  of  St.  Charles.     During   the   next   storm,   a   few   days  later  that  dumped  over  4  inches  of  rain  in  the  neighborhood   in   a   16   hour   period,   there  were  no  reported  problems.    During  the  first  18  days  of  December,  over  10  inches  

 

of   rain   fell   in   the   Merced   Extension  Triangle.     Any   resident   who   experienced  damage   from   a   sewer   backup   may   file   a  claim   by   going   on   line   at:  sfpuc.gov/sfcityattorney.org.     This   does  not   apply   to   any   water   damage   to   your  property  caused  by  another  means  such  as  through   the   roof,   doors,   windows,  foundation,  etc.  

  NEW  INVESTORS    AT  PARKMERCED  Parkmerced   Investment  Partners,   a   group  led   by   New   York   real   estate   investor  Robert   Rosania,   and   including   San  Francisco’s   Fortress   and   Boston’s  Rockport  Group,  now  includes  a  New  York  real  estate                                      (continued  on  page  4)    

 

 

Page 4 The METNA News February 2015

POST  NET  3931  Alemany  Blvd.,  Suite  2003  Owner:  Joe  Joaquin  Telephone:  650-­756-­8500  Fax  #:  650-­756-­0800  sfca161@yahoo.com            Hours:  Mon-­Fri:  9:00am-­6:00pm            Sat:    10:00am-­3:00pm  

PostNet   opened   its   doors   at  OceanView   Village   in   April,   2003.    Joe   Joaquin  has  owned  the  business  since   2005.     Post   Net   offers   a   vast  variety   of   services   including   faxing  documents,   photo   copying,   internet  access,   private   mailboxes,   shipping  with   FedEx,   UPS,   and   the   US   Postal  Service,   along   with   packaging  supplies.     Joe   Joaquin   is   a   Notary  Public,   and   he   also   offers   tax  preparation.     The   Merced   Extension   Triangle  is   fortunate  to  have  Post  Net  as  one  of   the   retailers   in   the   OceanView  Village   Shopping   Complex.    Everyone   is  welcome  to  stop   in  and  see   Joe   when   services   are   needed.      METNA   thanks   Joe   Joaquin   for   his  continued   support   of   our  neighborhood  association.  

 

JOIN METNA TITLE BOX

BUSINESS OF THE ISSUE TITLE BOX

NEIGHBORHOOD  WATCH  ,  cont’d    

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START  USING  1-­415  

 

SIDEWALKS:    CITY  CODES  TO  KEEP  SIDEWALKS  SAFE,  CLEAN,  

AND  LITTER  FREE  

Municipal  Police  Code  33  

         “Throwing  any   litter  or  debris  onto  streets  or  sidewalks  is  unlawful.”            “Sweeping   out   any   litter   or   debris  onto   streets,   sidewalks,   or   public  places,  without  removing/disposing  is  prohibited.”  Municipal   Police   Code   34/   Public  Works  Code  174  

         “Occupant/owner  is  responsible  for  the  cleanliness  of  the  sidewalk  directly  in  front  of  their  residence  or  business.    Litter/debris,   grease,   grime,   stains,  and   weeds   shall   not   accumulate   or  remain  upon  sidewalk.”              Please   be   a   responsible   resident  and  keep  your  area  clean  and  safe   for  pedestrians.      

METNA REMINDER TITLE BOX

METNA  OFFICERS  FOR  2015-­16  The  following  METNA  members  were  elected  to  office  for  the  2015-­‐16  term.    Officers  are:  President:  Marc  Christensen  Vice-­‐President:  Glen  Hatakeyama  Secretary:  Terry  Watson  Treasurer:  Rich  Zerga  Sergeant  of  Arms:  Neil  Hunt    

         The   Merced   Extension   Triangle  Neighborhood   Association   (METNA),  now   in   its   fifteenth   year,   has   made   a  significant   impact   in   the   community  both   by   informing   neighborhood  residents   through   the  quarterly  METNA  News,   and   by   working   with   public   and  private  agencies  to  bring  safety,  security  and   quality   of   life   enhancements   to   the  residents   and   business   community   in  the  Merced  Extension  Triangle.            METNA   is   now   collecting   dues   for  2015,   at   $15   per   household.     Please  consider   joining   METNA   as   we   support  you.    Dues  are  payable  February  1st.      .                Please   send   check   (or   cash),   payable  to  METNA,   to  Rich   Zerga,   Treasurer,   24  Kempton  Avenue,  SF  94132.      

METNA  NEWS  –  CHINESE  TRANSLATION  

         Beginning   February   21st   all   415  area  code  numbers  and  the  new  628  area  code  will  require  callers  to  dial  1   +   area   code   +   telephone   number.    The   overlay,   of   the   new   628   area  code   for   all   of   San   Francisco   and  parts   of   Marin   and   San   Mateo  Counties,   is   necessary   to   ensure   a  continuing   supply   of   phone  numbers  for  the  area.            This   overlay   does   not   require  customers   to   change   their   existing  area   code.   Only   new   phone   lines  beginning  March,  21,  2015  will  carry  a   628   area   code.     You   can   still   dial  three  digits  for  911  emergency  calls  and   for   services   provided   at   211,  311,   411,   511,   611,   711,   and   811.    For   more   information:  www.cpuc.ca.gov/areacode415  

(Parkmerced,      Cont’d  from  page  3)  

investment  group  called  601w.  In  late  November,  the  Wall  Street  Journal  reported   that   Mark   Karasick,   managing  partner   of   601w,   invested   “nearly  $200million  for  more  than  a  70  per  cent  stake”   in   Parkmerced   Investment  Partners.     According   to   Andrew   S.   Ross  of   the   San   Francisco   Chronicle,   the   152-­‐acre   Parkmerced   residential   complex   is  currently   valued   at   $1.35   billion.     The  developers   plan   to   break   ground   on  their  20  to  30  year  build-­‐out  this  fall.  

 LIFELONG  LEARNING  CLASSES  AT  S.F.  STATE  

 

         Classes,   lectures,   interest  groups,  social  gatherings,  and  events  are  all  part  of  the  educational  experience  at  the  Osher  Lifelong  Learning  Institute  (OLLI)  at  San  Francisco  State  University.    The  downtown  campus  at  835  Market  Street,  6th  floor,  reached  by  Muni  and  BART  at  the  Powell  Street  Station,  and  the  Main  Campus   at   1600   Holloway   Avenue   at   19th   Avenue,   served   by   the   Muni’s   M-­‐Ocean  View  Metro,  and  the  17-­‐Parkmerced  and  28  bus  line,  offers  year  round  classes.              Browse  current  course  offerings,  view  upcoming  events,  and  register  online  at   <olli.sfsu.edu>.     For  more   information   contact   OLLI   at   (415)   817-­‐4243   or  olli@sfsu.edu.  

METNA  is  providing  a  translation  of  the  METNA  News  into  Chinese.    The  translated  METNA  News  appears  online  and  can  be  obtained  free  of  charge  by  contacting  METNA  Secretary  Terry  Watson  at  watsoclark@  comcast.net.