A message from Safeway.

Dear Neighbors,

This past Thursday, I was excited to present the proposed Safeway renovation to San Francisco’s Planning Commission. It has been an honor and wonderful experience working with the community surrounding the Monterey Safeway, and the design we collectively created was unanimously approved by the Commission 7-0!

Thank you to everyone for the time you have spent brainstorming, attending meetings, sending letters to Planning, etc. etc. etc. I thoroughly recognize the amount of personal time spent and I feel deep gratitude for your contributions.

What does this mean and what are next steps?

The Planning Commission approval means the City has OK’d the grocery store’s conceptual design and use. Next Safeway has to submit for building and utility permits. For example, if you build an in-law unit or garage on your property, your first stop would be Planning for “big picture approval.” Next, an architect would draw construction drawings and submit to the Building Department, PG&E, et.al.

After the holidays (which are typically quiet in my department), Safeway will huddle with its architectural team. Additionally, as many of you know, Safeway is in the process of merging with Albertsons. My two favorite factoids: (1) we will be keeping the SAFEWAY name in Northern California, and (2) anticipate lower prices. The real estate direction of the merged company is still under development, however San Francisco has historically been a crown jewel. As more details become available, I will post to the project website. And please feel free to call or email with questions at any time.

www.sunnysidesafewaysf.com [Editor’s note July 2016: Unfortunately Safeway has stopped using this website to post updates and details of renovation plans. ]

I wish you and yours a Happy Holiday season.

Natalie Mattei

Neighbors,

Tonight I attended a Preliminary Neighborhood Input Session sponsored by SF Planning Department. They invited a surrounding neighborhood association representative to give preliminary input into the Balboa Reservoir Project. There will be two public hearings, 1st the week of January 20 (date/location to be announced) and again in March.

There were approximately 10 people in attendance: from Riordan High School, Westwood Park, Ingleside Terrace, Ocean Ave Merchants Association, and one or two more. The goal was to give preliminary information on the project and to get a sense of what neighborhoods want in the project.

What they know so far: They are potentially bidding the project as a lease rather than a sale. They would have ~99 year lease on the land that the developer would build and maintain. Other than that, not many specifics. They asked us what we felt our neighbors would be interested in with this development.

Here are some topics mentioned:
-Parking and transportation as an issue on all sides
-Pedestrian friendly design to encourage walking, biking and public transportation
-Open spaces (large and small) for multi use, walking, biking, etc.
-Housing of all types were mentioned (affordable, home ownership, housing for teachers, etc.)
-Public art
-Neighborhood integrity

Planning department stated that the goal of the public meetings is to put parameters around the public bid. No physical, mapping or design will be discussed, as there also needs to be a site study. The goal is to have a bid out sometime by summer/fall 2015 to developers. No other details were discussed.

Since we have not met on this as a neighborhood, my goal was to listen to what they have planned so far. I have requested they attend the SNA quarterly meeting in February 2015. They will notify us with the public meeting information to which I will post on the website, this site and on the Facebook page.

This is all the information I have so far. Thanks.

With the largest storm to hit the Bay Area in 5 years expected to arrive Wednesday night and last through Friday morning, please share the information below about sandbags, storm drains, and other storm preparedness tips.

http://sfdem.wordpress.com/