Results From The Public Realm Plan's Haight Street Corridor Survey Are In

Results From The Public Realm Plan's Haight Street Corridor Survey Are InPhoto: Amy Stephenson/Hoodline
Amy Stephenson
Published on October 15, 2014
We first introduced you to the SF Planning Department's Haight Ashbury Public Realm Plan two years ago. Since then, just about every update has contained some variation on the phrase "Alexis Smith and Co. are in the process of collecting information from residents to find out what they think the neighborhood needs."
The Public Realm Plan, as a quick reminder, is "a community-supported vision for the neighborhood’s streets, sidewalks, and public places" that includes projects and initiatives like "new streetscape designs, a parking and circulation plan, and a plan for pedestrian amenities like lighting and signage."

Over the months, 150 of your neighbors have taken the time to fill out the survey on improvements to the Haight Street corridor, either at meetings or online, and now, the Planning Department has finally compiled the results.

First off, the Planning Dept. team had residents rank "treatments" in terms of priority along the Haight corridor. Here's where people fell in terms of treatment priorities, in order from most important to least:

  1. Greening—the most popular examples being street trees and planters.  
  2. Improved lighting—most people want a mix of modern and traditional lighting upgrades to the street.  
  3. Identity—think attractive crosswalk bulbouts, and artistic elements like bike racks that are functional and decorative.  
  4. Way-finding signage—tied for most popular examples were points of interest signs and transit signs, with parking signage coming in last. 
  5. Informal seating—this one was by far the least popular, with the people who did favor it pointing mostly to planter edge seating.  
Another element under consideration was the question of the creation of mid-block spaces, including which blocks were most desperate for more space. There were, in order from highest priority to lowest:

  • Between Clayton and Ashbury, north side 
  • Between Shrader and Cole, north side 
  • Between Clayton and Ashbury, south side 
  • Between Shrader and Cole, south side 
  • Between Ashbury and Masonic, south side 
  • Between Masonic and Central, north side 
As far as ways to use the additional space, most people preferred greening elements, consistent with the overall corridor preferences.

Three major intersections were another focus of the group, with people responding with feedback on possible improvements to Haight and Stanyan, Haight and Cole and Haight and Ashbury.

At Haight and Stanyan, survey respondents approved of the current bike rental stand at the entrance to the park. They also indicated a preference from some kind of gateway element to mark the entrance to Golden Gate Park. A public art option was least popular.

At Haight and Cole, people want an "active" sidewalk extension, with a "green" sidewalk extension option a close second choice. 

Lastly, at Haight and Ashbury, most people were in favor of highlighting the intersection with public art, or some other kind of marker. Interestingly, this is the intersection people were most undecided about, with almost all four options—intersection markers, public art, intersection treatment, and flexible space—coming in almost equal.

The results haven't been posted to the Public Realm plan website yet, but you can still sign up for updates at this link.

Do you agree with the results for what the Public Realm plan should focus on? Take it to the comments.