If you've been in North Beach for any length of time, you might be confused about the long list of community organizations that work to better the neighborhood in a number of ways. Who's out there, what do they do, and how do you get involved?
Here's a handy guide to a wide range of nonprofit groups serving North Beach, with links to their websites for more information. They're listed in alphabetical order.
Friends of Joe DiMaggio Playground: This group formed in 1997 to improve the shabby, paved playground at 651 Lombard St. that looked like a parking lot. But then the pool started sinking, so they turned their attention to that. And then a new library came along, so the group is just now seeing the fruits of its initial labor on the playground. Current District 3 Supervisor Julie Christensen has been a main champion of all of the moving parts since the late 1990s.
The playground project received $5.5 million in funding from a 2012 voter-approved bond for San Francisco Recreation and Parks. A group of volunteers, including Christensen and founding member Lizzy Hirsch, have spearheaded an effort to raise an additional $300,000 for "finishing touches" like a more attractive fence, more trees and a tiled fish sculpture for climbing. A large portion of that money is coming from sales of donor tiles, which are still available. Park renovations began in early 2014 and should finish by early 2016.
Friends of Washington Square: As the name implies, this organization acts as guardian of North Beach's bustling public park, Washington Square. It's dedicated to addressing the park's ongoing needs and communicating with community leaders, SF Recreation and Parks and the San Francisco Parks Alliance. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month, along with more sporadic events like beautification-centered work parties in the park. The Friends scored a big win this year with the opening of a fancy new restroom building in the park; they're now working on getting community support and funding for a new master plan for the park, which hasn't been done since 1957.
North Beach Business Association: Though it's seen its share of controversy over the years, often because of differences in opinion on its mission, the NBBA works to strengthen business in the area and engage the community. It was founded a decade ago as the North Beach Merchants Association, said board member Kathleen Dooley. "The North Beach Chamber of Commerce primarily supported restaurants and bars," she said, "and we wanted to have an organization that also served other retailers, services, all the different types of businesses in North Beach. We merged with the chamber in 2011." Dues are about $120 for an average-sized business, Dooley said.
The NBBA organizes the annual North Beach Festival, which raises about $50,000 for the community, and is looking to add a noodle festival fundraiser this fall. "We’re actually looking to get more members involved, because we want their ideas on how to best spend [the money raised]," Dooley said. "We do marketing; we have a new brochure this year. We sponsor the mime troupe in Washington Square Park. We try to do a mix of things for the merchants and for the community." The organization has given grants to Tel-Hi, North Beach Citizens and NEXT Village SF, and hosted dinners for the homeless.
North Beach Citizens: This group offers a haven for the homeless of North Beach, who, in turn, help the community by keeping it clean and giving back to others with mentoring and support. You can see NBC volunteers sweeping streets and cleaning the park in their bright yellow vests.
Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola started the program in 2000, and it officially launched in 2001 with a group of volunteers. Today, it's growing beyond its current home at 720 Columbus Ave., with plans to double its space in a new office at 1034 Kearny St. near Broadway, as well as bring on three new staffers. The organization helps about 40 people at any given time with personalized programs, and hosts roughly 170 neighbors at its Wednesday food pantry.
The group has been in the news lately after holding meetings on traffic-calming measures, including bulb-outs, that are slated for four intersections in the neighborhood. But more social events are on the roster: Herman said the group plans to sponsor a "national lasagna day" event on July 29th, as well as a December tree lighting in Washington Square. North Beach Neighbors has about 180 members; dues are $25 a year for individuals, or $30 for families and businesses. Board meetings are at held at 6:30pm on the second Monday of the month, with the agenda posted on the website about 10 days prior.
North Beach Tenants Committee: Since its first gathering in November of 2013 to discuss Ellis Act evictions, this group has worked to assist neighbors with "more than the traditional cup of sugar," as its website states. It passes out flyers with tips and advice on what to do in the event of an eviction notice, and provides free tenant counseling from 11am–12:30pm on the third Thursday of the month at the Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center, 660 Lombard St. More resources are listed on the group's website.
This group is sometimes called the “Lombard 21 Gang,” as 21 members of the group on Lombard Street received Ellis Act notices in the spring of 2013. "Under the guidance of Gen Fujioka from the Chinatown Community Development Center," the site states, "we are trying to inform all of our neighbors about what the Ellis Act is and what local services are available to support us."
Pioneer Park Project: In 1995, when the park surrounding Coit Tower was under threat from inadequate irrigation, excess foot traffic and other factors, this public-private partnership was formed to encourage stewardship of the park. "We still meet," says District 3 Supervisor Julie Christensen, one of the group's founders. "We still work with [the Recreation and Parks Department] on forestry management."
Christensen said the group of about 36, with a steering committee of about 12, helped get the south side of the park landscaped and made ADA-accessible, and installed a safe stairway that also prevents erosion on the hill. They solicited grants and donations, and raised money by selling personalized engraved tiles placed on the stair risers—an effort called "Step Into History."
Save North Beach Village: Originally started as No North Beach Dig, an organization that opposed the Central Subway, this is an ad hoc group of neighbors who meet informally and stay in touch via a blog and weekly email newsletter. Lance Carnes formed it. "I got a mailing list of a couple hundred names and figured there are more issues we need to know about and events people want to participate in, so I started the Save North Beach Village blog in early 2014," he says. "It’s like a backyard fence everyone gathers around and talks.”
The group discusses issues it believes are important to preserving the area's charm and quality of life, from the subway to evictions to bulb-outs. Carnes led a Jane Jacobs Walk in early May to talk about what makes neighborhoods vibrant and livable, including maintaining walkability and activating the streets.
But he's not hard-nosed about never changing a thing: he's in favor, for example, of the new Mama's the Sanchez family hopes to open at 627 Vallejo, if it can get the law changed to allow it. In fact, he holds the group's meetings there. Also, Save North Beach Village urges everyone to pick up at least one piece of paper each time they stroll the neighborhood, to help keep it clean and appealing.
SoTel Neighbors: Founded in 2012 to serve the neighbors of southern Telegraph Hill, this group is keenly concerned with issues on Broadway, because the neighborhood overlooks the strip. It also has a voice in a number of community groups relating to North Beach and waterfront issues. Co-founder Stephanie Greenburg sits on the SFPD Central Station's Community Police Advisory Board, the Graffiti Advisory Board, the board of the North Beach Business Association and the Port of San Francisco's Northeast Waterfront Advisory Group (NEWAG), and is the president of Top of Broadway Community Benefit District—all unpaid posts.
SoTel Neighbors was instrumental in getting approvals for Kearny streetscape improvements, and the group has lent support to an area-wide effort to lobby for a neighborhood-friendly design and more middle-income units in a proposed affordable housing development at Broadway and Front streets. It's generally more moderate on contentious neighborhood issues; for example, it supports the Central Subway extension and the new Mama's restaurant. There are no dues.
Telegraph Hill Dwellers: "The Dwellers" formed in 1954, making the community group one of the city's oldest. "For more than 60 years, we’ve tried to make Telegraph Hill a better place to live for all of us," said president Stan Hayes. He outlined the group's mission as follows: "Beautify and improve Telegraph Hill, build community, protect the unique character of the Hill, celebrate the Hill’s history and traditions, engage actively in the affairs of the city, and, when necessary, stand up for the Hill."
Some criticize the group for trying to stop any and all development on the Hill or the waterfront, which many of its residents overlook. But were it not for THD, the historic character of the Hill might have given way years ago, and the waterfront could be a strip of shopping malls and car dealerships. The homes on the hill "represent a museum of architecture, a history of San Francisco in a nutshell," said Hayes, whose house dates to 1855 and originally was a miner's cabin. "It’s a pleasure to live in such a unique and historic area as Telegraph Hill."
With more than 500 members, the Dwellers also preserve the history of the Hill with their quarterly publication, The Semaphore. They boast a long list of committees and liaisons to other groups, including NEWAG, Central Station's Community Police Advisory Board and Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods. They're also ramping up efforts to engage the community with socials, dinners and block parties (the next one will be held on September 20th on Calhoun Terrace). Dues are $35 for individuals ($25 for seniors) and $50 for households ($40 for senior households).
Jazz mural at Broadway and Columbus Avenue. (Photo: Stephanie Greenburg)
Top of Broadway Community Benefit District: A community benefit district is basically a homeowner's association for a mixed-use urban area. Its mission, as its website says, "is to make the area around Broadway a safe, beautiful, diverse, and enjoyable place to live, work and visit, with a commitment to promoting economic vitality, improving livability, and advocating area identity and history." Formed in 2013, it has 39 member properties, all of whom voted to institute the CBD and self-tax to cover costs. (The amount varies based on the square footage of a building's ground floor.) It provides street cleaning, beautification, safety, marketing efforts and events.
The CBD's board is made up of volunteers, many of whom own property and/or businesses in the district. Executive director Ben Horne is paid a part-time salary; the group also contracts a marketing agency. Public meetings are announced on its website, and minutes are posted. With $105,000 in assessments and a total budget of more than $200,000 with grants and donations, it is one of the city's smallest CBDs. But it's made big headway in its short time in existence. It lobbied for Kearny streetscape improvements, installed flower baskets and decorative lighting, hired a street-cleaning firm and security patrols, ordered banners for the light poles (designed by local artist Jeremy Fish), and received a grant to install historic markers throughout the area, among other accomplishments.
