Despite rumors to the contrary, plans for SF Public Works to rebuild and beautify the Kearny Steps are still on track, but the design is being modified to ensure emergency access isn't compromised. It won't be implemented without further input.

Both of the possible curved designs presented at a meeting in May 2015 are out, and designers are developing a more linear plan. However, John Thomas of Public Works, who until recently was the project manager, told us: "It’s more than just putting in these planters. We are going to rebuild the entire street."

They're coordinating with other agencies to fix the infrastructure. The concrete has been broken up many times over the years to repair underground utilities and make other repairs, Thomas said, and this will allow the SF Public Utilities Commission to replace 100-year-old water and sewer lines as well.

A new linear design for the Kearny Steps. (Rendering: SF Public Works)

But, Thomas added, "Given the continued concerns about the design itself, we’re going to go back and re-look at the plan and make sure every aspect of the project is workable. We want to stand behind the design 100 percent, and given there are concerns in the community, we want to make sure those are worked out before we move forward with anything."

We reported in May 2015 on a cocommunity meeting held to discuss the project's history and design options. At that time, landscape architect Lizzy Hirsch said the new landscaping would be placed in a curvilinear, or serpentine, design in either a "stripes" or "cascades" pattern. "It’s going to break up the linear direction of that street and allow trees and vegetation to weave in and out," she said at the time.

SF Public Works has backed away from having a curvilinear design, as shown in a meeting a year ago. (Renderings: SF Public Works)

Following the community meeting last May, the street was striped with green paint to mimic the placement of the plants. The idea was to test vehicles in real life to ensure access was preserved into and out of garages and that emergency vehicles could access the street. Some neighbors saw fire trucks having difficulty traversing the steps and voiced their objections.

"We were concerned with the serpentine on the road because we concluded a hook and ladder couldn’t come up through the serpentine," said Vallejo Steps resident Gerry Hurtado. "The serpentine presents a problem."

Thomas said the curved design did present issues, but also told us new landscaping or not, the only way the the fire trucks can reasonably access the Kearny Steps is to drive up them in reverse from Broadway. Other access points are too narrow for turns, he said, and he said the SFFD told him even in wet conditions, there could be times the truck can't access the steps at all. In those cases, SFFD told him, the truck would park at the bottom and fire fighters would go on foot up the steps or come down from Vallejo.

Photo: Stephanie Greenburg

"The curve, especially in the lower planter, caused some problems," Thomas said. "The designers felt they’d have to reduce it so much it wouldn’t meet their design intent.” Now, instead of the curved pattern with plantings throughout, the design includes three trees on each side of the steps at the bottom, planters, scored concrete and cobblestones.

Going forward, “It’s a much simplified design over what we had talked about," Thomas added, but it's still a work in progress with the opportunity for changes. Another public meeting most likely will be held, he told us. "I sent this design to the Fire Department for comments and concerns and have yet to hear from them as well," he said.

"If we were going to have to have [beautification], it would be nice if they took certain things into consideration—fire safety in particular," Hurtado said. "Even ambulances come up here.” He said he wasn't aware that the curvilinear design was scrapped, but when we told him, he said it was a "godsend" and a "relief."