In tonight's quarterly community town hall meeting for Inner Sunset Park Neighbors, the neighborhood association will present and solicit ideas about improving "safety, signage and general flow" near 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way, the entrance to Golden Gate Park.
Multiple initiatives for improving the area are under consideration; the Inner Sunset Streetscape Transit Effectiveness Project (TEP), a Green Benefit District (GBD), and a Commercial Benefit District (CBD). None have moved beyond the planning stages; the TEP, which would relocate the outbound N-Judah stop at 9th & Irving and remove several parking spaces to create a wider sidewalk, will likely start accepting bids this fall.
To highlight areas where improvements to signage, landscaping, public seating and other additions could enhance life for residents and visitors, ISPN has organized tours of the 9th & Lincoln area. According to ISPN, the daytime and evening tours have helped gather feedback and ideas. Tonight's meeting will aggregate several proposals, and attendees will be encouraged to submit their own.
Photo: Walter Thompson/Hoodline
Many Inner Sunset business owners say tourists who disembark at 9th & Irving frequently don't even realize which way to head for the world-famous park. David Zimmerman, owner of Blackthorn Tavern and president of Inner Sunset Merchants Association, agreed.
"From a merchant's perspective, we're still working on signing, wayfinding and neighborhood cohesion," Zimmerman said. "We still want planters, trees, cleanness and greater Muni ease and efficiency as well."
Although tonight's discussion will focus solely on improving the Inner Sunset's chi, Zimmerman said "I'd like to see some of these ideas brought together and completed." If groups and government consolidated some of these parallel projects and initiatives, change would happen faster, he said.
"All of these different types of projects we're working on individually are all leading towards what we hope will be a cleaner, safer, friendlier district," he continued. Tonight's discussion "is an exciting chance to bring out some of the community folks and different groups," Zimmerman added. "It's important to keep these moving parts and projects under the microscope and make sure everybody knows what's going on."
If residents of the Inner Sunset voted to establish a CBD, the City would create a special assessment for property owners that would fund neighborhood improvements like sidewalk cleaning, security services and landscaping. Funds are managed by a non-profit based inside the CBD. Today, there are 14 CBDs around the City; Middle Polk may be the next area to add one.
Creating a GBD is another option for improving public spaces in mixed-use neighborhoods like the Inner Sunset. If a GBD initiative were approved by local property owners, the area would receive "additional maintenance and capital improvements" to public spaces beyond "the City's existing level of baseline services." A non-profit governed by an independent property owners' association manages the GBD and sets its priorities.
So far, San Francisco has one GBD that covers the Dogpatch and northwest Potrero Hill. Last year, it raised $500,000 to fund trash removal, capital improvements, landscape maintenance, and other efforts, including marketing and communications.
"It's exciting to finally get everyone together at the same table," said Zimmerman.
Tonight's ISPN Town Hall will be held in the Garden Club Room of the County Fair Building at 1199 9th Ave. A neighbor social with refreshments will begin at 6:30pm: the discussion is from 7 to 8pm.
