The Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association (HVNA) held its monthly meeting last night. As usual, the evening had loads of community updates, but this meeting also welcomed new board members to the association's ranks. Here are some highlights we captured throughout the night.
Despite Hayes Valley having a no-formula-retail-store clause, Larry Cronander, HVNA's Treasurer, explained that a building owner can sublet a lease to a business, including formula retail stores, which is how Gant got in. Members of the community and HVNA are working to close this legal loophole by meeting with London Breed, our new Supervisor, on March 8th. For now, however, this won't affect Gant subletting the Hayes Valley space.
We wish our new HVNA members the best of luck on their 2013-2014 terms. If you'd like to get in on a piece of the neighborhood association action -- especially if you’re interested in learning more about the community -- you can attend HVNA meetings on the last Thursday of every month, usually at the playground clubhouse at Hayes and Buchanan.
Until next time, Hayes Valleyers!
Meet Your New HVNA Board of Directors
The beginning of the meeting was dedicated to electing new members -- and some familiar faces -- onto the HVNA Board of Directors. Bill Bulkley, a 10-year resident of Hayes Valley, was elected President, succeeding Murrey Nelson. We asked Bill about his hopes for his term.
"I hate to say it's going to be an exciting year, but every year is exciting in Hayes Valley," Bill said with a smile. "There's going to be a new influx of people with all the developments taking place in the next few years."
He also expressed excitement about working with the new members of the board to continue representing Hayes Valley, including:
- Vice President: Nathan Lozier, a landscape architect with the office of Royston Hanamoto Alley & Abey. He has lived in the neighborhood for six years and has been involved with the HVNA ACE (Art, Culture and Environment) Committee as well as the Communications Committee in the past.
- Treasurer: Larry Cronander, a native San Franciscan and member of the HVNA for the last year. This is his second term as Treasurer.
- Membership Secretary: Bob Barnwell, a 6-year member of HVNA who has been in the same position for the last three years.
- Recording Secretary: Jay Rosenberg, a co-founder of the Hayes Valley Farm. He has served in this position for the last three years.
- Corresponding Secretary: Abby Stopper, a self-employed interior designer as well as editor and contributor for Hayes Valley Voice.
Updates from Arts, Culture and Environment Committee
During the meeting, Bill also spoke about a new project he is undertaking to find blank walls along Octavia Boulevard for artists to liven up the thoroughfare with murals. Octavia is already home to a couple of murals, including the "Great Adventure" painting at Page. Bill is asking the community to send recommendations for these urban canvases and artist referrals to [email protected].
The HVNA is also hoping to add a little bit of neighborhood history with a memorial for Patricia Walkup, the founder of the association. Her memorial website explains the project as 'a permanent memorial to be installed on Patricia's Green in Hayes Valley at Octavia Boulevard and Hayes Street. It will be in the form of an acrylic pylon (approx. 11" x 11" x 12 feet) similar to the ones at the Embarcadero.' The project is currently in its fundraising stage.
Updates from the Business Relations Committee
Not too far from Patricia's Green, you might have seen these flyers posted around the neighborhood protesting a Gant clothing store planning to move into 552 Hayes:
