Notice of Preparation Environmental Impact Report

May 20th 2009 Parkmerced Investors LLP filed a NOP with the city and county of SF for an Environmental Impact Report for Parkmerced.
The document is available for viewing at www.sfgov.org
under agencies / planning dept. / MEA Major Environmental Analysis /
# 2008.00021E Parkmerced NOP

Scoping Hearing Date was set for June 8th, 2009 Monday 6-8pm at the Stonestown YMCA Annex

Comments may be sent until 5:00pm on June 19th to the Planning Dept. Attn: Bill Wycko.

(Additional Photos of changes since 2008/November will be posted shortly)

Why people enjoy parkmerced...

Enjoyable, fall day, sunny skies, open space, and wonderfull lighting of the buildings and landscaped areas. The enjoyment does not come from the construction, the rennovations, or the consistent efforts to "change" parkmerced. It comes from the basic premise that well designed spaces and communities engender communal and shared respect of the spaces. Its obvious when you walk the site, what areas are cared for, what areas are neglected, and what areas "belong" to people, renter's, seniors, students, and families.

Architectural Abomination(s)

This photo represents the most recent attempts to ruin a modern development, in the recent front door change of a unit along crespi drive, noted and used currently by management as the "show-unit" for parkmerced. They have gone in removing all the interior doors, and replaced them with "home-depot" specials, along with tacky, half-window palladian lights on the front door, and large shiny brass hardware. The installation of such non-fitting design highlights the non-appreciation of the developer and rennovation team with the current physical design and simplicity of the existing doors and units. This typical effort to ruin parkmerced, prior to any adequate historical resources review, and state protection per the preservation laws deems the owners "un-worthy" of the ownership of such a parcel. I immediately sent an email to the owners representatives asking why such a door was installed, they are currently researching "why this occured" and have yet to formally respond to such a blatant negligent act of architectural abomination.

Parkmerced ad 1955 coutesty of www.outsidelands.org

Air view of parkmerced

air view of parkmerced, www.outsidelands.org

Block 11 images

Was wandering the site again, and taking odd photos and found some interesting inner courtyards that had smaller curvelinear designs, assymetric layouts, and full mature plantings in the block shared areas. A tribute to the creativity of the designers who had variation at every location.

The impending planning issues and political machinations

The Planning department has begun the discussion along with the supervisor on the western neighborhoods and possible developments and impacts. Please send your issues to the Supervisors, Planners, and elected officials, as this will be on the agenda soon enough. The Oct. 2nd planning dept. meeting discussed the upcoming issue of traffic impacts, though no mention of rental housing impacts or possible destruction of historical resouces has been mentioned. The SFGTV link on the www.sfgov.org website allows you to flip to the 19th ave. item, and comment. With the implementation of the eastern neighborhoods and a total disregard for the General Housing Element and imbalance of rental and "market" rate development in SF, there is a definitive need for new and creative development that is similar in scale and size to parkmerced. The developers and private interests along with the mayor's office will assuredly make this a "beauty paegant project" and Transit oriented development emphasizing "sustainability" and green. But the real effects, and focus on a highly green and sustainable original development and the loss of its character and integrity is what is at risk.