September 27, 2014

This Week In Noe Valley: Earthquake Anniversary, Property Maps, And Harvest Is Coming


News from, about and for Noe Valley from around the interwebs:
[Photo: View of downtown SF from the deck via callanjb]

September 26, 2014

Five Years Later - Are Shuttle Buses Useful Or A Menace?


Since we first wrote about the controversial "Google bus" in 2009, the commuter lines have become a lightning rod around the Bay Area. The obvious benefit of the buses is fewer cars on the roads everyday. While there are no hard numbers that tells us just how many people would live so far from work if the bus wasn't an option, we're going to say less cars is a good thing. The negatives include disrupting existing public transit, bus traffic on roads not designated for their size, increased numbers of noisy diesel vehicles idling in the neighborhoods, an alarming number of them stuck on our hills... and the list goes on. For many they've also become a symbol of the haves and have nots.

Basically, those who ride them love them and those who don't ... don't.

Case in point: We received the video above from Scott Maddux showing a "typical morning in Noe Valley." It was taken this morning around the intersection of 26th and Noe Streets.

He writes, "I support the idea of the buses and efficient commuting but pick-ups and routing should be limited to major streets. These buses are clearly not designed for our residential neighborhoods and I think it's obvious that the current situation is unsustainable."

What do you think? Have things gotten better or worse since 2009?

[NVSF: Shuttle Buses: Useful or Menace?]
[Scott Maddux on YouTube: Noe Valley Tech Buses]

September 20, 2014

This Week In Noe Valley: Incomes Are Up, Sales Were Down During Burning Man, And iPhone 6s Have Landed


News from, about and for Noe Valley from around the interwebs:
[Photo: Neighborhood Watch via kermac]

September 6, 2014

This Week In Noe Valley: A Bank Robbery, Bagel Fights, And Other Mischief You May Have Missed


News from, about and for Noe Valley from around the interwebs:
[Photo: Fence of old doors on 22nd St steps via hellokeltie]

NVV Sept 2014: We Read It So You Don't Have To


The Noe Valley Voice is published ten times a year and has been a neighborhood fixture since 1977. Here are notable highlights from the latest issue. Links are to stories we've covered here on NVSF or other resources. Follow the NVV link at the bottom for full articles and all the ads.

September 2014

Front Page: Photo of the new Amos Goldbaum mural on outer Church; a preview of Noe homes in the AIA House Tour; stoplight proposed for Cesar Chavez at Church St.; 2 parking spots in Noe Valley are reserved for carshsare vehicles; remembering local artist Jack Freeman who died in July.

Letters: A Google Glass wearing resident decries being banned from local coffee shops; A vote against the Cesar Chavez/Church stoplight and a plea to move it to 24th and Church instead; A middle-aged white man is snapping branches on small trees on the 800 block of Alvarado St.; a pedestrian rails against making SF more bike friendly; A love letter to Holy Kitchen Indian food on 24th urging locals to visit; Wink SF wants to set the record straight that they are not closing - just renting out space in the store to emerging artists.

Short Takes: Construction will begin this month on the wider bus stops and more prominent crosswalks on 24th at Castro, Noe and Church; Real Foods space gets a new roof but the rest of the space is still in limbo.

Cost of Living in Noe: $2.2 million is still the average price for a single family home. Renters can expect to pay $2195 to $4200 for a 1 bedroom apartment.

Store Trek: Rare Device opens (4071 24th Street)

Rumors: L'Atelier is moving in next to UPS store at 4104 24th and will showcase independent local upcycling artists (taking discarded items and using it to create new things like art, jewelry, clothing, furniture and home items); Sightglass Coffee, Steeped Tea and Tout Sweet Patisserie are all sharing space in Noe Valley Bakery with occasional pop-up tastings of Sugar Foot Grits - plus breadsticks will soon be back on the menu; the former Global Exchange storefront has been rented to a local French cafe bakery chain called La PanotiQ which plans to open early next year and serve Bicycle coffee, salads, sandwiches, as well as baked items made on premises; Abeck Graphics has moved from SOMA into the space at 4235 24th St that used to house Sherri King Tax Service; The space vacated by Kangaroos preschool at Diamond and 24th will be a chiropractor's office; Blu Ova fertility services has moved into the old Fima Photography space; Tacolicious has opened its corporate offices into the old Sirena Botanica space on Church St; Remembrances of Robin Williams visiting Noe Valley.

[The Noe Valley Voice]