This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

This is not the first time we've had this query:

We recently renovated and moved into our new home in NV - and have been surprised with the amount of plants/parts of plants stolen from our front yard landscaping. Is this a common problem in NV? It's hard to imagine that a neighbor would feel comfortable with an arrangement in their home that they've stolen from a neighbor....

Mike on 23rd Street

Anyone have any stories to share? Advice?

Update (3/25): Nearby Dolores Heights resident Robert sent us the following:

We seem to have one or more semi professional plant thieves. They know what is valuable and resalable. They know what transplants. We have been having an ongoing discussion and documentation of this problem on the Dolores Heights Google Group for the last several years with pretty much the same ranting and gnashing of teeth. A few months back I spotted this character (who I have seen skulking about, often with plants) booking down 23rd at Church. A told him I wanted to talk about where he got the plant but he kept on rolling down the J tracks.
I know this is a city and this may not seem like the most important issue (right up there with the proliferation of nail salons), but please!

[Top Photo: Josie Soho]

Upcoming Noe Valley Events

Regular readers may have noticed that we've added a calendar to the left sidebar for events in and around Noe Valley. If it proves useful, we'll work on a better (more user-friendly) calendar.

Here's what's coming:

March 12: Ladybug Gardening Group -- "The first group of spring bulbs have come to 30th Street - the second group will be blooming soon - the City has put in some pretty flowers near the tennis courts - so to keep our park nice looking we have more work and fun to do this Saturday between 9am-12 noon... If anyone on the Day Street side of the park has a 6 foot ladder we can use email me..." [Ed.--Warning: via email, SF Gov worker Teresa O'Brien thinks you'll fall off a ladder and sue: "I am wondering about the safe work practice of having volunteers on ladders."]

March 29: SFPD Mission District Community Meeting -- "We will definitely supply mouth-watering refreshments and a door prize for which I have spared no expense."

April 1: Uncorked Noe Valley -- "Sample over 20 wines, talk with the experts, nibble on tasty hors d’oeuvres, and order your favorite wines. Ticket $30 in advance at 24th Street Cheese or The Ark. $35 at the door. This is an opportunity for one last nostalgic evening at the Ministry building before it closes for renovations."

Have an event you'd like to add? Send us details.

[Photo: Glen Park News]

Noe Valley Town Square: Concepts

While the process to secure funding for the Noe Valley Town Square is in flux, the design phase is in full swing. CMG Landscape Architecture presented four concepts at the February 2nd Community Meeting. The images in this post are from that presentation, but we've been asked to emphasize that "it is very important to note that the schemes are to be thought of as menus of choices not as complete packages." CMG asks that you read the PDF presentation for contextual descriptions of each scheme. For instance, Alternative 4 (above) is pitched like this:

The “Not so Square ” concept provides continuous garden edge around a generous, active and flexible square. The defining aspects of the concept are the curvilinear edges that define the square and series of pavilion structures including a restroom located in the northeast corner, a community wall and seating area located on the west edge, and stage backdrop and seating area located in the southeast corner. The stage backdrop and pavilion structure would provide lighting and infrastructure for community movie nights as well as power and lighting for a portable stage. The garden is framed by a variety of sculptural seating areas and elements to create an inviting space for daily use and informal play. A children’s play room is located in the east garden area. The garden area would be planted with a variety of flowering native plants to provide seasonal variety and butterfly habitat. An informal arrangement of tree’s would provide a buffer to residential yards along the back edge of the square. The paving pattern is designed to provide a variety of textures colors.

The concept also includes the option of an interactive water feature with small bubble jets built into the paving surface. The water feature could be activated by children and turned off to maintain flexibility for events.

The PDF also illustrates how Farmer's Market stalls would fit in the design. If for some reason you are unable to read the PDF, send us a note and we'll forward it to your email. The other concepts are in JPG form below.




[CMG: Noe Valley Town Square (PDF)]

Street Trees: Green Your Sidewalk!

In the summer of 2006 the SF Dept of Public Works made it easier for residents and businesses to reduce the amount of concrete between them and the street. They also reduced fees from $800 to $160-215. Unfortunately they did nothing to reduce the bureaucracy. We spoke with a NV resident who had a very hard time getting his permits through: "...all kinds of inspectors came out to 'inspect'. The city is always assuming the homeowner is doing something wrong." If you want to fight with the DPW yourself, forms and requirements are here.

For the rest of us? Enter Plant*SF, a non-profit dedicated to promoting "permeable landscaping equally as sustainable urban infrastructural practice and as a beautification effort." After reading through their site and looking at the projects they've worked on, we think everyone should work with Plant*SF.

Don't have a sidewalk that meets requirements for greening? Donate time or money to beautify the rest of Noe Valley.

Bonus: Plant*SF is also pushing for alternatives to the water- and maintenance-intensive hanging flower baskets like we have on 24th St:

Planted hanging baskets are gaining popularity in San Francisco and while beautiful, daily watering and use of 'disposable' plants keeps them far from being sustainable. Plant*SF has proposed climate adapted, self-propogating alternatives that will be piloted in front of City Hall soon.

[Plant*SF]