This Week in Noe Valley: Real Estate Records Smashed, A Chef's Favorite Local Eats, More Parking Snark

News from, about and for Noe Valley from around the interwebs:

• Real estate agent carves out a mythical Quad neighborhood for bros [Uptown Alamanac]
• Local safecracker finally able to ply his craft [SFGate]
• Contigo chef Brett Emerson clearly doesn't eat out enough in Noe Valley [SF Mag]
• New record for most expensive home sale in Noe Valley (7 million!) goes to the NIMBY house [SocketSite; also: NIMBY explanation]
• But then check out the jaw-dropping 21% annual appreciation of 465 Hoffman [SocketSite]
• SF is a leader for its innovative management and ambitious park plans (featuring Phil Ginsburg and the NV Town Square) [HuffPo]
• Little Chihuahua adds brunch -- including mimosas [Tablehopper]
• Another local vigilante is tired of your car parked on his/her street [@celesteasaurus]

[Photo: lizhemingway]

Noe Valley Town Square Timeline And Projected Open Date

At the Noe Valley Farmer's Market this morning, the Noe Valley Town Square team unveiled a timeline for the Square development plan. The short version: Ground breaking is slated for August 2015 with a tentative opening date of March 2016.

All of this is still contingent on receiving grant funding for park development in June, but it's nice to see a timeline. Click the timeline image for the large version, or you can view the PDF of the timeline here.

[Image: Concept via NoeValleyTownSquare.com]

This Week In Noe Valley: Voter Apathy, TWTR Angst, And Farmer's Market Love

News from, about and for Noe Valley from around the interwebs:

• "I wonder how much my house is worth now" - Everyone in Noe Valley. $TWTR [@ingerhogstrom]
• Open houses this weekend in Noe [Curbed]
• Just 33% of District 8 voters turned out for the election [SF Examiner]
• Whole Foods at Market Street opens - a photo preview of the space and apts  [Inner Mission Blog]
• SF vs. NYC includes a reflection on "how terrible the produce is in New York compared to the farmers' market back in Noe Valley" [Bold Italic]
• Agit-prop is alive and well in Noe Valley [@timbelonax]
• District 8 has more pet owners than the rest of the city; Scott Wiener pushes for more Animal Care and Control funding [SF Examiner]
• Noe Valley Rec Center's November newsletter is out - and they need a volunteer writer [NVRC]

[Photo: Below: people protesting Twitter. Above: Twitter people enjoying the sun. #pointofview #twitter via sutterlarkin]

This Week In Noe Valley: Zuckerberg's Monster Remodel, Cyclists Spooked, Tuna Hearts And Other Frights

News from, about and for Noe Valley from around the interwebs:

• Scott Wiener's October newsletter [Scott Wiener]
• A history of San Francisco architecture [The Bold Italic]
• What's $10-20 million to remodel a pied-à-terre if you're Mark Zuckerberg? [CNBC]
• Omnivore's upcoming events [Omnivore Books]
• This handy Halloween costume guide could spare us all (extra points for not dressing your kids like this) [SFist]
• Noe neighbors spooked by spate of cyclist deaths around the city [SF Appeal]
• Also: SFPD targeting cyclists who roll stop signs (it's about time) [SF Streetsblog]
• Fregola with cured tuna heart from La Ciccia is a must-eat pasta dish [7x7]
• Nice video of what the SF Recreation and Parks Dept does for the City [SF Rec & Park]

[Photo: pablo: "Noe knows Halloween"]

Now Valley Town Square Official Celebration (With Dignitaries)

Now that purchase of the parking lot from the Noe Valley Ministry for the Noe Valley Town Square has been funded by the City and locals celebrated with pizza and "adult beverages," a formal ceremony and photo op is in order. Here's the announcement from Todd David (with minor edits, including removal of 'all caps'):

You Helped Make the Town Square Happen ... Now Help Us Celebrate!

This Saturday, June 22, 10:30 am at the Noe Valley Farmers Market, we'll be celebrating the acquisition of the Noe Valley Town Square.

Please join your Noe Valley friends and neighbors, District 8 Supervisor Scott Wiener, President of the Board of Supervisors David Chiu, San Francisco Recreation and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg, and former Supervisor Bevan Dufty to celebrate the $4.2 million purchase of the future home of the Noe Valley Town Square. Bill Freeman and Patx Azpiroz of Patxi’s Pizza will be on hand to present the company’s $24,000 donation to the Town Square!

The event will take place at the Noe Valley Farmers Market (on 24th Street between Vicksburg and Sanchez Streets) this Saturday, June 22nd at 10:30AM.

This Saturday’s celebratory event is a great time to fulfill your pledge! Feel free to email me at todd@noevalleytownsquare.com if you have forgotten how much you have pledged. Checks should be made payable to “The San Francisco Parks Alliance.”

If you have not pledged yet or would like to increase your pledge (we still need to raise at least $375,000 to build the Town Square), please do so online at http://noevalleytownsquare.com/pledge/ or make your donation at the Farmers Market this Saturday. We hope to see you there!

Noe Valley Town Square Clears Major Hurdle

The San Francisco Rec and Park Commission met today to consider (among other things) whether to endorse the purchase of the parking lot from the Noe Valley Ministry. Via Todd David:

I'm happy to report that the Rec and Park Commission unanimously voted today to recommend the purchase of the Noe Valley Town Square to the Board of Supervisors!!--(A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO THE APPROXIMATELY 20 NOE VALLEY RESIDENTS WHO SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE TOWN SQUARE.)

The recommendation from the Rec and Park Commission is for the Board of Supervisors to approve $4,242,500 from the Open Space Fund for the purchase and remediation of the Noe Valley Ministry Parking lot (Noe Valley Ministry would receive $3.9 million and the additional $342,500 would be used for remediation of the lot that used to be a gas station.)

Earlier in the week, Supervisor Wiener introduced legislation that will allow the Board of Supervisors to act upon the Rec and Park Commission's recommendation--namely purchase the Noe Valley Town Square!

Next on the calendar for the Town Square is the Board of Supervisor's Budget and Finance Subcommittee on Wed May 22nd. And then a final vote by the full Board of Supes on June 4th.

In other news, RNVTS submitted its concept proposal for a Prop 84 Urban Greening Grant from the State of California. The concept proposal requests $722,916.00 for development of the Town Square. Rec and Park staff took the lead on this concept proposal and did an amazing job!

That's all the news for now. If you or your friends have not donated to the Town Square, now is great time to do so: http://noevalleytownsquare.com/pledge/.

The SF Examiner caught up with the story just prior to the hearing and added a few more details:

“The site has already clearly demonstrated its positive benefits,” said Rec and Park general manager Phil Ginsburg. David’s group has raised nearly $500,000 in donations to pay for amenity improvements at the location, and the residents’ organization and Rec and Park have applied for an additional $720,000 state grant.

The residents hope to add two play areas, a stage for musical performances, additional trees and a more permeable surface to replace the asphalt, David said. The farmers market will remain a centerpiece of the space.

Rec and Park hopes to acquire the lot by July 1, and until the funding arrives, it will act as an unimproved public open space, Ginsburg said.

Supervisor Scott Wiener, whose district includes the site, introduced legislation Tuesday that would enable the purchase.

“This has been a truly bottom-up, grass-roots effort led by community members in Noe Valley,” Wiener said. “Their ongoing commitment proves how much this neighborhood needs this park.”

[NVSF: Town Square: A Giant Leap Forward]
[NVSF: Noe Valley Town Square: Concepts]

Get Out And Play This Saturday At Upper Noe Rec Center

Bring the entire family and boost your confidence while you build your skills and strength on our mobile rock-climbing wall. BMX bikes and skateboards will be provided so you can improve your balance and technique on our Freshpark ramps, rails and manual pads. RPD staff is excited to teach you how to shovit, ollie, and drop-in. Helmets are required and will be provided by RPD, but bring your own if you have it, because supplies are limited.

What: Mobile Recreation
Where: Upper Noe Rec Center, 299 Day St
When: March 9, 2013, 10:30AM-2:00PM
Cost: FREE

[SF Rec Park: Mobile Rec rolls to Upper Noe Rec Center]

NVV: 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 highlights from the latest issue. Links are to items we've covered here on NVSF or outside sources as the Voice doesn't post stories online until mid-month.

April 2012

Front Page: The Town Square project is looking for a hero with $2 million or more to keep the dream alive; Alvarado school is getting solar panels; a Diamond St. couple has created Just Cook Foods, a specialty foods company (they make meat rubs) for busy foodies.

Letters: A reader decries the condition of the Harry Street steps (an extension of Noe St. from Laidley to Beacon) and calls them a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act; in memory of Sybil Abeyta; an M.D. advises how to approach dogs (ask before you pet) on 24th St.

Features: The over-the-top $3 million+ redo of the Dolores Playground opens March 31; a re-run of the exact same story that ran last month about the Jan 2012 appointment of Mission Captain Robert Moser (oopsie!).

Short Takes: Garden tour 2012 set for May 19; Easy Breezy frozen yogurt still coming soon.

Cost of Living in Noe: Still red hot.

Store Trek: Saru Sushi

Rumors: Lots of grouses and gripes. Also, the "commercial blogs" report Tuggey's is struggling and the building is for rent; Tuggey's owner Dennis Giovanoli loves Noe Valley so much he's considering "moving to the city;" Whole Foods has withdrawn its application for an ABC license to sell spirits; Luv a Java has received the go-ahead to serve more food; Scott Wiener's new chief of staff is Andres "Parklet" Powers.

[The Noe Valley Voice]

The Dog Fight At Noe Courts Continues

Dog owners have been fighting for equal, safe and clean access to Noe Courts since the late 1980s when the perimeter fence was installed. In 1997, Parks and Rec tried to ban dogs altogether but relented and allowed dogs as long as they remained on leash. That leash law has remained a bone of contention ever since. Fast forward to last week when one dog owner fired off this email to Scott Wiener:

Dear Mr. Wiener:

If you think I was upset about the park work trucks digging up the grass, I am now outraged by the fact that we are being harassed by Park Rangers again. It has been over two years since we dog owners complained about the park rangers enforcing a leash law that has been contested for years and thought it was resolved and that this had been put to rest.

As a homeowner who pays outrages taxes and does not use the schools and any county services to speak of, let alone getting much for my taxes at all, I feel taking my dogs to Noe Courts is my privilege and I have paid more than enough for the privilege. This city can't keep our roads up, provide decent public schools or keep drunks from living on the streets, but you can pay for Park Rangers to police a tiny little neighborhood park. Our park is a disgrace because of maintenance and the only way we can upgrade it is if we citizens file for and get grants to upgrade, but the city can spend money on rent-a-cops.

Parents with children and their dogs use Noe Courts because of it's multi-use grounds. I know you are going to say there is Douglas Park for dogs, but there are too many dog walkers and some very nasty dogs that I do not want to expose my dogs to.

[The above picture shows] some of the criminal dogs who frequent this park.

I expect to continue to use Noe Courts with my dogs and will fight this tooth and nail.

[Ed.--email reprinted with permission as long as writer remains anonymous]

Scott's response:

I agree that Noe Courts is an amazing neighborhood park, and a lot of us are hoping to make it even better. While I agree that enforcement of the leash laws needs to be judicious, I disagree that park rangers shouldn't go to neighborhood parks. We do a very poor job enforcing park rules (quite apart from the leash laws), and we need more park patrol attention, not less. Again, this is with respect to park rules generally. With respect to leash laws, I do agree that we need to be thoughtful in our enforcement and not clamp down. With that said, there are situations when too many off-leash dogs in an on-leash park can cause operational difficulties. It's all about balance and good judgment in enforcement.

So... expect the battle for use of this small neighborhood park to continue.

[NVV: Neighbors in a Dogfight Over Noe Courts]

Town Square: Speakers Needed For Public Comment

Todd David of Residents for Noe Valley Town Square needs people to show in support:

I received a phone call from Rec and Parks yesterday informing me that the Commission is holding a meeting on Wed, July 6 at 2PM.

The Noe Valley Town Square is going to be mentioned as one of the projects Rec and Park is pursuing/investigating. It would be fantastic if 5 or 6 people could join me for Public Comment.

What: Recreation and Park Commission - Capital Committee Meeting
Where: 1 Carlton B. Goodlett Place (City Hall), Room 416
When: Wednesday, July 6, 2011, 2pm

[NVSF: Noe Valley Town Square: Concepts]

Town Square: Big On Dreams, Short On Cash

Last night's community meeting about a possible Town Square on 24th St offered few new details about little things like financing, process and what it will take to make the Noe Valley Town Square actually happen. And while we were ready to write it off, reader CR's report almost made us optimistic:

I went to the town square meeting tonight -- sucker for punishment, I guess. Here's the scoop:

* Meredith at the Neighborhood Parks Council starts off. The city hasn't used the open space money for decades because Parks & Rec can't maintain parks. Now they have this public-private idea in Noe but it's been so long since they acquired land they don't know how to do it right. When they started talking about this project, the neighborhoods that have been on hold for years were all 'Hey what about us, you said there was no money.' 17th & Folsom is farther along, has outside grant money, and has been in line for a while. Other projects too. So that's the hang-up. Meredith seems cool. She wants the city to be smart about things. She wants other projects to go forward and doesn't want Noe Valley to get caught in the political crossfire. So NPC is working with Parks & Rec and the Open Space Committee to "clean out cobwebs," see if policies need to be revised, and figure out which projects should go forward.

* Four designs are presented and we discuss for an hour. They're all good designs, variations on a theme: a large open flexible paved (or permeable) space; small green spaces (trees/garden/landforms) in various configurations; benches along the sides; large furniture in the middle that can be moved by the farmer's market; small play area for toddlers; good visibility and openness to the street and tree buffer against the back wall; possible sidewalk extension into the parking lane. One small bathroom (only for market and special events) and storage shed. Curb cuts for vehicle access to set up special events. Lighting and power. Three out of four designs allow the Farmer's Market to stay the same size or expand; one causes them to lose 6 tents, which is a non-starter. The architects have ignored the silly stuff from the first meeting. There will be no electronic fences or gates, and no underground parking lot, but there is still the possibility of a "flexible space where someone could bring a half pipe every weekend for Skater Sundays." Designs will be presented online so people can comment.

* Supervisor Scott Wiener is there and stays the whole meeting. Scott notes the problems at the city level -- says it will be "a heavy lift," he's "the eternal optimist" but he thinks we have a "hard road ahead" over the next "several years." Noe Valley needs to raise some serious money. Glad we spent the last hour talking about these pretty pictures!

* Todd David shows up late, wants to table all questions about fundraising until the city can figure out its process. At this point he doesn't know if we will need $300,000 to buy some benches and set up a maintenance budget, or if we need $3 million to cover construction and part of the land acquisition. They are exploring the possibility of a bundled proposal where Noe Valley might team up with other communities to put forward projects together.

* The Farmer's Market wants to know: How long can the Ministry wait for us to get our act together?

* The Ministry says: We got a loan from Circle Bank with the parking lot as collateral and we're going to start construction without waiting on all y'all. We need to see things starting to come together in the next 12 months.

* Next step: Todd, Meredith, et al., meet with the city to get a clearer picture of the process. Could take a few months. Not years. Meanwhile, the landscape architect takes in the community feedback and moves from four designs to one design so we have a better sense of the construction budget.

We've asked CMG Landscape Architecture for renderings and more info - details when we get them.

[NVSF: All Town Square Posts]