Announced: Kitami Ropa

Update (1/4/12): The original details posted in December have been removed at the request of shop owner Tara Kitami pending evolving details and negotiations. Tara says to expect the shop to open under a different name at 1478A Church St in mid-February. We'll update with details when they're confirmed. Meanwhile, the paper is off the windows and merchandise is on display. Stay tuned.

Package Thief Relief: Amazon Locker In Philz

The package thief is in custody, but there are still some reports that parcels may be disappearing from doorsteps around the holidays. Enter Amazon delivery lockers. A tweet alerted us to an Amazon pickup locker in in Philz Coffee. If you're worried about delivery thieves, order your package from Amazon and you can have it delivered to the secure locker in the back of Philz for pickup.

Opening: Spark Creativity

Just a few weeks after Little Folkies opened, another oh-so-Noe kids' class is taking up residence next door in the space vacated by Loft 1513 in February and Reality World last month. Spark Creativity offers "art classes for children ages 2-6 where we encourage exploration, celebrate effort, delight in mess making, and guide children toward discovery of their creative spark."

The website is still just a splash page but the Facebook page is live. Classes start in January 2013 – call to enroll.

Spark Creativity
1513 Church Street
415-562-4172
Sparkcreativitysf.com

[Click the image to see the flyer posted in the window]

This Week In Noe Valley: The Holidays Are In Full Swing, Scott Wiener In The News, And A Field Of Dreams Hits The Market

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

• Christmas vandals left their ladder [@mauriolg]
• Noe Valley Carolers [@SFGeoNinja]
• The New York Times profiles Scott Wiener's moderate voice [NYTimes]
• Ceremony for the completion of Church and Duboce improvements [@Scott_Wiener]
• Rare, large and vacant Noe Valley lot with a view for sale (and priced for a bidding war) [Zephyr, Also: Street View]

[Photo: @ShopSweetThings]

This Week At The Planning Commission

A look at Noe Valley projects in front of the Planning Commission this week. Information is provided by the Planning Commission, and taken from its published agenda. All hearings are on Thursday at 1:30pm, Room 400 in City Hall.

December 6

1144-1146 CASTRO STREET - on the west side of Castro Street between Elizabeth and 23rd streets; Lot 006 in Assessor’s Block 2804 - Mandatory Discretionary Review, pursuant to Planning Code Section 317(e), requiring review of Loss of Residential Units Through Merger, of Building Permit Application No. 2012.07.19.5186, to merge two dwelling units into one dwelling unit, changing the existing two-family dwelling to a single-family dwelling in an RH-2 (Residential, House, Two-Family) Zoning District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District.
Staff Analysis: Full Discretionary Review
Preliminary Recommendation: Do not take Discretionary Review and approve

It's rare that Planning Staff recommends approval of a Dwelling Unit Merger (DUM). It's very rare to place the application on the Consent Calendar. What makes this project special? Hard to know.

This project meets only three of the five criteria established for mergers. But since "neither of the two existing units is family-sized housing" and "the proposed unit merger would create a family-sized single-family dwelling," Staff concludes this project "would bring the building closer into conformance with the prevailing density, which is single-family dwelling." Sounds good. It also doesn't hurt that no one is opposing the project.

There is a bit of legal maneuvering in the application we're hoping someone can chime in on. The application states:

The property was sold with 1146 Castro vacant and 1144 Castro was tenant occupied. 1144 Castro has been owner-occupied since it was legally removed from rental housing use in May 2012.

The application also states:

As a matter of state law, this building is not residential rental housing and should not be considered as such since it cannot legally be used as rental housing under the Ellis Act. Merger will result in creation of new affordable housing for a family in a single unit home.

Is it really that simple? Buy a 2-unit building, Ellis Act the tenants and apply for a DUM? If it's that easy, why are these projects so rare?

The full staff analysis is here (PDF).

Update: Approved 4-3.

[SF Planning: 1144-1146 Castro St (PDF)]
[Photo: Google Maps]

NVV Dec 2012: 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 outside sources as the Voice doesn't post stories until the middle of the month.

December 2012

Front Page: Life at the local Fire Houses (the kind that still have active crews); A profile of Upper Noe Neighbor's Vicki Rosen; A profile of local bars, bistros and wine shops that seeks to dispel the belief that Noe Valley is full of sleepy old people.

Letters: One resident is unhappy with the NVV's recent "good report card" for Scott Wiener; Another appreciates coverage of families dealing with recent fires.

Feature: Local senior centers keep their doors open through tight times.

Cost of Living in Noe: "There's not of lot of [sales] difference to report this month." Still expensive. Solution: "Buy a condo."

Store Trek: DAVIDsTea.

Rumors: A promo for 24 HoliDAYS on 24th St; A promo for the recently released Noe Valley Guide to promote the neighborhood to tourists; Cliché Noe owner wants to create a Noe Valley Museum and bring back the Pioneer - "the first motor car built on the West Coast" to the shop where is was built on 24th St and that could house it permanently [Ed.--cool!]; Someone cleaned Harry Aleo's plaque; Election results ("Maintaining an Election"); The Tech Search Party is February 2nd; Bidding farewell to Claire Pilcher, founder of Friends of Noe Valley, who died recently at the age of 73.


[The Noe Valley Voice]

Coming Soon: MF Chicken Replacing Hahn's Hibachi

Inside Scoop shares the news today that another new restaurant/take-out venue is headed to Noe soon – and it will replace the Korean BBQ restaurant Hahn's Hibachi. Called MF Chicken, it will be a Mexican-inspired rotisserie chicken spot from Joe Hargrave and chef Telmo Faria, the team behind Tacolicious in the Mission. From the writeup:

"The emphasis is going to be on takeout," says Hargrave, adding that he and his wife (San Francisco Magazine's Sara Deseran) live with their kids three blocks away and are always looking for easy weeknight dinners. "The idea is that people can pop in for lunch, or a mom can stop by after picking up kids from school and get a whole chicken with sides for dinner."

Faria, who will be the chef, explains the MF Chicken concept: "You can order a half or whole bird and pick your sides and you'll get your salsas and La Palma tortillas … The food will be fresh and quality, but it will be approachable and it will be affordable."

MF Chicken will be beer and wine only, and there will be an emphasis on the aguas frescas and horchata. Since it's a small space (25-30 seats), it will be a relatively quick build-out; Hahn’s Hibachi is currently still open.

Noe Valley residents that live within 2 blocks of the current restaurant are likely to be happy about the change, and they can still get their Korean BBQ fix at the Hahn's on Polk or Irving.

MF Chicken
1305 Castro Street at 24th Street

[Inside Scoop: MF Chicken, from the Tacolicious crew, headed to Noe Valley]
[NVV: Residents Fuming Over Odors from Hahn's Hibachi]

This Week In Noe Valley: Package Thief Claims Entrapment, Open House Insanity, And Trust Fund House Lust

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

• Package thief suspect alleges vigilatism and entrapment, pleads not guilty and is held on $150,000 bail [SF Appeal]
• 24 Holidays on 24th St began today [NVMPA]
• Open house insanity for underpriced listing [Curbed SF]
• Omnivore Books adds online sales [Omnivore Books]
• CH&D Exec Editor wants to live in smug skateboarder house; derides those who question how it was financed [California Home & Design]
• In case you were wondering why travel was so hard last week [@BuzzFeedAndrew]

[Photo: SF Conservatory of Music Brass Quintet by @immortalsrun]