Noe Valley Plaza: Tea Party Filibuster Hijacks Community Meeting

Apparently some people missed the memo - tonight's community meeting was never intended to be a town meeting.

Even so, the boos and jeers started as soon as Andres Power started speaking. The "Don't Block Noe" crowd was at tonight's meeting in force and insisted on being heard. What was supposed to be a 20 minute presentation of the results of the traffic study and the status of the project so far twice had Planning staffer Sarah Dennis-Phillips scolding the crowd: "Next time Andres is interrupted Planning is leaving and none of you will be heard." Momentary quiet.

The shouting resumed 2 minutes later after Andres said the words "easily removable" and "if the project moved forward" at least 20 more times. Despite angry shushing, Bevan Dufty (who arrived late from a budget meeting) had to take the mic and also had the quote of the evening: "It will make the news if we have to call the police to a meeting in Noe Valley." Nervous laughter.

General gist voiced by Bevan, Andres and other members of the Planning staff: "It will be difficult to move forward" with this project given the "vocal opposition."

This will not be resolved anytime soon.

Update: Video uploaded to Youtube by sattvicwarrior

World Cup Comes Home

Sign in the The French Tulip

Sue Bowie Joins Alain Pinel, Sells Out 24th St Retail

Sue Bowie, circa 1985

We were disappointed to learn that the old Phoenix Books location was/is becoming yet another waste of space - again in the form of a realtor's office. But then today we received a postcard announcing that Sue Bowie has joined forces with Alain Pinel:

Alain Pinel welcomes Sue Bowie to its gallery of Real Estate Professionals. Sue continues her 24 year tradition of providing the same excellent service to her clients in Noe Valley, now teamed with the most sophisticated and technologically advanced real estate firm, specializing in the marketing of distinctive properties and estates.

Sue Bowie is a great resource and not only specializes in Noe Valley but All of San Francisco, including Eureka Valley, Bernal Heights and Glen Park.

It all makes sense, though, when you factor in that Sue Bowie owns the building at 3850 24th St where Alain Pinel will soon open.

[NVSF: Tidbits: What's Up on 24th Street?]

Farmer's Market Parking Lot Edges Closer To Town Square Status

From Bevan Dufty's latest Newsletter:

Friends of Noe Valley is hosting a meeting on July 15 to discuss the potential sale of the parking lot on 24th and Sanchez to the City in order to create permanent open space. The meeting will be at St. Philips at 6:30 PM.

The purpose of the meeting is twofold. First, FONV will provide a status update about the sale of the parking lot and what is needed in order for the lot to become permanent public open space. In addition, FONV is seeking input and suggestions about how the current lot could be converted into open space (a town square).

The community meeting will be facilitated by the Neighborhood Parks Council.

As we summarized from the Voice in May: "This would not replace the controversial Noe Street plaza, says Bevan Dufty. The space may qualify for city open space funds - but private funds could get the job done faster, and move through city planning more easily."

What: Friends of Noe Valley
When: Thursday, July 15th 6:30 PM
Where: St. Philips Church located at 725 Diamond at Elizabeth Street

[NVV: Dreams of a Town Square in 24th Street Parking Lot]

Noe Valley Plaza: Agenda And Fact Sheet For Community Meeting

From Andres Power:

Dear Noe Valleyans,

In preparation for next week's community workshop, attached please find a three-page fact sheet highlighting the goals of Pavement to Parks, some preliminary analysis of the Noe Street option and other locations suggested by the community at our first workshop, and a brief overview of how the options would be evaluated, should they move forward towards a trial.

Thanks,

Andres Power
sfpavementtoparks@sfplanning.org

The fact sheet is here (PDF)

What: Noe Valley Pavement to Parks Community Meeting #2
When: Wednesday, June 30rd, 7:30-9:00pm
Where: St. Philip School, 665 Elizabeth Street @ Diamond

Pixie Hall Studios will provide a calls for kids free of charge so parents can attend the meeting. Details to follow.

[NVSF: All Plaza Posts]

Rumor: Lululemon to Noe Valley?

An anonymous commenter posted this item on the For Lease: Twin Peaks Property post about Harry Aleo's former office:

Interestingly enough I was on the Lululemon site and in their careers section they have a listing for a Noe Valley store - maybe that's what is going in there? As a bona fide Noe Valley lady who loves her Lulu, I would be stoked as hell.

Lululemon is a boutique retail chain that sells "technical athletic apparel for yoga, running, dancing, and most other sweaty pursuits." We can't vouch for the job post on the Lululemon site - but given there's a store on Union Street it's plausible one could open here too.

Update (6/24): Still a rumor (emphasis ours):

Thank you for your interest in lululemon athletica. As of now, nothing has been confirmed for a new location in San Francisco. However, if we do decide to open a new location in Noe Valley, it will definitely be posted on our website under 'store finder'.
I hope this information helps!

Kind regards,
Hannah
lululemon athletica

Crime Beat: Noe Valley Murder Solved?

Charles McAleer-Bonilla

This item hit the Chronicle last night about the SFPD DNA lab and references the murder of Charles McAleer-Bonilla on April 8 outside his home on 28th @ Sanchez:

Recently, a delay in testing the DNA in an April homicide in Noe Valley came back to haunt the department when the suspected killer, Anthony Alvarez, took a toddler hostage in Sacramento. Alvarez was killed by deputies who freed the child.

Before the Sacramento incident, San Francisco police had not yet identified Alvarez as their suspect in the Noe Valley case. But Alvarez had told a family member about details of the April 8 killing of Charles McAleer-Bonilla that only the killer would know, police say.

A week after the killing, Alvarez skipped out on a San Francisco behavioral health court program and was soon tied to three bank robberies and an incident in which he shot at a Concord police officer. Alvarez was shot dead on June 11 during the standoff in Sacramento.

The drug lab did not start its testing of the DNA evidence found in the McAleer-Bonilla slaying until May 18 and did not produce a profile until June 9, the same day the three-day hostage crisis began in Sacramento, officials say.

On June 13, the DNA got a hit on the state's database, but authorities have yet to confirm that the DNA belonged to Alvarez. The Sacramento sheriff blamed Alvarez, and not the lab, for what happened.

No mention on the SFPD site of this update and the case is still open.

[Photo: San Francisco Police Department]

Open: The Little Chihuahua

The Little Chihuahua tweeted the opening of its second location today at 11AM - 4123 24th St at Castro (in the old Bistro 24 and Miss Millie's space). No firm hours appear to be posted yet, though Tablehopper reports hours through this Thursday are 11am-3pm; regular hours of 11am-10pm start Friday. Brunch will (of course) be on the menu soon. Phone: 415-648-4157