The former site of an 1861 San Francisco cottage is the subject of conflict, yet again.
The Russian Hill historic structure formerly at 1268 Lombard St. was torn down in the spring of 2009, despite the angst of preservationists who said it should have been saved.
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San Francisco’s new local-hire law has been in effect for less than a month, yet it appears to already have had an impact on trade unions — several union members are now claiming to be city residents.
It’s not because union members are suddenly moving into The City, but because dozens have simply changed their addresses on paper, according to union leaders who opposed the local-hire ordinance.
At the plumbers and pipefitters union, Local 38, as many as 20 members suddenly have addresses within city limits, according to business Manager Larry Mazzola Sr.
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Like it or not, San Francisco is one of those places where your choice of neighborhood determines a lot about your image. If you live in the Marina, you’re apt to be stereotyped a yuppie. If you live in the Haight, you’re a hippie.
But sometimes just saying you’re from, say, the Mission isn’t enough to really convey where you live and all it entails. Sometimes a more specific subneighborhood name is needed.
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A judge will likely have to decide the fate of an environmental impact report on major redevelopment plans for a former U.S. Navy base at Hunters Point, after discussions between activist groups and the developer, Lennar, bore no agreement.
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Transit passengers who use the notoriously neglected Balboa Park BART station will finally see some improvements at the hub today.
A 1,500-square-foot mezzanine, wider walkways to serve disabled passengers, a rehabbed entrance and fare gate area, upgraded lighting and new security measures will be unveiled as part of a $6.5 million project designed to improve the station’s pedestrian experience.
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Mayor Ed Lee’s plan to allow the Fairmont Hotel atop Nob Hill more time to convert 23 stories of hotel rooms into luxury condos has stalled along with talks between hotel workers and the owners.
The Mayor’s Office called for the legislation to be continued at the Planning Commission last week after a March 30 meeting between hotel-union representatives and the Fairmont’s owners ended without any agreement. The Fairmont’s ownership group includes ovserseas interests and SPO Partners, a Mill Valley-based private investment firm.
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When Mayor Gavin Newsom started the Hope SF initiative in 2007, the goal was to transform eight of San Francisco’s grimiest public housing sites into vibrant, thriving communities with residents from all income levels.
Those were the best of times.
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Homeowners aren’t the only ones looking for a break on their property taxes — San Mateo County officials are expecting commercial property owners to jump on the bandwagon in increasing numbers this year.
The county Assessor’s Office expects to review more than 1,000 commercial properties in the next few months for drops in their assessed values, up from 681 reviews last year, as they prepare the tax rolls for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
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Downtown developers may lose the final say over what art to showcase on their property, even though they are sometimes forced to spend millions of dollars on it.
A 25-year-old mandate requires that developers with large projects in the Financial District and along upper Market Street must spend at least 1 percent of their total construction budget on public art. But Luis Cancel, The City’s director of cultural affairs, believes there is insufficient aesthetic oversight of this spending.
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Lawsuits against San Francisco businesses for failing to provide access for wheelchair users have been on the rise in recent months, and now some merchants are calling for a plan to protect small businesses.
Plaintiffs represented by Thomas Frankovich, a San Rafael attorney who has made a career out of filing suits against businesses that violate the Americans with Disabilities Act, have filed dozens of federal lawsuits in the last few months. Frankovich was suspended from filing in federal court in 2008 but has returned to San Francisco.
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URL: http://www.sfexaminer.com/archive/17501/17501?page=27&type[story]=story
