Could 19th Avenue be scarier?
By Joshua Sabatini
Examiner Staff Writer 9/29/08
Heads up, pedestrians: The City’s 19th Avenue corridor has seen its fair share of accidents between vehicles and pedestrians since 2000, with 12 resulting in death. The Examiner SAN FRANCISCO – One of the most dangerous roadways in The City could see an influx of traffic and pedestrians with thousands of new residential units proposed for the area.
The prospect of 7,200 additional residential units and thousands of square feet of retail space near the southern 19th Avenue corridor prompted Supervisor Sean Elsbernd to ask to halt any new development and for The City to examine the combined impacts of all proposed projects.
Among the concerns is how the density and population increase would affect the already dangerous 19th Avenue.
Between 2000 and 2005, there were 786 accidents on 19th Avenue. The accidents resulted in 1,205 injuries and 12 deaths. Most of the deaths were pedestrians.
“Right now, we already know that 19th Avenue is operating at a below-standard level,” Elsbernd said.
Among the proposed developments are the thousands of housing units proposed in or near San Francisco State University, including the university’s plans for 657 housing units and a student-body increase from 20,000 to 25,000. There are 192 condominium units and 14,000 square feet of retail space slated for 77-111 Cambon Drive and 5,000 new housing units at Park Merced Apartments.
The proposed developments are raising the concerns of residents who worry about crowded Muni buses, pedestrian safety along 19th Avenue and worsening congestion.
“I have been in San Francisco for almost 70 years. I have never seen the population growth that would come from these developments anywhere in The City,” said Greater West Portal Neighborhood Association President Avrum Shepard.
Manish Champsee, president of Walk San Francisco, a pedestrian-safety advocacy organization, said development should be encouraged, “but we also have to be smart about it and we have to ensure that development also does mitigate some of the impacts that it may create.”
Elsbernd said the study will reveal how much those mitigations would cost, which would lead to a discussion about the appropriate amount developers should pay The City to offset impacts.
Elsbernd has introduced two pieces of legislation, one imposing interim zoning controls on development in the area and another requiring a comprehensive study of proposed development. The bills are before the Board of Supervisors Land Use and Economic Development committee today, but are expected to be continued as Elsbernd wants more time discussing them with community members. The bills ultimately require approval by the full board to become law.
Building projects
Some proposed developments along or near the 19th Avenue corridor:
657 units at 1600 Holloway Ave. near San Francisco State University
192 condo units and 14,000 square feet of retail at Cambon Drive
187 units at 800 Brotherhood Way
154 units at 19th Avenue and Wawona Street
5,000 units at Parkmerced
Source: Proposed legislation, “Interim Controls on major rights of way along and near Southern 19th Avenue Corridor.”
3 Comments
Reader Comments:
POSTED Sep 29, 2008
ANIMBY: "surely building housing nears SFSU and mixed use developements will cause more traffic. RONG"POSTED Sep 29, 2008
Cody L.: "The SF Supervisors are using increasing building density to off-set their excessive spending. Pack the bodies in, create new taxes, ignore the crumbling infrastructure and inadequate emergency services - a recipe for disaster. The quality of life for those of us on the 19th Avenue corridor will be permanently and negatively affected. Hey SF! It's way past time to throw the BUMS out!"POSTED Oct 1, 2008
goodmaab: "The effects were negotiated on the SFSU Masterplan without community input, supervisor elsbernd is playing election politics with a dangerous issue. The hazard of the 19th ave, holloway stop is beyond safe currently. The effects on the communities surrounding and densities proposed without adequate infrastructure built first is a disaster coming to the western neighborhoods along 19th. The legislation by elsbernd did not take into account Ocean Ave, Holloway, Brotherhood Way, or Font which cuts through Parkmerced. The effects on our communities due to inadequate planning is obvious when joint impacts are not reveiwed. There was no mention of the MOU, in the SF Muni TEP, and proposed changes by Parkmerced. Caltrans has stated zilch, and the cloverleaf on brotherhood way is insanely outdated. There must be an overall review of this situation. Impacts on communities addressed, and development "sunshined" like 800 brotherhood way approved by the SF BOS without an EIR!"