Emily and I just met with a photojournalist from KPIX-TV (Channel 5) and if you tune in tonight at 6pm, you’ll see the SPUR project on TV!
All this press is the result of the Community Challenge grant awardees being announced today. The excitement is mounting – we should be able to start work soon. Go team!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Examiner article
http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Replacing-blight-with-beauty-105156064.html
Replacing blight with beauty
By: Erin Sherbert
Examiner Staff Writer
October 18, 2010
The short stretch of 17th Street at the edge of Potrero Hill has long been known for its homeless encampments, illegal dumping, hypodermic needles and petty crimes.
The street is one of many right of ways in San Francisco that is not formally “accepted” by The City, meaning officials have no obligation to take care of it with street cleaning, sidewalk repairs and everyday maintenance.
Yet, one neighbor is working to clean up the street — one grant at a time.
Annie Shaw, who lives on 17th Street, initiated the Seventeenth and Pennsylvania Urban Renewal project, a plan to give her street a complete makeover.
She is using $45,000 from the Community Challenge Grant program, which provides matching grants to local residents, businesses, nonprofits and other community groups to make neighborhood improvements such as litter abatement, landscaping and adding public artwork.
“Nobody looks after it, so it’s a disaster,” Shaw said of her street. “Nobody had any intent to take care of it.”
Shaw is one of 28 community members who are receiving a piece of a $577,000 grant to embark improvements, which include rain gardens at San Francisco State University and community art at the Tenderloin Housing Clinic.
Companies give 1 percent of their business taxes annually to the grant fund.
Mayor Gavin Newsom is expected to announce the recipients today.
“Clean and green neighborhoods are essential to the quality of life of all San Franciscans, and these innovative community projects help to beautify our neighborhoods and get communities working together,” Newsom said.
Shaw’s project started more than a year ago with a small garden she planted at the off ramp at Mariposa Street. She caught the attention of Caltrans, which owns the land, along with her neighbors, who appreciated the small touch of beauty in the neighborhood.
With the grant money, Shaw plans to start work on building new sidewalks this spring with the help of some professionals. She will plant trees and “spiky” plants that will both be beautiful and create an uncomfortable spot for transients to sleep, Shaw said.
Once the street is brought up to code with Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks and acceptable pavement conditions, The City will officially take over maintenance, said Christine Falvey, spokeswoman for the Public Works Department.
In the past six months, The City has accepted more than 200 streets that were not officially maintained by San Francisco.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Funding at last!
I’m very proud to announce that we have just received $85,000 in funding for the SPUR project (17th and Pennsylvania Urban Renewal) which aims to change ths 100 block of Pennsylvania Avenue into a nice place to live.
This is the combined total from the CCG and PUC grants. We asked for $145k, but their fund is limited – we will apply again next Spring for the rest.
This allows us to divide the project into two (frankly more manageable) chunks:
Phase 1 from 2010-2011: retaining wall and trees (using the funds we were just awarded)
Phase 2 from 2011-2012: plantings, seating, sidewalks, fence etc (future grants)
We will plan community meetings to discuss our plans and look for volunteers to help manage the project shortly. If YOU want to be involved, we need your help!
In the meantime, thanks are due to all of you who contributed to the grant writing, fact-finding, number-crunching effort it took to get these grants written up accurately and submitted in a timely manner, and all those who worked hard to clean the street and liaise with DPW, SFPT and Caltrans to get them on our side.
Congratulations! Let the work begin! :)
Annie
This is the combined total from the CCG and PUC grants. We asked for $145k, but their fund is limited – we will apply again next Spring for the rest.
This allows us to divide the project into two (frankly more manageable) chunks:
Phase 1 from 2010-2011: retaining wall and trees (using the funds we were just awarded)
Phase 2 from 2011-2012: plantings, seating, sidewalks, fence etc (future grants)
We will plan community meetings to discuss our plans and look for volunteers to help manage the project shortly. If YOU want to be involved, we need your help!
In the meantime, thanks are due to all of you who contributed to the grant writing, fact-finding, number-crunching effort it took to get these grants written up accurately and submitted in a timely manner, and all those who worked hard to clean the street and liaise with DPW, SFPT and Caltrans to get them on our side.
Congratulations! Let the work begin! :)
Annie
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