Valencia Street Park, Redux
Long time readers will remember our proposal for turning Valencia St from Cesar Chavez to Mission into a park:
It turns out that we were ahead of our time — the SFPUC, the SF Planning Department, and the SF Department of Public Works are seeking input on green plazas at Valencia & Mission, and at Valencia and Duncan.
In a rare move of solidarity, the imperialist Dominion of Bernalwood also seems to support this project in the Liminal Zone of Co-Prosperity. The right-hand turn from Valencia onto Mission is not exactly pedestrian-friendly.
The panel (SFPUC-PD-DPW task force?) is also considering other improvements on Tiffany, 29th and Duncan. A longstanding gripe of mine is some sort of improved traffic control at 29th and Tiffany. Annoying people making annoying u-turns, etc.
While I’d like a traffic roundabout, I don’t think there’s enough room. However, raised sidewalks like that on Shotwell by ODC would be nice.
So go to the meeting on July 9th and let them know that La Lengua appreciates the love.
What: Mission and Valencia Green Gateway Community Open House #2
When: Tuesday, July 9, 2013, 4:00pm to 8:00pm
Where: Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts
2868 Mission Street (between 24th and 25th), San Francisco, CA 94110
Burrito Justice 
Wow, that would be awesome! I wholeheartedly endorse.
I don’t care about you…..
And, yet, clearly you do, since you responded. I feel so validated! Thank you for giving me the courage to go on!
“A longstanding gripe of mine is some sort of improved traffic control at 29th and Tiffany”
Yeah, well all this “traffic engineering” is like squeezing a balloon, compress it one place and it expands at another. The U-turns at 29/Tiff weren’t necessary until Tiffany was blocked off at Duncan/Val–what other options do drivers have that want to remain west of Mission St? Can’t go down to Duncan and turn left or right! Brilliant.
Now these same people are going to green even more of the planet. Good luck.
The U-turns I see are people being idiots looking for parking on 29th.
As far as Tiffany being blocked off, in the 90s there were 4000 cars a day using it to cut over to 280.
Well, if you really want to see traffic get better at 29th and Tiffany, we’re going to have to talk about all the folks double-parking, U-turning, and otherwise causing grief trying to get to their Bernal Heights Collective medicinal dispensary… just sayin’…
The raised sidewalk was done to prevent street flooding on that block of Shotwell st (a few houses on that block had their garage flooded in)
OK, didn’t know that. But would still like it. :)
The main goal of the SPUC program is to reduce runoff and increase impermeable surfaces, so their locations are tied to existing sewer infrastructure. I think completely closing streets to traffic is generally a bad idea, but this seems to be a good candidate for a road diet. That being said, it’d be great to also reopen the historic Bartlett ROW south of Chavez to the public.
It would also be great to reopen the historic San Jose Avenue ROW between Chavez and 26th to the public. When did the City let Salvation Army turn it into a driveway?
@GridFan At first I though you were talking about the St Luke’s closed-up portion of San Jose south of CC. At least you can bike and walk through there…
Yes to all the green things! I have an important meeting with Barry Zito this evening so can only virtually support, alas…
As for Tiffany, I think the blockage and subsequent greening are the best things to happen to that immediate area in a long time. There are so many options for drivers and it creates such an awesome, sane respite for cyclists, stroller-pushers, other peds and residents. At least the one-way-ness on the uphill to the Taoist Safeway calms things a bit.
PS Just me, or is “Mission and Valencia Green Gateway” forcibly neutral? Does DPW refuse to pick a side in the Bernal v. La Lengua disputed territory?
I’m late to comment so not sure that anyone will see. I missed the July 9th meeting and am very bummed. I wish they would do something at the end of Tiffany to resolve the bad U turns. I got hit by a car because of it with very bad results so it’s personal for sure. I have considered sitting there for 5 or 10 minutes filming cars doing stupid turns trying to manage the too small space. I suggested Tiffany be one way but the response was NO without explanation. Seems like it would make sense considering that stretch of Duncan feeds one way onto it. I also wish there was enough room for a turnaround which would be ideal. If they put money into making that area nicer it will be pretty pointless if the issue isn’t fixed. Someone must have a good idea that will make things better!! Someone!
Sure, but can you show us that in context of the design for the new St. Luke’s?
Specifically, I’d like to see the traffic flow too and from the emergency room. If you cut off access from Valencia today, then we’d all be forced to drive in concentric circles.
So, if the new St. Luke’s has a better placement for the emergency room, then yes let’s turn Valencia into a park. If not, then NO!
What would happen if Duncan was not one way and so Tiffany was not a dead end? People frequently drive up the wrong way on Duncan when they reach the end of Tiffany regardless of the fact that it is one way in that small stretch. athere would still be the blocked off section from Valencia so it wouldn’t be a freeway to the 280, but it could relieve the bad turns on that corner. And St. Lukes could find a way to make things work with their new setup.
Hello Burrito Justice,
I am a USF student working on a project with three others and we are looking into the Mission Area Plan specifically within 26th St. and 30th St.. Our project goal is to learn about the plan, explore our designated area, document and present our project in December.
We would like to hear your opinion on the Mission Area Plan and get a better understanding of how you think these changes will affect its residents. Please contact me if you are interested. Thank you.
Hi my loved onе! I waոt to say that this post is awesome,
nice written and іnϲlude ɑpρroximately all important infos.
I would like to see еxtra posts liƙe this .
I have a better plan; let’s burned down the whole city and the natives who live in it! More fuckin arson Due to gentrification. Move out or get burned out. Rip la mission.
-smakrock ghost town la trienta devastating funk