As I walk through the neighborhood people stop me and ask "What's new in the neighborhood Andrea?" We stop and chat for a while, so I thought I'd use this letter to update all of you.

The late breaking news is the rainbow crosswalks at 18th and Castro will finally be replaced the week of September 12th! The contracts are signed, the permits are good to go and the work will really begin on the 12th of September. If you remember, the crosswalks were damaged when ABC was filming their new miniseries When We Rise. Originally intended to be replaced in time for Pride, delays occurred on the city's end. Replacing the crosswalks entailed repaving the street and the city wanted Ghilotti Bros. to fix the drainage problem at Castro & 18th. Understandably, the city wanted the regrading and the crosswalk installation to happen together.  And it's a miracle...they are happening together! I've been assured that we really are all good to go. All four crosswalks will be replaced and the drainage problem will also be fixed! The crosswalks are being paid for by ABC and the necessary grading to fix the drainage problem is part of the sidewalk widening contract with Ghilotti Bros. Ghilotti Bros. will also be replacing the pavement at Jane Warner Plaza (it crumbles when it is steam cleaned), again part of the original sidewalk widening contract.


Installation of rainbow crosswalks in 2013

The funds the CBD has been waiting for to make improvements to Jane Warner Plaza have finally come through! We've hired a Plaza Steward who is managing the tables and chairs, keeping the plaza clean, welcoming performers and vendors, welcoming tourists, reminding people not to smoke and generally being an extra set of eyes and ears on the plaza. The Plaza Stewards work Wednesday - Sunday from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. The funds also will be used to expand our Live! in the Castro programming and to pay for an LED lighting installation.  The LED lighting installation, called The Seed, will help bring positive interest to the Jane Warner Plaza at night, and create a night time positive destination in the Castro. More details are provided below.


In June we kicked off a monthly Pop-UP Art Fair - The Castro Bazaar. The next Castro Bazaar is on Wednesday, August 17th, featuring local, San Francisco artists selling their wares. The Castro Bazaar is located at Jane Warner Plaza and runs from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. We've featured  local pottery, hand crafted accessories and cards, hand crafted Venetian style masks, paintings and living arrangements. Stop by after the Farmer's Market and bring your friends/relatives who are staying with you while they visit S.F.! 

If you are an artist or have a referral, please have them email Kristin.


I'm taking advantage of the Mayor's pledge to FIX IT! The Mayor launched a new program in May and identified the Castro as one of the programs priority neighborhoods. The program, led by Sandra Zuniga, aims to improve residential and mixed use neighborhoods by reaching across all city departments to fix problems. So, I've asked Sandra to help the CBD address particularly vexing problems including: removing illegal food vendors on Castro St., helping mentally ill and drug addicted people on the street, cleaning large tent encampments at Market & Octavia, trimming trees on Market St., restoring Pink Alley,  and replacing burnt out street lights as a start. However, this list does seem to grow daily.

Castro Cares is working closely with the FIX IT team to bring licensed, behavioral health providers to the Castro, providing additional assistance, support and training to the Castro Cares Homeless Outreach Team.

The CBD also received a small grant from the city to implement the Retail Strategy project. Implementation will launch in September. As the project gets implemented we will focus on bringing commercial property owners, commercial brokers and merchants together to address specific challenging blocks, develop a pop-up business program and improve the relationship of commercial brokers to the Castro/Upper Market.

That's a quick summary of what the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District is up to.  Below are more details of the work the CBD is doing to improve the neighborhood.

See you in the 'hood!

Andrea

 

 

Castro Cares

 

Castro Cares provides additional homeless outreach services and additional police patrols dedicated to the Castro/Upper Market. The Homeless Outreach Team is out talking to those at risk and living on the street Monday - Friday in pairs of two, 2 hours a day. Eugene Liu is the Castro Cares funded Patrol Special officer working weekdays Monday & Friday 7a - 1p and Tues. - Thurs. 7 a - 3 p. Eugene however has been out on medical leave for the past 6 weeks and unfortunately, I think we have all noticed his absence. Without Eugene around, there is little enforcement of the city's existing quality of life laws.  Patrol Special Police is working hard to develop a staffing plan to fill Eugene's hours beginning August 1st. Castro Cares funded Patrol Special officers also walk the Castro & Upper Market beat Friday & Saturday nights and Sunday from 9a - 5 p. Castro Cares funded Patrol Special officers are in addition to the officers funded by the neighborhood merchants. Beginning this weekend, Castro Cares will also fund a CBD clean team worker on Friday and Saturday nights to keep the heart of the Castro clean during the evening hours.
 

Castro Cares is supported by city grants and donations from neighbors and merchants. To help support Castro Cares,