Friends of Golden Gateway

This is FOGG’s first notice of the new date for the hearing on the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed 8 Washington/Seawall Lot 351 development before the Planning Commission.

The date has now been set for Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 10:00am, Room 400, City Hall.

The developer is pulling out all the stops in trying to get his project approved by the Planning Commission, Port Commission and finally the Board of Supervisors.  We are expecting a large turnout by our supporters at this February 23rd meeting.  Please mark this date and be prepared to attend.

The Comments and Responses on the Draft EIR were released December 23, 2011.  Those who commented should have received a CD of those responses.  Those who commented should review the responses and point out places where the RESPONSE is insufficient.

For those of you who have not yet responded to the 8 Washington Street/Seawall Lot 351 EIR and want to do so, FOGG encourages you to write your response now.

If you do not have the compact disc or print copy of the EIR Comments & Responses, it can be obtained by request at paul.maltzer@sfgov.org.

We ask that you move ahead as quickly as possible, and forward your comments to us at coaches@fogg.us for review and collection.  Responses are required no later than February 2, 2012.  We will see that they are delivered to the Planning Commission before the February 9^th end date for comments.

Our attorney Sue Hestor has provided guidance on the EIR and how to review it.  Please read the following paragraphs.

The COMMENTS & RESPONSES to the EIR are in two volumes.

The large one (Volume 1) is the actual responses.  The smaller one (Volume 2 – Appendices) is the comment letters and hearing transcript.

The comment letters are each broken down into individual comments.  Each comment has a number in the margin, e.g. C.10.44.c.  In this example “10″ is the commenter – Telegraph Hill Dwellers.  ”44.c” is the particular comment by THD.

Most of you will be reading from a CD, you have a search capability that makes review a lot easier.

When you open the CD there are a series of chapters, including a complete list of the commenters.

Depending on WHAT was the substance of your comments, the “reply” to your comment can be located in the “chapter”/topic area of the comment.  The text of each chapter repeats each relevant comment.

Open the chapter/topic and type in YOUR NAME (last name probably sufficient) in the search box. If your name shows up in that chapter, the search will take you to your name/comment. It may be in more than one location. When you get to that place in the text, you will also see comments made by others on that or a similar topic.

If you commented on more than one issue, you should type in your name under each chapter just to see if your comment was split into several areas. (Always a good idea for everyone – sometimes the “answer” is in a place where you wouldn’t have thought was “right.”)

FEEL FREE TO CHALLENGE THE ANSWER – with particulars if possible.  Since ths is an EIR, the correctness and clarity of a response is what we are looking for.

EMOTIONS, ARGUMENTS are not what are at issue.  This is NOT about whether the project SHOULD BE APPROVED, but about whether the EIR has provided accurate and adequate information.

If you have and questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by responding to this email.

FOGG knows you will give this your best shot and participate to the fullest.

Thanks for all your hard work.

DON’T ALWAYS BELIEVE WHAT YOU READ (except of course this ALERT).

Thanks to our steely eyed attorney Sue Hestor, we found that the Planning Department did not post the required public announcement of the January 19, 2012 hearing for the proposed 8 Washington project in the newspaper 20 days before the hearing date.

Sue, with the assistance of former City Attorney Louise Renee, immediately notified the Planning Department of the omission.  This means further delay in scheduling a new hearing date, which we are sure is not good news for Mr. Snellgrove, and his CalSTRS partners, who are funding this unneeded condominium project for the very, very rich.

Therefore, the Public Notice Announcement on the Club fence is NO LONGER CORRECT.

Another sign that the momentum is moving in our direction was the excellent turnout at FOGG’s informational meeting on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at L’Olivier restaurant.  Over 50 supporters attended to hear our attorney Sue Hestor, consultant Brad Paul, FOGG volunteer Bob Iwersen, and District Three Supervisor and Board President, David Chiu give a thorough and detailed presentation of current actions and plans.

We thank L’Olivier for allowing us to use their dining room for our meeting and all the extra help they provided.  They were a major contributor to our successful meeting.

Space is limited to cover all our speakers had to say.  Thanks to FOGG volunteer Theo Armour we have a video of this meeting.  It will soon be available and we will let you know when it is ready for viewing.  The questions from the audience and the responses made the evening a success.  It shows us the depth and breadth of support we have.

For those who attended this meeting and offered to help FOGG in our cause, please contact us by replying to coaches@fogg.us.  We need your help now in forming several working groups on the topics we discussed.

But Friends & Supporters, the efforts and time given to our gaining traction does NOT COME FREE!  FOGG needs your tax deductible financial help NOW.  Please give us your support in whatever amount you can afford.

You can make a real difference NOW by sending in your tax deductible donation to Friends of Golden Gateway, P.O. Box 2294, San Francisco, CA 94126.  Please make your checks out to PDF/FOGG, and on the memo line write “tax deductible donation”.

Or you can donate online by clicking on the Donations to FOGG link on this website.

With your help we will continue to save and preserve our community’s outdoor tennis and swim recreational center (GGT&SC) for the thousands of middle class families, youth and seniors for many years to come.

FOGG knows we can count on your generosity and support.

This is a reminder about the very important Informational meeting on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at L’Olivier Restaurant (465 Davis Court, between Jackson & Washington Street).  The meeting will begin at 6:00 pm.

There are a few more spaces available.  If you want to attend but have not replied previously, please respond to coaches@fogg.us.

This is your opportunity to hear what FOGG volunteers, our attorney Sue Hestor and consultant Brad Paul have been working on to assure that our community’s open recreational center (GGT&SC) is saved for the thousands of middle class families, youth and seniors who have enjoyed this one of a kind activity center for over 40 years.

David Chiu, District 3 Supervisor and Board President and Susan Brandt-Hawley, the attorney for the neighborhood Coalition’s recently appealed lawsuit to the 1^st Appellate Court are both hoping to attend.

Again, please confirm your attendance by responding to coaches@fogg.us.

FOGG is holding a very important Informational meeting on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at L’Olivier Restaurant (465 Davis Court, between Jackson & Washington Street).  The meeting will begin at 6:00 pm.

We will provide an update on our efforts to save our open recreational center (GGT&SC).  Our land use attorney Sue Hestor, and consultant Brad Paul, will give a summary of accomplishments and future plans.  There will also be a visual presentation by one of our volunteers.  You will of course, be able to ask questions and meet some of the people who have been working with FOGG.

This is your opportunity to learn more about the progress FOGG is making to end the attempt by Simon Snellgrove and his partners to demolish our Club to build 145 luxury high rise luxury condominiums and a 400 space underground parking garage.

We have room for only 50 people at this meeting.  If you want to attend, please RSVP no later than Friday, January 6, 2012 to coaches@fogg.us. 

FOGG is hoping that those who attend are committed to participating in our efforts, and will join with our many volunteers in obtaining a final and successful conclusion.

Again, please confirm your attendance by email to coaches@fogg.us  no later than Friday, January 6, 2012.

Refreshments will be served.

We look forward to your joining us in a very Happy & Successful 2012.

FOGG wishes everyone a very Happy and Healthy Holiday Season and New Year.

Thanks to so many of you.  With support of our Coalition partners including Golden Gateway Tenants Association (GGTA), Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association (BCNA), Telegraph Hill Dwellers (THD) and many others, FOGG is positive that our Community’s outdoor recreational center (GGT&SC) will continue to be here as it is now, for many years to come.

We are ending 2011 in an upbeat mode.  FOGG gives thanks to our volunteers who have provided so much of their own time.  So many of you made appearances before numerous committee hearings, sent letters and emails, and provided the financial support that enabled us to move ahead without holding back in our efforts.

FOGG would particularly like to thank our attorney Sue Hestor, and our consultant Brad Paul.  Sue and Brad have provided an unbelievable effort, (much of it on their own time) doing independent research, attending strategy meetings and guiding our volunteers on the most effective way to use our limited resources.

We must also recognize our District 3 Supervisor and Board President, David Chiu.  FOGG thanks him for his leadership in supporting our cause.

Our meeting on Monday, December 12, 2011 with the Supervisor’s Land Use Committee, was a success.  We thank former SF Planning Director Allan Jacobs, former SF Redevelopment Director Ed Helfeld, former City Attorney Louise Renne,  former Supervisor Bill Maher (also author of the Prop K shadows ordinance), for their compelling and supporting testimony.  And, we want to thank our FOGG volunteers who provided very personal and factual testimony.

Great job by all!!

We are sure the developers and their usual small group of supporters, who continue to offer nothing of substance to support their reasons for 145 luxury condominiums and 400 underground parking spaces on the existing Club site, are worried.  Are they looking for another way to justify the 8 Washington Street proposed project?  This proposed project has changed multiple times in the last seven years.  The ‘current’ proposal has chopped open recreational space to 21,500 square feet; about the size of the existing tennis courts 1, 2 and 3.  Will that even survive?

We suggest that everyone read this recent newspaper article about the proposed project.  It is titled – ‘San Francisco’s bell curve of income distribution is becoming U-shaped’ – and can be read at the SF Bay Guardian Page link on this website.

These condominiums and parking garage are for the truly rich.  These buyers are beyond the 1% – they are the 1/2%.  Should this be what our neighborhood becomes?

The developer and his supporters, are scratching their heads as to what do they have to do to achieve their “greedy goals.”  FOGG would suggest they bow out and concede they are in a no win situation.

The thousands of families, youth & seniors who benefit greatly from the use of a “Quality of Life” middle class outdoor recreational center will not go away.

With your continued support and tax deductible donations, 2012 will hopefully see the end of this long strongle for the people who are the real heart of our beautiful City.

Please make your 2011 tax deductible donation to assure that FOGG continues its 100% efforts in the coming year.

You can make a real difference NOW by sending in your tax deductible donation to Friends of Golden Gateway, P.O. Box 2294, San Francisco, CA 94126.  Please make your checks out to PDF/FOGG, and on the memo line write “tax deductible donation”.

Or you can donate online by clicking on the Donations to FOGG link on this website.

FOGG wishes you all A Very Happy Holiday Season and a Healthy New Year.

FOGG wants you to know that Matthew Stevens, President & CEO of Western Athletic Clubs, and Victor Woo, Senior V.P., will hold two Member Forums about the proposed 8 Washington Street condominium development on the existing Golden Gateway Tennis & Swim Club site. (more…)

FOGG wants to thank all our supporters who attended the Wednesday, November 16, 2011 NEWAG meeting about the revised proposal for the 8 Washington/Seawall Lot 351 development.  It was a good turnout and a very lively meeting. (more…)

This is a reminder about the NEWAG meeting on Wednesday, November 16, 2011.

Northeast Waterfront Advisory Group (NEWAG) meeting.  This special meeting of the NEWAG will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Port of San Francisco offices, Pier 1 (The Embarcadero at Washington Street), in the Bayside Conference Room.

The 8 Washington/Seawall Lot 351 proposed development is Number 4 on the Agenda.  The Agenda can be read at this link.  NEWAG Agenda

The developer has revised his proposal.

ALL TENNIS COURTS WILL BE ELIMINATED.

We ask you to attend this meeting and voice your opposition.

Please see this article in the San Francisco Business Times.  Article

This is a follow up to our ALERT of November 7, 2011 about the two upcoming two meetings on the 8 Washington/Seawall Lot 351 proposed project. There is now a third meeting. (more…)

There will be two public meetings where you will have the opportunity to express your support for FOGG’s fight to preserve our community’s Open Recreational Center (GGT&SC). (more…)