TLNjan-feb2016 - Telegraph Landing

the
Telegraph
News from Telegraph Landing
An urban village at the base of Telegraph Hill
January/February, 2016
From the Board:
The President’s Letter
For this first president’s letter of 2016,
I
have two subjects: automatic door openers and three
weeks of living with Super Bowl 50.
Have you struggled to open a door or hold it open while
moving through? Opening a door should be simple, but
it becomes onerous if you are pushing a stroller or pram,
if you are navigating with crutches or a walker, if you
have a pet on a leash, or if you are burdened with
packages or a pushcart with farmers' market produce.
Many residents and homeowners have identified a need
for automatic door openers.
Thank you for
communicating with management and board members
about what you see as missing and needed to improve
the quality of life at Telegraph Landing.
Management researched options and the Board
approved a vendor for installing automatic openers for
doors from the courtyard into Buildings 1 and 3 as well
as for the doors from those two buildings to the garage.
Work will commence very soon. Door openers for
Buildings 2 and 4 will be addressed once we know that
this vendor and this equipment are satisfactory. We
welcome your feedback on how the openers are working
out. Members are welcome to comment at each board
meeting.
What do you think about Super Bowl 50 impacts at
Telegraph Landing? Some of us see the impeded auto
access, elimination of key public transportation routes,
and the heavier than usual foot and auto traffic, debris,
and noise. Some of us see the festive neighborhood
ambiance, proximate attractions including free-to-thepublic performances and exhibits, celebrity appearances,
fireworks, and a magnet for our out-of-town friends and
relatives to come visit.
These are all interpretations of the simple fact that we
live within walking distance of one of the most desirable
spots in the world for visitors and public gatherings.
Thousands of people like coming here for fun, business,
or uniquely San Francisco events.
Huge gatherings recur throughout the year, thanks to our
mild, pleasant weather: Fleet Week every October, the
Oracle
and
Dreamforce
meetings
every
September/October, the 2014 America's Cup race, not to
mention the three World Series played in San Francisco
in the last six years.
I am writing this before the Super Bowl and you will be
reading this after the game is behind us. Hopefully all will
go well and life at Telegraph Landing will return to
normal.
I am grateful to live in such a beautiful, exciting place
that tens of thousands of people visit briefly. We choose
to stay.
- Nancy
TL News & Views:
Sierras in the City
Have you ever walked through Levi’s
Plaza and their park across the street
and wondered what was the
150 Lombard Street at Sansome
San Francisco, CA 94111
Volume 40, Number 1, Page 1
inspiration for this unique oasis? Well, you can find out
by going to google and searching for The Sierras in the
City: Lawrence Halprin and Levi’s Plaza . (The direct
link is very long so doing a search is easier.) Want to
know more about the work of Mr. Halprin and his wife?
Then attend the California Historical Society’s exhibition
Experiments in Environment: The Halprin Workshops, 1966–1971 that runs through May 1, 2016.
- Morton Beebe, Bldg. 1
Harry's little corner of the world:
Hi Everyone. It's me Harry..... I am
chilling in my jail cell right now. Mom is in
China. I am staying with Rowena. Rowena works for Dr
Malcon, my vet. She takes me to work everyday. At
night I go to her house to play with her dog, Nonni. I
have many people working around me at the office. I
like to cry so they will come and play with me. It works
very well for me.
Thanks to all of you that came to the Holiday party. So
many contributed to make it such a great success. Did
you all recognize Bill who came as Santa? Santa gave a
gift to each child. Bill you were great. Mike, the twins’
grandfather contributed the three birdhouses that were
auctioned. Richard played the auctioneer. He made a
great auctioneer getting you to bid on them.
Mary, our dear banker, collected all the money. That
has been her job since we started these parties about
three years ago. She does it so well. She and I took the
money to the Food Bank the Monday after the party. We
sent $350 to the Food Bank, and 24 decorated and
stuffed stockings to the Curry Senior Center. We have
received thank you letter from each agency. The
Marines made it this year and collected two barrels of
toys for Toys for Tots. I think they were surprised at how
many toys our small complex collected. I am sure we
made a better holiday for so many people. Thank you
for being so generous.
John, Brian, Gwen, Judy, Cindy, Anna, Rubin, Thank
you for all your help and contribution to making my party
so special. For all that helped thank you. The smiles
and laughter I saw that day was priceless. We were
making memories for a lifetime. It could not happen
without you.
I am in jail because Mom is in Shanghai, China visiting
Cindy, Tony, Marcus and Michelle. Do you remember
they used to live here 1-402? Cindy comes about every
6 month to visit us. It is Chinese New year this
month. That is a big celebration in China. It is a custom
to give a red envelope with money inside. Mom and my
big brother Todd are eating dumplings and all kinds of
good food. Well, it is for sure I won't be having
dumplings or get a red envelope because I am in jail and
not in China. Boohoo.....
Do you know my big brother Todd? He was a celebrity
for about two minutes on the TNT channel during the
Clippers Game a few weeks ago. Todd was selected to
be in their half time activities. It was military appreciation
day. He is a retired Marine Major. The Clippers are a
professional basketball team for LA. He and Veronica
are huge fans with season tickets. During half time they
play a game called Shootout. You have to get three free
throws in 30 seconds. They start at the free throw line
and go a little further out for each of the other two. The
March/April, 2015
last shot has to be in a squatting position. The crowds
were screaming, loud music playing, and people walking
around. One basket and you got a free ticket to
Australia, 2 baskets and you got another ticket to
Australia, 3 baskets and you got a 6 night stay in
Australia. My Big Brother made all three shots and all
my Mom can say is "How did he do that". He never
played basketball. Don't you think the Clippers should
sign him up???? After he won he was running around
the court arms raised high, huge smile on his face, doing
some screaming himself. Good job, Todd.
Our next party will be sometime in March. It is our
annual Egg hunt. We will be having an egg hunt, piñata,
pizza and drinks. You are the reason our parties are
such a fun event. You will get your invitation about 2 two
before the party.
I will see you the end of February. Your loving little pal
and friend.
- Harry (the long hair dachshund}
PS: Save those pats for me until I get
home.
Update on Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association
(BCNA) Activities
While the Port of S.F. is pursuing various
projects along our waterfront, one near
Telegraph Landing is moving forward quietly.
That project calls for affordable housing at the
corner of Broadway and Front streets with some senior
housing on an adjoining lot. Over the past 2 years
BCNA has engaged the Port and the Mayor’s office in
discussions aimed at ensuring their project will benefit
our neighborhood. With BCNA’s support, a Request for
Proposal has been issued and a developer should be
selected in early April (I will be on the committee to
select the developer). BCNA has led the community
effort to revise the project objectives to reflect the
desires of the neighborhood. As a result, the project will
include moderate-income households, prioritize ground
floor development for retail, commercial or community
uses, and minimize public parking. The objective is to
ensure all income levels feel welcome in our
neighborhood as well as activate the street level to avoid
creating a “dead zone” such as exists around the garage
at Maritime Plaza.
That project is but one example of BCNA’s activities over
the past few years. BCNA has also:
Engaged on Key Projects
•
Co-sponsored public debate at KGO studios
between candidates for Supervisor of SF District 3.
•
Championed the children’s playground in Sue
Bierman Park, which opened in July, 2013.
•
Endorsed Proposition A authorizing a bond to fund
badly-needed affordable housing in the City.
•
Fought against inappropriate development at the 8
Washington Street/Seawall Lot 351 site.
•
Endorsed Grosvenor’s proposed condominium
project at 240 Pacific and supported the beneficial
project at the SF Planning Commission.
Represented the Neighborhood
•
Served on the Community Police Advisory Board
(CPAB), the Northeast Waterfront Advisory Group
(NEWAG), and the Coalition for San Francisco
Neighborhoods (CSFN).
Sponsored social events
•
Held neighborhood “Sunday Social” events about
once a quarter. The next one is scheduled for
March at Il Fornaio. Also, hosted two walking tours
explaining the history and sights of the legendary
Barbary Coast.
Volume 39, Number 2, Page 2
If you would like to meet new people, get involved in the
community, or just become more informed about the
events in the neighborhood, you are welcome to join
BCNA. A membership form is provided at the end of this
newsletter.
---- Bob Harrer
What’s Happening re Development on
the Waterfront?
We are lucky enough to have the waterfront
as our back yard and I’m sure that we’re all interested in
the changes that are being planned but how many of us
are really informed about what is being done? In order
to promote awareness, a link to the Waterfront Land Use
Plan has been added to the middle column of our
website, telegraphlanding.org . It contains sub-links to a
wealth of information including how to have newsletters
sent to you and how to be involved. Alternatively, you
can
just
go
to
http://www.sfport.org/index.aspx?page=199
to access the same
page.
– BJS
Recycle/Compost/Trash???
Confused about which bin to put an
item into?? There’s a handy site
sponsored by Recology, Whatbin.com that can guide
you. Try it. It’s easy and fun to use.
- BJS
From the Management:
Thank you for a terrific turnout and great
feedback at the last HOA board meeting!
Moving into the New Year, we have already completed
one building safety project, the installation of a seismic
shut-off valve on the PGE natural gas line entering the
building. In the event of a minimum 5.3 magnitude
earthquake, natural gas becomes a dangerous “igniter”
of fire. To mitigate this risk, management has had this
valve installed that will automatically shut off the flow of
natural gas into the complex, greatly reducing the risk of
fire. It is a code requirement for all new
construction. Management requested a permit from the
City to retrofit to our 70’s era infrastructure.
Security reminder: Victor tells us that recently several
folks have called security from the garage as they have
forgotten their FOB and could not enter the elevator
vestibule. Security then has to leave their post to
accommodate them and the main lobby is left
unmanned. It makes the property vulnerable as
someone off the street who does not belong here may
follow residents entering their building through the
garage. Please remember to keep your FOBS in your
possession.
Next project: New booster pump. As part of our boiler
room upgrade we are installing a new booster pump
which is the device propelling water up the high rise
stacks. It is another project which will increase the
efficiency of the building infrastructure by utilizing a
variable speed drive which responds to demand vs.
running 24/7. Management will provide a cost saving
analysis once we monitor the capacity.
Hope you all survived the Super Bowl traffic madness!
-
Carl Keane, Senior Property Manager
On the Move:
12/17 Aaron & Megan Severs to 1-402
March/April, 2015
Volume 39, Number 2, Page 3
Have You Met?
75th in a series about people who live or work at
Telegraph Landing.
Hermelinda Lopez recently joined our custodial staff.
She was born in Guatemala and came to San Francisco
alone in 2008. She wanted to come to the US because
there are more job opportunities here.
She attended 4 years of high school in
Guatemala but didn’t graduate so
she is taking courses now in order to
get her high school diploma.
When not
working or studying, she enjoys playing
basketball and running. She likes to do at
least two sports.
Hermalinda works in Buildings 1 and 4. She speaks
English but wants to practice so she would enjoy talking
to you. She’s a happy, smiley person and a great
addition to our staff.
Board Meetings
All homeowners are invited to attend the monthly
Telegraph
Landing Board of Directors Meetings, held
in the Club Room from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. usually on
th
the 4 Monday of each month. Homeowner input is
taken at both the beginning and end of each meeting on
items not listed on the agenda. On agenda items,
homeowners may comment etc. during the meeting at
the time each item is being discussed/considered.
To put an item on the agenda, address a note to the
Board and management. Leave your note at the Front
Desk to be distributed at least by the Wednesday before
the Board Meeting.
Next Bd. Mtg.: Monday, February 22, 2016 at 7:00 PM
in the clubroom, Building 1.
Board Members
Nancy Spero, President
nancy.spero@gmail.com
John Case, Vice President
casejj@aol.com
Richard Benefield, Secretary,
richardbenefield@gmail.com
Barry Shiller, Treasurer
barryshiller@earthlink.com
Jake Piasecki, Assistant Treasurer,
jake.piasecki@gmail.com
Management Contacts:
Portfolio Manager:
Nick Berg
415 401 2070
nberg@citiscapesf.com
On-site Property Manager:
Carl Keane
415 772-9136
ckeane@citiscapesf.com
Assistant Property Manager:
Sebastian Jellema
415 772-9136
sjellema@citiscapesf.com
T L Team
Facilities:
Bill "Raz" Razvaliaeff, Facilities Mtce. Engineer
Custodial Service:
Marvin Menendez, Supv.
José Cuellas
Hermelinda Lopez
Security: (415 788-1319)
Victor Zacca Stephen Ebenuwah
Leland Wells DeWanda Blackburn
To join instantly online with Paypal, go to
www.bcnasf.org