Join our Appeal on Wednesday, August 2nd, 5 PM at City Hall
Dear Greenway Supporters, it’s been a while!
Come find us on Sundays, and scattered throughout the week, as we maintain a garden on the decades-long abandoned property, nicknamed parcel 36, between Treat Ave., Harrison St. and 22nd St. in San Francisco, which we all want to see put to better use for the entire neighborhood.
Our previous petition update informed you about a Board of Appeals hearing, back in April, and this email is to inform you of our next hearing, on Wednesday August 2nd at 5pm, Room 416 at City Hall.
The last hearing dealt with a permit application on which the CEO of internet company Monkeybrains, Alex Menendez, falsely stated to own parcel 36, in order to build a private iron gate. That permit was unanimously rescinded by the Board of Appeals, the Planning Department and the Dept. of Building Inspection.
We were grateful that the Board chose to send a letter to various City Departments, including the Mayor, asking to end this legal vacuum; the lack of recorded ownership of this parcel. The Board even reprimanded Monkeybrains for installing “a large, heavy lock on the gate that was the subject of the appeal, which implies an escalation of hostility”.
That letter, written in part because so many of you were able to attend or call-in to the hearing, has not yet provided significant change, but this new Appeal is another opportunity to draw the City's attention, especially from the Planning Department.
This time, the Appeal deals with a permit that should have been looked at by the Planning Department but wasn’t, as the permit application failed to mention the intended use of parcel 36 as “loading area”, designated as such on Monkeybrains’ building plans, viewable at the Records Management office of the DBI. Not informing the Planning Department of a “loading area” is an obvious attempt at circumventing the rules and regulations regarding land use.
The Planning Department prohibits unauthorized loading / parking lots, and we are urging them to prevent parcel 36 from being misused as such.
Monkeybrains’ CEOs have also stated to various media outlets to plan to use the parcel as loading and parking area for their commercial fleet, yet they have no intention to go through the extensive regulatory process to do this legally, as they hold no legal claim to this property. Instead, they are trying to do it illegally, hoping no one will complain, pay a few more years of property taxes, push the community out and try to take ownership of the parcel, basically for free. We strongly oppose this land-grab attempt as it is unlawful on many levels, poses safety hazards and is devoid of any community input.
It is also hypocritical. Monkeybrains is moving from 2,000 sq ft to 13,000 sq feet of warehouse space, with two loading doors, and the CEOs have stated to Mission Local that they do not even have use for that much space. To prove their point, they've already turned part of their new warehouse into a music venue. Their questionable, suspicious tactics of paying property taxes over the parcel, trying to install a private fence, and most recently, starting to pour concrete, clearly show their determination at ignoring City and State rules and regulations in order to try to expand their real estate portfolio at the expense of the community.
Now…what can you do? For those of you who were part of the last Appeal; you know the drill!
Come speak as a member of the public at our second Board of Appeals hearing on Wednesday, August 2nd 2023 at 5pm at City Hall, Room 416. You can also join remotely via Zoom or telephone. Click here for the link.
But before that, write a public comment to the Board of Appeals! You can write anything you wish regarding this issue. The strict cut-off time to submit your comment is Thursday July 27th 4:30pm, at
boardofappeals@sfgov.org
Mention Appeal number 23-028/029.
Feel free to cc us atthemissiongreenway@gmail.com
Your comment becomes part of the public record of this Appeal. After the last Appeal, Monkeybrains started targeting neighbors who emailed a comment, so you may prefer to do so anonymously, and/or without listing your home address.
Both efforts are extremely valuable in showing the Board of Appeals and the various Departments present at the hearing that you demand the city to step in and put an end to this land-grab for private gain. The neighbourhood deserves better. Main points you can include in your email, and we encourage you to add your own:
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Appeal No. 23-028/029
I urge the Planning Department to implement their enforcement rules and prohibit unauthorized loading and parking on parcel 36. This land has always been accessible to the public and deserves a use that benefits the community.
I worry for my safety and the integrity of the legal process when a business can just designate any property as their loading area and fleet parking lot and even start pouring concrete, without any due process and community input.
I agree with the San Francisco General Plan which emphasizes the need for more open green space in the Mission District, especially in increasingly dense areas like this block. Vacant land should not default into private parking, especially not to businesses who lack legal rights to such land.
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Thank you! This has been a long process and your support means a ton. Don't hesitate reaching out via themissiongreenway@gmail.com or Instagram