Upper Noe Neighbors
Sept 17, 2025
approximately 35 total attending

Agenda:

• Introduction / Announcements/ Icebreaker
• Business Support / Proposed Parking Meters on Church Street
• Crime & Safety
• Housing Solutions and Upzoning
• District 8 updates
• Door prize drawing courtesy of Kitchen Sync

Business Support / Proposed Parking Meters on Church Street
Are parking meters a solution to empty storefronts? Gary Craddock of Kitchen Sync and Jeff Appenrodt of Laurel Realty shared their experiences, issues and needs as business owners. Upper Noe has destination businesses that cannot survive by foot traffic alone. A lack of short-term parking is a major concern. It deters customers, especially from other neighborhoods, and makes it difficult to come and go from the office to meet with clients. It likely impacts the ability to fill empty storefronts. Cars often park in front of businesses for days and weeks at a time. Twenty-one parking spaces adjacent to Church Street in Upper Noe, 6 with meters, have been lost to the new daylighting law and a bike rental station. Double parking is becoming routine. A proposed solution would place parking meters at several locations on and adjacent to Church Street. Community buy-in will be critical. Residential Parking Permits were also discussed. While permits would inhibit cars from out of our immediate neighborhood from parking here all day, they do not represent a viable solution for short-term parking on Church Street. They would not prevent locals from monopolizing spaces in front of businesses. Furthermore, they would impose an annual $215 permit fee per car on the entire neighborhood.
View the slide presentation with maps.

Crime & Safety
Our new commander at Ingleside Station, Captain Gerry Newbeck was unavailable but he sent Officer Lorena Cortez and partner in his place. They said that most of the crime is garage break-ins, construction site burglaries, and smashed glass at businesses. Police are stretched thin. Foot patrols were requested but are not possible at this time. The officers suggested that neighbors be proactive about security with block watches, flood lights and cameras. If you see something, say something through 911 or non-emergency (415 553-0123). SFPD can work with home owners and businesses to evaluate and enhance their security. Contact <neighborhoodsafety@sfgov.org>.

Housing Solutions and Upzoning
Andy Levine of the UNN Land Use Committee presented. The program to increase building heights and density passed out of the Planning Commission recently. It goes before the Board of Supervisors in a month or two. The deadline to comply with State requirements is looming. At the two well-attended UNN-led discussion groups, conversation mostly favored upzoning here. The major concerns were loss of neighborhood character as older homes make way for new development, disappearing storefronts, and vanishing rent controlled units.

District 8 updates
Board of Supervisors President Rafael Mandelman expressed disappointment at the recall of Joel Engardio. Despite this, City Hall functions well with Mayor Lurie and is in a better place than in 2022. He weighed in on upzoning, saying that the State is micromanaging. The balance is delicate and making adjustments is challenging. The current map will likely remain. We cannot get all of the units we need by building on empty lots. Some demolition will be required but he wants more attention on preserving historic buildings. (A meeting on that topic was recently announced for October 22, 5 – 6:30 pm at Upper Noe Rec Center).

Upper Noe Block Party 2025
September 27 from 11 to 2 at Upper Noe Rec Center
We asked for volunteers, and boy did we get them. Much appreciated! It was a huge success with about 450 people showing up to fill the courts and field with activity. Thank you to all of our volunteers, guests, participating organizations, and sponsors.

Tonight’s door prize was provided by Kitchen Sync.

Our next Community Meeting is November 19