Sept 3, 2013: No NB Dig: Muni snubs North Beach businesses; Unbuilt SF: Rebels with a Cause
Pagoda demolition follies and
disregard of businesses
Muni's demolition contractor, MH
Construction, had no prior experience with this type of structure and it
shows. The MH crew inspires disbelief, head shaking, and a fear that they
will accidentally demolish all the buildings around the Pagoda.
Businesses next to the Pagoda site
have experienced extremely poor treatment from MH Construction and Muni.
Liz Ferro of Bottle Cap Restaurant recently wrote to Muni:
"Everything we were told about
how construction would go has
been false. Extended hours, working on the weekends, dust control,
pest control ... nothing as promised. It is more than obvious that no
one is looking out for our businesses and that you will sacrifice us
and our employees to do this job. It's shocking how little you care
for the people in this community ... ."
Below are other pleas to Muni from
business owners to spare them from the unprofessional, disruptive, and
dangerous demolition activities.
Do we really want Muni's next
contractor in North Beach digging a 50x50 by 42-foot deep extraction shaft for the next six months? This will
include a couple thousand dump truck trips through the neighborhood, streets
blocked, cranes and excavators working, and more noise and dust? This
might be acceptable if there were some benefit for North Beach at the end of
the messy job, but remember there will be no Central Subway Station here
once the dust clears. Write to these officials and tell them residents deserve
all the facts before another construction project begins, and that the Pagoda Option is unnecessary and will break the Central
Subway budget.
Keith Breitbach, a videographer
who lives behind the Pagoda site, captured the demolition experience from his
back porch in this video.
Unbuilt SF: Rebels with a Cause
Be sure to catch a screening of Rebels with a Cause, an award-winning film
about residents in the 1960's who saved parts of Marin from rampant real estate
development, including the Marin Headlands, Stinson, Bolinas, and more.
It's in town this week and next:
The main reason I am contacting your office is because I have not been
helped in any way in regards to my repeated requests for assistance in
dealing with the way this whole demolition project has been carried
on. So far, as I mentioned in my previous emails, none of the rules,
regulations, or codes for the demolition of a huge building in a busy
location have been respected. This past weekend they worked on
Saturday and on Monday (Labor Day), and were supposed to stop at 3:30
pm. Monday I had to argue with the MTA representative to get them to
stop working around 4 pm, and today the amount of dust from the
demolition was unbearable. Most of the day my internet was not working
and finally when the AT&T technician showed up at 4:00 pm we found out
the internet was down due to falling objects that cut our phone line.
This phone line is important to our business since we use the internet
for our reservations, credit card processing, and more. The south wall
of my building was damaged and all sorts of debris were flying
everywhere. When I complained to the MTA representative, the response
was, well, you can get the phone fixed and they will pay for it. About
the wall and debris, I was told they will fix and paint it. When I
asked him if he thought they should stop and secure our property
before going any further, his answer was, well, they will be done
soon. Ms Boomer, is there anyone that you know of who can help
explain how a project managed by the City of San Francisco can be
carried out in this unprofessional and dangerous manner? And is there
anyone who can help us with the issues that have been raised above?
From: "Boomer, Roberta" <Roberta.Boomer@sfmta.com>
To: Dario Hadjian <dario@att.net>
Sent: Tuesday, September 3, 2013 10:10 AM
Subject: RE: PAGODA / PIAZZA PELLEGRINI
Dear Mr. Hadjian:
Thank you for taking the time to bring this to the attention of the
SFMTA Board of Directors. They have provided your email to Mr. Ed Reiskin, Director of Transportation and to Mr. John Funghi, Director,
Central Subway Project for their information.
Sincerely,
Roberta Boomer
Secretary, SFMTA Board of Directors
My name is Dario Hadjian and I own and operate the
small restaurant
adjacent to the infamous Pagoda Theater. For the last 9 years we have
been a concerned, generous and law-abiding business and have worked
very hard to create it and keep it going through all conditions. In
the last few months, since the theater demolition plans were announced
by SFMTA, we have been told and promised that you will do several
things: maintain a safe work site, reduce noise and dust, control
traffic, keep within announced work hours and work days, and
other
promises. None of these have been kept. In the view of many concerned
neighbors and professional contractors this project has been
mismanaged from the very start. We have tried to bring these issues to
the attention of our city representatives as well as all city agencies
responsible for the supervision of these matters. As a small business
with limited resources we feel neglected and not heard. In recent
weeks we have experienced a significant drop in revenue due to the
demolition of the theater next door to us. My question to you is, how
much damage is acceptable in your view for us to put up with? We are
told that the demolition contractor is behind schedule and needs to
work overtime on weekdays and weekends. Would it be OK if we as a
small restaurant were to stay open past our legally
permitted hours to
recover lost time and revenues? It seems to me that our business is
suffering the most from the lack of proper planning and management on
the part of these contractors and SFMTA.
It seems we have a much more difficult problem here than first
expected. Everything we were told about how construction would go has
been false. Extended hours, working on the weekends, dust control,
pest control ... nothing as promised. It is more than obvious that no
one is looking out for our businesses and that you will sacrifice us
and our employees to do this job. It's shocking how little you care
for the people in this community and how easily you have lied to us.
When I write, I receive no response, just a stock email from the
Board. I'm sure you're all incredibly busy, but I think someone
should reach out to us. I'm sure everyone will be enjoying an
extended holiday weekend, while Dario and I struggle to stay afloat
during the storm of this project.
Liz Ferro (Bottle Cap Restaurant)
July 28: YABCA 2; mystery of the missing Pagoda demolition permit
If you've been by the Pagoda site you've seen workmen and trucks there, and the plywood with graffiti has been taken down. But according to City inspectors no demolition has been done.
Of course, we keep seeing the usual YABCA (Yet Another Bogus Construction Announcement), and even though there are workers at the site there is no demolition permit posted. Normally, no permit, no work can be done. When the workmen are asked about the permit they point to a small sign attached to the construction fence:
Not a demolition permit.
Where is the Pagoda demolition permit? No one seems to know and no one in the City is tellin'. Most demolition permits are issued by the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) and you can track them at their online site (as of this writing, July 28, there is nothing for the Pagoda since February). Rumor has it Muni writes their own permits independent of DBI - hard to believe, even the Chinatown station at 947 Stockton has full DBI permits. We're trying to track it down.
If you see workmen at the Pagoda site tearing down the building and they can't produce a permit, call 558-6570 and file a complaint for "work being done without a permit."
On the lighter side:
June Osterberg wrote two articles about the historic theater on Washington Square, including the time The Cockettes made it their home.
Paul Page, the "Dave Barry" of No Dig, wrote a song, Sittin' in a hole by the Transbay (with help from Otis Redding), about recent cost overruns. Also see his comments on CW Nevius' July 16 Chronicle blog.
June 28: Mysterious banner; Pagoda demolition vs Philly disaster
Corrections:
There is no Muni Board meeting on Tuesday, July 2. Mark your
calendar for Tuesday, July 16.
Several people have asked who put up
and took down the banner on the Pagoda Theater. Some North Beach folks
put it up Tuesday morning, and it was taken down sometime between 4 pm and 6 pm
the same day. We don't know who took it down, most likely Muni. If
you saw who did it please get in touch. Still, the message on the banner
is a very likely scenario so please continue to write
to City officials as described below.
Farewell Will Reisman
Will has covered transportation for
the San Francisco Examiner for the past several years, including Central Subway
and Pagoda Option issues, and we will miss his well-written and informative
articles.
Muni Construction Yard banner on Pagoda Theater
Mysterious Pagoda banner
Thanks to all who wrote about the
banner to City officials. Several who wrote reported back that
City officials did not directly respond to the message.
Please continue to write to them and demand a satisfactory answer about plans
for the Pagoda site - will the site be used for the duration of the Central
Subway project as a northern access for materials going in or out? Please
forward all responses you receive.
On Tuesday morning a banner showed up on the Pagoda Theater,
"Muni Construction Yard 2013 to 2018." The 6-year span was a
surprise to many observers. The banner was torn down early Tuesday
evening.
For more about the banner message, and why Muni will likely
occupy the site for Central Subway construction for the next 6 years or more,
see this explanation.
And we still don't get a Central Subway station in the
foreseeable future, just lots of dust, trucks, and merchants hurt.
Pagoda demolition vs Philly disaster
Howard Wong recently noted parallels between the early-June building demolition
disaster in Philadelphia and the proposed Pagoda demolition. He notes that a
tragedy like this can occur if demolition is rushed
and engineering isn't properly done.
Philly: White building at left was
demolished, crushing the smaller yellow building.
North Beach: Can the white building (Pagoda Theater) be
safely demolished next
to the smaller yellow building (Piazza Pellegrini)?
For Howard's analysis of the Pagoda demolition and other
problems see his complaint.
What you can do
Write to those responsible and ask them for a straight answer on how
the Pagoda site will be used and for how long. Please forward all
responses you receive.
June 16: Speak to Muni Board, Tuesday June 18; Peskin letter hits key Pagoda issues
Speak at the Muni Board Meeting, Tuesday, June 18, 1 p.m. City
Hall, Room 400. Let me know if you want to speak
so we can coordinate our messages to the Muni Board. The agenda is clear
so we should be out by 2. First time? No
problem, we have talking points for you.
Mock funeral for Pagoda Palace: Friday June 14, 5 p.m.This
is the second time for this quirky and only-in-North Beach event. Wear
your funeral finest, and let folks here know about the proposed Pagoda Big Dig
and what it would do to the North Beach village.
Photos & videos of No Dig speakers at June 4 Muni and Board of
Supervisors meetings
June 2: Make it 20 at Muni Board meeting; next mock funeral Friday, June 14
Gang of 12, more needed. Appear at the Muni Board meeting Tuesday, June 4 at 1.
We have a dozen speakers confirmed, how about making it 20? With a
large contingent we can make some news, and alert San Franciscans of the
horrible Pagoda Big Dig and the waste of $70 million. Take a
couple of hours and come to stick up for the 'hood.
Mock funeral for Pagoda Palace: Friday June 14, 5 p.m.This
is the second time for this quirky and only-in-North Beach event. Wear
your funeral finest, and let folks here know about the proposed Pagoda Big Dig
and what it would do to the North Beach village.
Rebels with a Cause - documentary about 1960's Marin
folks who pushed out developers who were trying to make Pt. Reyes and the GGNRA
into a Los Angeles-like suburb.Here's a trailer.
Playing this week at the Roxie. Highly
recommended.
May 26: Feds coming down on Muni budget, schedule
Speak at the Board of Supervisors Budget meeting
The current budget season is a good time to remind SF Supervisors of the
Central Subway budget problems and how removing the Pagoda Big Dig can
help. By 2018 the projected SF Budget shortfall is $487.2 million,
which is nearly doubled by the 2018 projected Central Subway shortfall of $422
million.
May 17: Mock funeral; Budget town hall; Howard Wong's Muni budget study
Amazing video of North Beach folks talking about the
impending Pagoda Big Dig and how it will affect the area: June Osterberg, Howard Wong, Nadya
Williams, Winston Smith.
Speak out: Mayor's Town Hall on the SF Budget, with David Chiu &
Mark Farrell, Saturday, May 18 10 a.m. Ask about the $487.2 million SF
Budget shortfall by 2018, the Central Subway $400 million shortfall by 2018,
and how canceling the $70 million Pagoda Option would help.
May 5: Pagoda Option construction could begin soon; Inspector General opens file on Pagoda
We found out Saturday May 4 that the Pagoda demolition contract just went out
to bid. Bids are due May 24 and have to be approved, so highly likely demolition
won't begin before early June.
The campaign has a new logo — see top of this page.
It has a tie-in to an earlier Central Subway-like project --- can you guess
what the connection is? (Solution below.)
MTA Director Ed Reiskin wrote an
odd Op-ed in the May 2 SF Examiner. Judge
for yourself. Paul Page has some observations on this Op-ed,
including the plight of Muni riders "with our faces squished against bus
windows."
The Inspector General for the Department of Transportation
has received several letters from supporters of NoNorthBeachDig
about the Pagoda Option, and has opened an investigation.
We have raw video files from the Jan
22 and April 17 meetings. One or two videos are being prepared for
YouTube and NoNorthBeachDig.org sites. Let us know if you are
interested in making a video from this raw footage
North Beach artist Winston Smith has joined the No North Beach Dig team, and
will work with fellow artists to create new campaign artwork. New posters
and web site banner due soon.
April 27: Central Subway budget problems may be good for North Beach; New Pagoda Option guide
