Hoping to raise enough funds to match a "challenge grant" given by the Miriam and Peter Haas Fund, the Children's Programs at Visitacion Valley Community Center (VVCC) hosted a Night in Napoli on July 16 at the gymnasium. From start to finish, the entire event showcased the talent and hard work of the Childrens' Programs staff, a terrific example of the spirit and mission of VVCC.

Several hundred people turned out to eat chicken, spaghetti, salad, delicious desserts and watch VVCC Childrens' Programs staff members and family members play great music, dance and sing. Members of the VVCC Board of Directors expressed their thanks and admiration of the Childrens' Programs staff for the successful event.

Now close to their designated goal, the Childrens' Programs hope to raise additional funds that would help expand and improve service to the community.

Builder Announces Interest in Developing Schlage Lock Site

After more than five years of dormancy, the Schlage Lock site along Bayshore Boulevard has attracted the interest of a large developer with operations in more than 44 markets throughout the United States, Argentina, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Pulte Homes, a company with more than 360,000 homes built in its 54 year history, announced its intention to develop both the Schlage Lock and a smaller adjoining site totaling about 20 acres with both residential and commercial housing. Pulte Homes builds condominiums, town homes and single-family homes for first, second move-up and active adult buyers.

Representatives of the company joined members of the San Francisco Planning Department at a special meeting July 24 at the Visitacion Valley Community Center (VVCC) where they detailed a plan to put about 310 residential units on the site north of Visitacion Avenue, with property to the south reserved for both housing and retail development – including space for a large supermarket the Valley has been lacking since the closing years ago of a Safeway store on Bayshore Boulevard and Sunnydale Avenue. 

According to the plan, both Leland and Visitacion avenues would be extended to the east from Bayshore Boulevard and intersect with at least one new street running parallel to Bayshore. Sunnydale Avenue would also be developed east of Bayshore to provide optimum access to the forthcoming new Bayshore Station and light rail terminal, as well as the southern portion of the development.

New structures on the development would range between three and five stories high and would be sensibly designed to blend in with the existing neighborhood. At least 1.5 acres would be dedicated to interconnecting parks that would complement a pedestrian friendly atmosphere.

An accessible plaza would further be developed around the original Schlage Lock building on Blanken Avenue, which will be retained and restored to accommodate vital services to the surrounding community.

Development of the Schlage Lock site has been a topic of intense neighborhood concern since the company vacated the premises in 1999. Residents were last updated  on Feb. 21 at VVCC when a presentation featured three-dimensional images from various angles. 

Most of the property being considered for development has been owned since the mid-1970s by the Ingersoll Rand, which has made selling the land in a timely fashion a top priority, according to a company representative.

Plans for Home Depot on the site were eventually scrapped when  surrounding neighbors voiced opposition to the plan, which led to  passage of restrictive legislation for construction on the site.

Valley residents will able to ask questions and discuss design guidelines on the development of the Schlage Lock site with Planning Department staff on Wednesday, July 28 from 6 to 8 p.m.; and Thursday, July 29 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the VVCC Senior Center dining room at 66 Raymond Ave.

Revitalization Workshop on July 27 at Visitacion Valley Clubhouse

Visitacion Valley residents can voice their opinions about proposed changes in the neighborhood on Tuesday, July 27 when the first community workshop of the Leland/Bayshore Commercial District Revitalization takes place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Visitacion Valley Clubhouse, Leland Avenue at Cora Street.
Entitled Defining a Vision, topics discussed will include: The development of the Schlage lock site; the muni light rail service extension; the construction of the new Valley Branch library; and the Greenway. A light dinner will be served.

Many friends and neighbors of Visitacion Valley gathered at the Community Center on June 26 with members from the Sunnydale Residents' Council to help families memorialize loved ones who lost their lives in recent violence that has plagued the southeast sector of San Francisco.

Family and friends spoke moving tributes to their loved ones and urged those witnessing to do all they could to help stop violence.
The program also featured performances by young community members, and expressions of support by prominent and respected leaders.

During the event, Council members were presented with hand-made quilt patches to be joined together into a quilt to soon be displayed at the community center in Sunnydale.

"We often allow violence to create a fearful chasm between neighbors, when drawing closer is even more important than ever," said Julie Kavanagh, executive director of Visitacion Valley Community Center. "The community is grateful to the Sunnydale Resident's Council members, who have reminded us that we need to continue to gather together in love. It is hoped that we will all remember this day, and live up to the examples set by the bereaved."

Contributing to the day in support of the families were: Skye Denise Miles, mistress of ceremonies; Pastor Emmett Neal; Supervisor Sophie Maxwell of District 10; Amanda Ajisebutu; Sandra Swanson; Larry Jones; Debra Flowers; Pastor Debra Drooh; Elisha Rochelle, Antonio Mims; Tamara Brown, president of the Sunnydale Residents' Council; Captain Paul Chignell of the Ingleside Police District; Sulu Palega of the San Francisco Housing Commission; and the St. Phillips Youth Choir

To paraphrase the words of one grieving mother :"What can you do when your world is destroyed? .. Stand!"

New Legislation Introduced By Supervisor Maxwell

Following are items introduced by Supervisor Sophie Maxwell during a June 30 meeting of the Board of Supervisors:

*An ordinance amending the First Source Hiring Program to require a signed First Source agreement prior to Planning Commission approvals of a development project.

The First Source Hiring Program requires developers of projects over 50,000 square feet to enter into an agreement with the City whereby the developer will provide the community with the first opportunity to apply for entry-level jobs. Currently, the Planning Commission often approves projects subject to a signed First Source agreement to be negotiated at a future date and behind closed doors.

This legislation will mandate that the agreement is negotiated earlier in the process and provides the community with the ability to weigh in on the agreement – and the project – through a public process at the Planning Commission and prior to project approvals.

*A request for a committee hearing to investigate the use of Payment in Lieu of Taxes, or PILOT programs, for entities that are exempt from paying city property or payroll taxes.

Currently, throughout the country, tax exempt entities are reimbursing city governments for a portion of their assessed property taxes. Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia and a host of other cities have used this practice to pay for essential city services, especially during times of economic crisis.

Visitacion Valley Police Report

Police Seize Assault Weapon in Valley

San Francisco police in Visitacion Valley seized an assault weapon in an arrest on June 19 when they followed the driver of a car who began eluding them at Hahn Street and Sunnydale Avenue. The driver stopped his car on Rey Street, jumped out and began running. The suspect was later found in a backyard on the 400 block of Argonaut Street. Officers later found an assault weapon that the suspect, Edmund Burch, 27, had been carrying and had ditched in the backyard. 

Two Men Murdered in Sunnydale Projects

Two Visitacion Valley men were gunned down and killed in separate incidents during the weekend of June 25 in the Sunnydale housing projects. On June 25, Kaenya Taylor Jr., 24, was attempting to flee his attack when he was murdered at 11 p.m. on Blythdale Avenue. Just one night later on June 26, Antoine Morgan, 28, was shot to death around 10 p.m. on Santos Street near Brookdale Ave..

Students Find Body of Murder Victim

On June 29, two eighth grade students on their way to summer classes at Visitacion Valley Middle School (VVMS) just after 7:30 a.m. discovered the partially decomposed dead body of a man at the bottom of a hill adjacent to the school at 450 Raymond Ave. John Hart, 19, of San Francisco had been stabbed by a sharp object multiple times in the upper body. His murder is currently under investigation.

Crime Summaries

*June 15: 12:12 a.m., 1300 block of Sunnydale Ave., possession of marijuana

*June 15: 8:15 p.m., 000 block of Santos St.,  malicious mischief, vandalism of vehicles.

*June 17: 6:55 p.m., Tucker Ave. & Delta St., battery.

*June 18: 7:10 a.m.,100 block of Tucker Ave.,  burglary of apartment house, unlawful entry.

*June 19: 5 p.m., 000 block of Santos St., malicious mischief, vandalism.

*June 20: 2:30 a.m., 1300 block of Brussels St., block of Brussels St., stolen and recovered vehicle.

*June 20: 8 p.m., Blythdale Ave. & Santos St., malicious mischief, vandalism.

*June 20: 12 noon, 400 block of Sawyer St, .stolen auto.

*June 20: 2 p.m., Leland Ave. & Sawyer St., petty theft from locked auto.

*June 21: 1:30 p.m., Raymond Ave. & Delta St., recovered auto stolen outside S.F.

*June 21: 10:30 p.m., 1500 block of Sunnydale Ave., grand theft from locked auto.

*June 21: 10:59 p.m., Blythdale Ave. & Santos St., battery.

*June 22: 10:15 p.m., 1600 block of Sunnydale Ave., robbery, armed with knife.

*June 24: 11 p.m., 400 block of Wheeler Ave., stolen auto

*June 25: 2:45 p.m., 000 block of Brookdale Ave., malicious mischief, vandalism.

^June 25: 9 p.m.,1200 block of Goettingen St., stolen truck.

*June 25: 9 p.m.,1200 block of Goettingen St., recovery of stolen vehicle.

*June 25: 11:11 p.m., 000 block of Blythdale Ave., homicide with gun.

*June 26: 3:15 a.m., Brookdale & Blythdale Aves., malicious mischief, vandalism of vehicles.

*June 26: 6:30 a.m., 000 block of Tomaso Ct., possession of narcotics paraphernalia. 

*June 26: 6:49 p.m., Bayshore Blvd. & Leland Ave., attempted homicide with knife.

*June 27: 3 p.m., Leland Ave. & Peabody St., stolen auto.

*June 27: 10 p.m., 000 block of Santos St., homicide with gun.

^June 27: 10 p.m., Leland Ave, & Sawyer St., petty theft from locked auto.

*June 27: 11:30 p.m., Elliot St. & Leland Ave., stolen auto

*June 28: 5:30 p.m., Sunnydale Ave. near Bayshore Blvd., stolen truck.

*June 28: 5:30 p.m., Sunnydale Ave. near Bayshore Blvd., recovery of stolen vehicle.

*June 29: 7:38 a.m., 400 block of Raymond Ave., homicide with sharp object.

*June 30: 8:35 a.m., Sunnydale Ave. & Talbert St., grand theft, pickpocket.

*July 1: 4 p.m., Dartmouth & Mansell Sts., stolen auto.

*July 1: 4 p.m., Dartmouth & Mansell Sts., recovery of stolen vehicle.

*July 1: 6:25 p.m., Leland Ave, & Britton St., recovered vehicle stolen outside S.F.

*July 2: 9 p.m., 1600 block of Sunnydale Ave., possession of cocaine.

*July 2: 9 p.m., 1600 block of Sunnydale Ave., possession of controlled substance.

*July 2: 9 p.m., 1600 block of Sunnydale Ave., possession of marijuana.

*July 2: 9 p.m., 1600 block of Sunnydale Ave., recovered auto stolen outside S.F.

*July 3: 12:42 a.m., 1600 block of Sunnydale Ave., recovered auto stolen outside S.F.

*July 3: 2 p.m., Somerset St. near Mansell St., stolen and recovered vehicle.

*July 4: 11:45 a.m., Wilde Ave. & Brussels St., burglary of residence, unlawful entry. 

*July 4: 11:45 a.m., Wilde Ave. & Brussels St., malicious mischief, breaking windows.

*July 4: 7 p.m., 1200 block of Brussels St., burglary of residence, forcible entry.

*July 4: 7:49 p.m., Velasco Ave. & Carrizal St., recovered auto stolen outside S.F.

*July 4: 9:30 p.m., Tunnel & Blanken Aves., aggravated assault with deadly weapon.

*July 5: 8:30 a.m., Dartmouth St. near Olmstead St., stolen auto.

*July 9: 10 a.m., Somerset & Mansell Sts., petty theft from building.

*July 11: 8:10 a.m., Velasco Ave. & Castillo St., aggravated assault with deadly weapon.

*July 11: 10:30 a.m., Rutland St. near Visitacion Ave., grand theft from building.

*July 12: 1:15 p.m., 900 block of Rutland Ave., grand theft from person.

*July 12: 9:15 p.m., 1500 block of Sunnydale Ave.,  malicious mischief, breaking windows.

*July 13: 7 a.m., Schwerin St. near Garrison Ave., stolen auto.

Events at Visitacion Valley Branch Library

Following are events held at the Visitacion Valley Branch Library, 45 Leland Ave. (at Desmond Street). Call 239-5270 for more information.

*Tom McCormack performs Stories from the Sea for ages 5 and older on Friday, July 30 at 2:30 p.m..

*Create treasure maps with Lynn Hazen, author of Mermaid Mary Margaret! for ages 6-10 on Tuesday, Aug. 3 at 2:30 p.m.

Saturdays are Special at Randall Museum

The Randall Museum offers drop-in, hands-on art and science workshops every Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at 199 Museum Way (off Roosevelt, above the Castro).All ages are welcome; under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. Museum admission is free with $3 per person workshop fee. Call 554-9600 for further information.

*Aug. 7: Rock Painting: Try your hand at rock painting.

*Aug. 14: Clay Insects: Invent an insect out of self-drying clay and wire.

*Aug. 21: Arachnids: Learn about arachnids and create your own eight-legged creature with fangs.

*Aug. 28: Wooden Yo-yos: Make a wooden yo-yo that really works.

Other regular Saturday activities include:

*Morning Family Ceramics from 10 to 11:30 a.m. ($5 per person workshop fee)

*Meet the Animals from 11:15 a.m. to 12 noon.

*Animal Feeding at 12 noon.

*Golden Gate Model Railroad Club Exhibit from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Author Reading Featured at Historical Society Meeting

Michael Castleman, author of Lost Gold of San Francisco, will read from his book and will talk about his research and the process of creating historical fiction at the Aug. 10 program of the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society, at the Old Mint, on 5th Street at Mission Street.

Prior to the 7:30 p.m. program, there will be a tour of the Old Mint at 6 p.m. The Old Mint was constructed in 1874 and survived the 1906 earthquake with one-third of the nation's gold supply, money used to rebuild San Francisco.

The Society is working to make the Old Mint will be home to a new San Francisco History Museum in 2006.

The Society's monthly programs, on the second Tuesday of each month, are free to the public and no reservations are needed. For more information, please call 415-775-1111 or visit www.sfhistory.org