Project
Update:
March 2011
by
Judy
Junghans, RHN Advisor
DPW painted the back walls at the Hyde St
overpass. You can note from the photo that the planters are now
installed on the Hyde St overpass and the irrigation is hooked
up. We are waiting for trees to be planted in place of the
current ground cover. One step at a time...
Volunteers painted the railings Golden
Gate Bridge red! The color adds contrast to the barren walls and
brings out the murals that Moose Curtis did in 2010.
(above photo by Al Greening)
The trees frame the murals. And
people even walk through the tunnel now!
Project
Update:
Oct
2010
by
Judy
Junghans,
RHN Advisor
Aren't the trees in the median strip on
Broadway beautiful? Won't it really look great when trees are
planted up the sides of the tunnel walls? And won't it be even
greater when planters are installed on the Hude Street overpass?
Three YESes I presume and now one more...
Won't it be wonderful when the barren
sidewalk area at the southeast corner of Larkin and Broadway is
planted? This will continue the greening project and, we hope,
discourage graffiti!
This area (South Patch) is a 4'x70'
length of sidewalk next to the building on Larkin which attracts
graffiti. The Dept of Public Works (DPW) owns this land.
Their estimate to remove the concrete and old soil and replace it with
new topsoil, install irrigation, and landscape the area is $15,620.
Can we get one more
YES from you?
Will you make a special donation to RHN for this portion of the project
so that we can get it started? Please indicate it is for South
Patch and send it to RHN at 1819 Polk St, #221, San Francisco, Ca
94109. You can also make a donation through PayPal.
Thank you for your support!
Project
Update:
May
2010
Armstrong Maple trees have now been planted in the median strip on
Broadway between Polk St and the tunnel entrance. Take a look at
the pictures below.
View from Polk St looking toward Larkin St
View from Hyde St overpass
Now that the conduit has been corrected and Broadway repaved, the
Armstrong Maples have been planted from Polk Street to the tunnel
entrance. And just in case you have never seen one, here is a
picture. They are fast growing and are upright with a narrow oval
shape. The fall colors wil be stunning with orange-red leaves.
Project
Update:
January
2010
We are pleased to inform you that the Broadway-Hyde Cable Car project
will continue when the problem of irrigation is resolved. The
tile installation is
complete and the planters are on their way. The paving contractor
has started work on the median
strip between Polk and the tunnel entrance. This area will be
planted with Armstrong
Maples and ground cover. The estimated date for completion is
spring 2010.
Project
Update:
July
2009
We are pleased to inform you that the Broadway-Hyde Cable Car project
will begin on Monday, July 20th with the posting of a 72 hour no
parking notice. The plan is to take parking on the west side
first and to create pedestrian access with barricades. There will
be two rows of barricades, one at the edge of the sidewalk and one at
the edge of the parking area. It is critical that people stay off
the tiles until the barricades are removed. Any assistance you
can provide in that regard is much appreciated.
The tile installation project is to be completed on September
25th. DPW will strive to complete it as soon as possible.
For a more detailed July/August schedule click Schedule.
Project Update: August 2008.
Forty-two trees were to be planted on the side walls
and median strip from Broadway to Hyde Street with four planter trees
on the Hyde Street overpass at the cable car stop. This project would
have transformed the barren concrete hole that is the Broadway Tunnel
into a beautiful, tree-lined entry through Russian Hill to North Beach,
Chinatown, and the City beyond.
GOOD NEWS!
Thanks to all of you who sent postcards to the Mayor. More than 310
yellow postcards were received! Because of your support, funds from the
new budget have been allocated to our project.
The Department of Public Works has notified RHN that it has $100,000 in
its budget to begin work. They will start with the four planters and
pavers on the Hyde Street overpass. RHN will update members on the
progress in future e-mails.
In the meantime, we need to think about fund raising for other areas,
such as greening the wide sidewalk on the southwest corner of Broadway
and Larkin Streets. Because of the current budget situation, doing the
work in stages is how we are going to get the project completed.
We also plan to apply for grants. And, we can all solicit donations!
Please let us know if you know of any corporate sponsors or donors.
The Original Project:
Greening the Broadway Tunnel-West was a $660k
DPW project. The City awarded us $325k, but the funds were retracted
because of major budget cuts. Some of that money has now been restored
(see above).
Greening: ($299k) -- planting twenty-eight trees up
the sides of Broadway (just outside of and rising with the tunnel
retaining walls), four planter trees on the pedestrian bridge, and
fourteen trees in the median strip.
Cable Car Square on Hyde Street ($174k) -- A
pedestrian pathway will lead from the SE corner of Broadway and Larkin
(starting at Helen Wills Park) to an attractive square at the Hyde
Street Cable Car stop. The pathway and square would be demarcated by
special paving.
Traditional Ornamental Street Lamps ($187k) --
will help demarcate Broadway as an historic, grand boulevard.
Donations can be made through PayPal or sent to RHN at the following address:
Judy Junghans
RUSSIAN HILL NEIGHBORS
1819 Polk St. #221
San Francisco, CA 94109
Voice 415-267-0575
