Divisadero Street Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative - Office of ...

Policy IssuesPedestrian SafetyThe pedestrian experience of the district is unique inthat a high percentage of available services are ideal forcustomers walking from nearby residential areas, butthe sidewalks and general urban design are not necessarilyoptimized for travel on foot. The sidewalks arequite narrow for a high volume of pedestrian traffic,particularly in multiple directions and there is littleroom for outdoor seating and displays of the type thatencourage activity. The lighting of the sidewalk areais also potentially not conducive to pedestrians feelingsafe at night on the street. Auto oriented lights and alack of light from storefronts creates a large numberof dark spots throughout the district. Additionally, thecrosswalks and signals currently provided are not idealfor pedestrians. Most intersections have no pedestriansignals or count-down signals to indicate when it issafe to cross on foot, making the individual rely on theautomobile traffic light.Public Space and Street GreeningThe Divisadero Commercial District has a lack of openpublic space accessed from the street level. It is currentlya corridor focused on movement, and while someof the abutting neighborhoods have large parks withina few blocks distance, there are no public spaces forgathering or resting, and few privately provided seatingareas on Divisadero Street itself. Future considerationof the district could evaluate its potential as part of alarger network of public spaces. The noisy and harshenvironment created by auto traffic could also be wellmediated with the addition of planting areas and othersoft-scape where appropriate.TransportationThe Divisadero Corridor is serviced by one MUNI busline (#24). There are also several key nodes of transferwith other bus lines particularly at Haight and again atMcAllister streets. There is, however, just one shelteredMUNI stop on Divisadero in the commercial district, atHaight street in the southbound direction. Further planningaround the area could key in on these transportationnodes as places to increase pedestrian safety andcomfort.Formula retail vs. Independently OperatedIn 2005 the San Francisco Planning Commission approvedan amendment to the planning code to designateformula retail uses as conditional uses in the DivisaderoNeighborhood Commercial District between Haightand Turk Streets. While the technical specifications for“formula retail” sometimes fall under debate it typicallyis applied to any retailer with eleven or more outletsthat sell an identical set of goods and incorporate aconsistent architectural style at each outlet, and markettheir goods in the same manner regardless of the placewhere they are sold. Often these outlets represent alarge national chain or franchise that has the benefit ofglobal marketing and increased capital. It is argued thatthese advantages can put locally owned small businessesat an insurmountable competitive disadvantage.Formula retail stores are also scrutinized for their potentialimpacts to the aesthetic character of establishedneighborhoods.18