Neighborhood Engagement

PHRA serves our neighborhood in many ways.  We are dedicated to education, outreach, advocacy, and activism on behalf of all residents of the neighborhood, including homeowners and tenants alike.  We act and respond to neighbor’s concerns; listening, hearing, and advocating for Pacific Heights’ unique character and quality of life.  Over our long history, PHRA members have achieved many notable victories with long-lasting benefits to the neighborhood and the community at large, including creating the Webster Street Historic District, saving the “3 Jackson” bus service, and preserving the former “Newcomer School” as a public school.  Examples of PHRA’s areas of involvement in recent years include the following:

Candidate Forums & Issues Events

PHRA has sponsored and co-sponsored candidate forums and events regarding important ballot initiatives.  In recent years we co-hosted a forum of all candidates for the office of District 2 Supervisor, as well as forums and open houses on issues of general interest including public safety and transportation. Our annual meeting includes speakers of interest to the neighborhood including Mayor London Breed, Supervisor Catherine Stefani, and SFPD Station Captains.  We also organize member social events such as a recent trivia night at Harry’s Bar on Fillmore Street.

Schools of the Sacred Heart Enrollment Agreement

PHRA board members teamed with neighbors to engage with SSH administrators about the proposed addition of up to 90 students to the Broadway campus.  As a direct result of PHRA involvement, far greater transparency will accompany the expansion, and specific actions are required of SSH to mitigate the impacts of increased student enrollment in the neighborhood.

3333 California Redevelopment

We worked with project developers and city staff to represent neighborhood concerns and help ensure that redevelopment of this 10 acre parcel on our western boundary will provide much-needed housing, low-income senior housing, and childcare and that the parcel will become better-integrated into the surrounding neighborhood streetscape.  

CPMC Auxiliary Generator Removal

We worked with officials from the City and staff of California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) over many months to achieve removal of this noisy and unsightly fixture from the east facade of the CPMC Buchanan Street campus, resulting in substantially reduced noise for many nearby residents.

New CPMC Hospital and Related Impacts

 As CPMC moved to its new facility at Geary and Van Ness, we monitored the repurposing of the Buchanan Street campus as an outpatient-only facility to determine whether any changes would have a detrimental effect on the neighborhood.  We are also following the closure and redevelopment planning for the 3838 California Street campus.  While this facility is just outside PHRA boundaries, redevelopment of this large site will impact all surrounding neighborhoods.  

Bike Sharing

We continue to work with City officials and staff, project contractors, and neighbors to manage the expansion of the “Bay Wheels” bike share program in and around Pacific Heights, seeking more effective notification about proposed additions to the program and greater opportunity for community input on the location of the bicycle stations and discussion of alternatives.  

Pre-Application Reviews

Our board members attend pre-application review meetings at which property owners, architects, and developers provide an advance look at proposed residential expansion and renovation projects.  We strive to ensure adequate disclosure to immediate neighbors and the neighborhood at large, about substantial projects that threaten to violate established zoning requirements or adversely impact the unique character of Pacific Heights.