Lower Haight Parklet Removal Sparks Community Division

The parklet, located at the intersection of Page and Fillmore streets, was funded by a city grant and constructed in 2023 by local neighbors as part of the city’s Shared Spaces program (1). The parklet was initially well-received, with stewards Molly Hayden and Jess Jenkins hosting neighborhood events and creating a free library for children (1). However, complaints about drug use, loitering, and vandalism began to intensify around eight months ago, leading to increased pressure on the parklet’s existence (1). [1]

In response to the growing concerns, the neighboring property manager, Hawthorne/Stone Real Estate Investments Inc., refused to renew the permit for the parklet, citing safety concerns and incidents such as a stabbing and attempted arson, though these were not confirmed by police reports (1). The parklet was part of the city’s Shared Spaces program, which allows for communities, as well as businesses, to build their own outdoor areas (1). Those run by community members are required to be open 24 hours and maintained by the permit holders, according to the Shared Spaces manual (1). [1]

Stewards Molly Hayden and Jess Jenkins expressed frustration with the removal, stating that the parklet was a community effort to create a more friendly and accessible public space (1). They proposed modifications to the parklet, such as shrinking its size or adding visibility, but these were not accepted (1). The permit was revoked without the neighboring property’s consent, leading to a sense of discouragement among the stewards (1). [1]

The parklet, located at the intersection of Page and Fillmore streets, was funded by a city grant and constructed in 2023 by local neighbors as part of the city’s Shared Spaces program (1). The parklet was initially well-received, with stewards Molly Hayden and Jess Jenkins hosting neighborhood events and creating a free library for children. However, complaints about drug use, loitering, and vandalism began to increase around eight months ago, leading to a surge in reports to city officials and 311 (1). [1]

In response to the growing concerns, the neighboring property manager, Hawthorne/Stone Real Estate Investments Inc., refused to renew the permit for the parklet, citing safety concerns and incidents such as a stabbing and attempted arson, though these were not confirmed by police reports (1). Stewards Molly Hayden and Jess Jenkins expressed frustration with the removal, stating that the parklet was a community effort to create a more friendly and accessible space (1). [1]

The stewards proposed modifications to the parklet, such as shrinking its size or adding visibility features, but these plans were not accepted (1). In October, when it came time for the manager of the neighboring apartments to sign off on another year, it refused, citing ongoing safety concerns (1). The removal of the parklet has led to a source of discord within the Lower Haight community, with some residents expressing fear and frustration over the situation (1). [1]

The parklet, located at the intersection of Page and Fillmore streets, was funded by a city grant and constructed in 2023 by local neighbors as part of the city’s Shared Spaces program (1). The space was initially well-received, with stewards Molly Hayden and Jess Jenkins hosting neighborhood events and creating a free library for children. However, the parklet's removal this week followed escalating complaints about drug use, loitering, and vandalism over the past eight months (1). [1]

The stewards of the parklet, Molly Hayden and Jess Jenkins, expressed frustration with the removal, stating that the parklet was a community effort to create a more friendly and accessible space (1). They proposed modifications to the parklet, such as shrinking its size or adding visibility features, but these plans were not accepted (1). The stewards had previously received approval from the neighboring building without issue, but complaints from neighbors increased significantly this year (1). [1]

In response to the complaints, the neighboring property manager, Hawthorne/Stone Real Estate Investments Inc., refused to renew the permit for the parklet, citing safety concerns and incidents such as a stabbing and attempted arson, though these were not confirmed by police reports (1). A representative of the building manager, Amanda Pollock, wrote in an email to the city and the parklet’s creators that these incidents raised serious concerns about public safety and the ongoing impact the parklet may be having on the surrounding neighborhood (1). [1]

Sources

The San Francisco Standard

Prepared with AI assistance from the cited sources.