Comments on: The Greening of San Francisco’s Streetscapes http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/07/23/the-greening-of-san-franciscos-streetscapes/ Join the Debate! Read and comment on articles posted on actlocallysf.org. Fri, 16 May 2008 08:09:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.0 by: Kevin Bayuk http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/07/23/the-greening-of-san-franciscos-streetscapes/#comment-743 Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:24:21 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/07/23/the-greening-of-san-franciscos-streetscapes/#comment-743 I agree with John as well, having trees planted where they will break up concrete creating potential pedestrian hazards does not seem like a smart idea in this litigious age. Also, trees with aggressive root systems placed near storm drains or other utilities can create a cost. Thankfully, it does not seem, to me, to be a trees or sidewalks issue. If we remove extraneous sidewalk and use appropriate plantings - like perennial berry shrubs or small trees on dwarfing rootstalk it seems like we can have the best of both worlds - the increased property values and environmental benefits from plants and permeable surfaces AND less risk of litigation (less sidewalk that can 'cause' falls, etc.) AND no risk of roots messing with utilities. I am so glad this is not a black and white issue, but more of a green issue!<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 10</li> </ul> I agree with John as well, having trees planted where they will break up concrete creating potential pedestrian hazards does not seem like a smart idea in this litigious age. Also, trees with aggressive root systems placed near storm drains or other utilities can create a cost. Thankfully, it does not seem, to me, to be a trees or sidewalks issue. If we remove extraneous sidewalk and use appropriate plantings - like perennial berry shrubs or small trees on dwarfing rootstalk it seems like we can have the best of both worlds - the increased property values and environmental benefits from plants and permeable surfaces AND less risk of litigation (less sidewalk that can ’cause’ falls, etc.) AND no risk of roots messing with utilities. I am so glad this is not a black and white issue, but more of a green issue!
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]]> by: Joseph Tham http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/07/23/the-greening-of-san-franciscos-streetscapes/#comment-732 Thu, 26 Jul 2007 18:17:02 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/07/23/the-greening-of-san-franciscos-streetscapes/#comment-732 Home owners do not want to plant trees in front of their houses because the City makes the homeowners liable and responsible for the maintenance of the sidewalks. I have been sued because someone has "slipped and fell" on the edge of the curb because the street tree's roots had raised the sidewalk and the curb and this woman supposedly slipped and fell at 2:00 a.m. coming back from the clubs. She wanted $250,000.00 for her "injured arm" and her husband wanted $50,000 for "loss of consortiumship" even though his arm wasn't broken. The insurance company finally settled for $30,000.00 after two years. From then now, I am advising homeowners never to plant trees in front of their houses since I have spent about $15,000.00 to pave the sidewalks, trim back street trees, and have rotor rooter out to unclogged my sewer pipes from the tree roots. If San Francisco is serious about "greening" its streets, it must rescind the policy of making homeowners responsible and liable for maintaining the sidewalks in front of their homes.<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 1</li> </ul> Home owners do not want to plant trees in front of their houses because the City makes the homeowners liable and responsible for the maintenance of the sidewalks.

I have been sued because someone has “slipped and fell” on the edge of the curb because the street tree’s roots had raised the sidewalk and the curb and this woman supposedly slipped and fell at 2:00 a.m. coming back from the clubs. She wanted $250,000.00 for her “injured arm” and her husband wanted $50,000 for “loss of consortiumship” even though his arm wasn’t broken. The insurance company finally settled for $30,000.00 after two years.

From then now, I am advising homeowners never to plant trees in front of their houses since I have spent about $15,000.00 to pave the sidewalks, trim back street trees, and have rotor rooter out to unclogged my sewer pipes from the tree roots.

If San Francisco is serious about “greening” its streets, it must rescind the policy of making homeowners responsible and liable for maintaining the sidewalks in front of their homes.

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]]> by: Kevin Bayuk http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/07/23/the-greening-of-san-franciscos-streetscapes/#comment-729 Wed, 25 Jul 2007 00:08:07 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/07/23/the-greening-of-san-franciscos-streetscapes/#comment-729 I agree with Patti and Ms. Martin. Seems like we could BOTH more effectively maintain our current "greeen" public spaces AND design for a whole lot more! Lawns on Sunset Blvd and other places are out - who wants to drain the Hetch Hetchy at an annaul cost of millions of $ to keep unproductive, annual grasses green? who wants those grasses and inappropriate plantings turning brown every summer as we try in vain to dump water on them at great expense only to see the water immediately drain through our predominantly sand soils? I want to see a lush Sunset Blvd filled with lush, draught tolerant, useful, edible, medicinal perennial polyculture ecosystems brimming with vibrant colors and buzzing with beautiful butterflies and other fauna. Of course, I'd also like to see exclusive bike paths, child-friendlyu walking paths, less cars and, ultimately, silent magnet, solar powered light rail running down what used to be car lanes, as well. I'd like to see Ms. Patti Dillon's property skyrocket in value because San Francisco has the most secure, local food supply of any city in North America, a healthy local watershed, the safest, "greenest" streets and the most culturally diverse and wonderful urban ecosystem in the region. Yes, Ms. Dillon and yes, Ms. Martin, let's enhance what wee have and design for what we need now!<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 10</li> </ul> I agree with Patti and Ms. Martin. Seems like we could BOTH more effectively maintain our current “greeen” public spaces AND design for a whole lot more! Lawns on Sunset Blvd and other places are out - who wants to drain the Hetch Hetchy at an annaul cost of millions of $ to keep unproductive, annual grasses green? who wants those grasses and inappropriate plantings turning brown every summer as we try in vain to dump water on them at great expense only to see the water immediately drain through our predominantly sand soils? I want to see a lush Sunset Blvd filled with lush, draught tolerant, useful, edible, medicinal perennial polyculture ecosystems brimming with vibrant colors and buzzing with beautiful butterflies and other fauna. Of course, I’d also like to see exclusive bike paths, child-friendlyu walking paths, less cars and, ultimately, silent magnet, solar powered light rail running down what used to be car lanes, as well. I’d like to see Ms. Patti Dillon’s property skyrocket in value because San Francisco has the most secure, local food supply of any city in North America, a healthy local watershed, the safest, “greenest” streets and the most culturally diverse and wonderful urban ecosystem in the region. Yes, Ms. Dillon and yes, Ms. Martin, let’s enhance what wee have and design for what we need now!
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]]> by: Patti Dillon http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/07/23/the-greening-of-san-franciscos-streetscapes/#comment-728 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:42:37 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/07/23/the-greening-of-san-franciscos-streetscapes/#comment-728 I love San Francisco. I'm a 4th generation native and my family has been in the Sunset - on the same block - since the 1920s. I also love the idea of the "greening" of San Francisco. But I have no faith in the actual application of the concept. Why? Drive around the neighborhood and see all the lawns that have been concreted over and the City does nothing to stop it. Those lawns and plantings are "greening" for the City. Look at the planting spaces on the sidewalks that are full of weeds and trash. Does the City want more "greening" in those planting spaces or is it just looking for holes in the sidewalk to catch water so it doesn't go into the sewer system? Sunset Boulevard is exactly the sort of public space Ms. Martin refers to in her article. It looked like crap for years until the PGA tournament tournament came to town. Then it got all pretty and watered and mowed because "company" coming. Once the tournament was over it went back to being unmowed, untended and underwatered. Now it is brown from Golden Gate Park to Lake Merced. If you cannot take care of the public green spaces you already have what right have you got to create more?<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 1</li> </ul> I love San Francisco. I’m a 4th generation native and my family has been in the Sunset - on the same block - since the 1920s. I also love the idea of the “greening” of San Francisco. But I have no faith in the actual application of the concept.
Why? Drive around the neighborhood and see all the lawns that have been concreted over and the City does nothing to stop it. Those lawns and plantings are “greening” for the City. Look at the planting spaces on the sidewalks that are full of weeds and trash. Does the City want more “greening” in those planting spaces or is it just looking for holes in the sidewalk to catch water so it doesn’t go into the sewer system?
Sunset Boulevard is exactly the sort of public space Ms. Martin refers to in her article. It looked like crap for years until the PGA tournament tournament came to town. Then it got all pretty and watered and mowed because “company” coming. Once the tournament was over it went back to being unmowed, untended and underwatered. Now it is brown from Golden Gate Park to Lake Merced.
If you cannot take care of the public green spaces you already have what right have you got to create more?
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]]> by: lik roper http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/07/23/the-greening-of-san-franciscos-streetscapes/#comment-726 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:28:28 +0000 http://actlocallysf.org/blog/topic/2007/07/23/the-greening-of-san-franciscos-streetscapes/#comment-726 i was thinking that it might be a good idea to plant fruit trees and/or perennial seed-bearing plants in gardens on rooftops in SF to create habitat for parrots and other avian wildlife - www.likroper.com<ul><li><label>Overall Rating</label>: 10</li> </ul> i was thinking that it might be a good idea to plant fruit trees and/or perennial seed-bearing plants in gardens on rooftops in SF to create habitat for parrots and other avian wildlife - www.likroper.com
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