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Small Business

Neighborhood small business issues we advocate for.

HVSafe Letter to Planning Department, RE: 618 & 630 Octavia

We’re sharing our recent correspondence to the Planning Department regarding the housing development plan for 618 & 630 Octavia. We recognize taking a position is often fraught with apprehension, but we believe it’s critical for the health of civic dialogue, advocacy and the right to redress. Attention San Francisco Planning Commission: HVSafe supports the proposed project for 618 & 630 Octavia. We’ve had an open dialogue with Eduardo Sagues/March Capital Management and are satisfied with the answers and information provided …

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Shared Street Closure Permit Renewal – 300 Block of Hayes

It is increasingly evident that justification for the Shared Street Closure on Hayes Street has run its course. The program, hastily enacted under emergency policy, has not been subject to community review since its initial roll out in August of 2020. This lack of process has allowed the permittee, HVNA (Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association), to control the closure without input from impacted local businesses, still struggling to recover from the economic fallout of the ongoing pandemic. No data, metrics, or …

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Repercussions of Chain Stores Not Holding Regular Business Hours Impacting Small Business Operators Store Security

We have a number of chain stores on our business corridor who are currently not holding regular store hours, no visible store hours posted, or staff regularly on site -these stores are now experiencing breakins – putting small independent business operators on edge and concerned about their store security. We reached out to Northern Station SFPD to inquire about any additional security — things do not look promising because staffing remains a challenge. We are working closely with the HVSBA …

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HVSafe Letter to Planning Department, RE: Rivian at 340 Fell

We’re sharing our recent correspondence to the Planning Department and some of our positions on this matter. We recognize taking a position is often fraught with apprehension, but we believe it’s critical for the health of civic dialogue, advocacy and the right to redress. Attention San Francisco Planning Commission: We are astounded to read in the Planning Commission Project Summary and Draft Motion that Rivian’s “proposed use and character is compatible with the surrounding area and is on balance compatible …

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Hayes Valley Business District Crime Issues

July 2021 Via CBS SF Bay Area https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt9O-WspYTc *Since posting this, the youtube video has been removed. Last updated: 8.5.21

HVSafe Letter to Planning Department, RE: Trader Joe’s at 555 Fulton

We thank all of you who reached out to us to add your .02 and concerns about Trader Joe’s. We’re sharing our recent correspondence to the Planning Department and some of our positions on this matter. We recognize taking a position is often fraught with apprehension, but we believe it’s critical for the health of civic dialogue, advocacy and the right to redress. Attention San Francisco Planning Commission: Hayes Valley is plagued with reckless driving and traffic congestion. SFMTA continues …

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Thoughts on Trader Joe’s: Traffic and Parking

Pre Application Meeting Takeaways continued You can read part 1 of our thoughts here. Traffic and parking concerns were at the forefront of the topics covered at the meeting. For a neighborhood plagued with traffic congestion, reckless driving issues and SFMTA continuing to minimize parking options it’s understandable that there are serious concerns of the impacts this chainstore will bring to this area. When pressed TJ’s could not clearly answer about exact parking configuration or proposed solutions to the expected …

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More Thoughts on Trader Joe’s

Pre Application Meeting Takeaways Last week’s Pre Application meeting with Trader Joe’s left us with more questions than answers. The overall vibe of the meeting was mixed. On one hand, Trader Joe’s fans expressed overall enthusiasm about the plan. On the other, there was a myriad of concerns expressed by attendees. Concerns fielded at the meeting included topics pertaining to the potential impact that a chain store, especially one of this size, will have on existing independent small businesses in …

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A Take on Recent Merchant Breakins in Hayes Valley

A recent post in Public Comment SF about merchants being hit hard with breakins made our eyes roll a tad due to the outspokenness of a few chairmen of the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association (HVNA). Side note, we think it’s unfortunate the piece did not carry the view of small businesses on the corridor, but we recognize timing isn’t always on one’s side when stories are compiled. The following comments stand out in this piece: “With no tourist cars to …

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Formula Retail Chain Trader Joe’s in Hayes Valley?

The impact of bringing Formula Retail Chain Trader Joe’s to Hayes Valley is not being taken lightly by many long term businesses in the neighborhood, many of whom have shaped the character of the merchant corridor. Even more relevant to this topic is many of them have not been included in any of the discussions regarding Trader Joe’s. Here are just a few thoughts as we head in to Tuesday’s Pre Application Meeting. There is a consensus that there is …

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