A New Visitacion Valley Public Library

As part of the bond measure overwhelmingly passed by the voters in November 2000, the San Francisco Public Library is replacing the Visitacion Valley Branch Library. The branch is currently located in a small leased facility. The Library purchased the Super Fair Market property, at the corner of Leland and Rutland, to build a new branch.

After a series of community meetings, plans for an 8,700 square foot library were designed. This design includes a prominent corner entrance, separate teen, children, and adult areas, two study rooms, a program room, functional staff areas, more computers, large windows, and shelving for nearly twice as many books and other materials as the current branch.

The Friends of the San Francisco Public Library are raising funds from private donations for new furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the branch library. Funding shortfalls in recent years have delayed design and construction of the new building. On March 1, 2007, the Library Commission passed the recommended budget and schedule that will ensure that design for the new building begin in July of 2007 and construction to be completed in 2010

Housing Boom

In the next 10 years Vis Valley will potentially see approximately 3,400 units of new housing.

Schlage Lock

The City has created the Visitacion Valley Redevelopment Survey Area encompassing the 20-acre Schlage Lock site and the adjacent commercial areas on Leland and Bayshore. New development on the Schlage Lock site could bring up to 1000 new housing units to the immediate area, increasing the market base for Leland’s businesses. Also, parks and more retail spaces are planned for the development.

The Travelodge Site at Bayshore and Hester, will include 120 units of housing, and 146 off street parking spaces, which is currently under construction

The Executive Park Site will have two 7-story buildings and one 9-story building which will add 450 dwelling units to the community.

Top Vision Currently has 304 condominiums already built, and 465 additional were just approved by the city planning commission.

These individual developments will combine to have a very significant impact on the growth and prosperity of the Leland/Bayshore Corridor. It is an opportunity to capitalize on a boost in population, and an opportunity for current residents, business owners, and property owners to mold the future of their community.

Physical Improvements

The City of San Francisco has invested time and money in developing programs and projects to help improve the physical landscape of the Corridor, and they have a commitment to seeing Visitacion Valley through this process of transition.

The most significant project the Leland/Bayshore corridor will encounter is the Streetscape Improvement Project. The project will aid in the overall economic health and physical appearance of Leland Avenue. The overall goals of the design effort include:

Improve district’s identity and appearance

Increase the economic viability of small businesses on Leland by providing an attractive, pedestrian-friendly street environment.

Enhance pedestrian safety and conditions, particularly at the intersection of Leland Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard

Promote increased transit use by providing better pedestrian connections to the Third Street Light Rail

Involve Visitacion Valley community stakeholders in the design and planning for Leland Avenue

The preferred design is a product of a series of community meetings and one special meeting for Leland Avenue Merchants. The preferred design consists of alternating pedestrian lighting and street trees along Leland Avenue, with special plantings, seating, and corner bulb-outs at intersections. The design pays special attention to the Leland/Bayshore Intersection and the Leland/Peabody intersection.

The future of Visitacion Valley is bright!