Hello Greenway supporters! We are excited to share this overdue petition update. First of all, thank you for your support!

Come by and soak up our superbloom, right here in the Mission District! 957 Treat Ave, or use the other entrance on the corner of 22nd St and Harrison St. 

We’ve had busy months activating the Greenway with garden beds, events, and collaborating with neighbours and nearby schools.

Read our website and past newsletters to catch up on what's been happening. If you're on Instagram, find us to stay updated there. 
And keep sharing this petition : ) 

We’re grateful to the rain that’s kept the plants well-watered, and to you. Our conversations with District 9 residents and the 1,700 signatures we've received, have shown us time and time again that reclaiming and greening this blighted lot and saving it from being coerced into a private/commercial parking lot, is something we are collectively striving for. 

Onto the big news: A public hearing about the parcel is coming up! We want you to join us at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, April 26th in Room 416 at San Francisco's City Hall. 

We need to stop the internet company Monkeybrains from a land grab. After purchasing the old Heinzer warehouse at 931-933 Treat Avenue - a warehouse adjacent to the parcel - Monkeybrains is trying to build a private fence and use the majority of the parcel as 24/7 commercial parking lot and loading zone. 

On March 2, Monkeybrains falsified a building permit application by claiming ownership of the parcel in order to build their own private iron fence, which would effectively shut off public access. For the record: they do not own this property. In fact, there is no recorded ownership at all.

We appealed the permit, and we need you to, as well. We’re confident we will win this appeal, and we think this hearing is the perfect opportunity to show the Board of Appeals and other city officials (we’re looking at you, Supervisor Ronen) how strong the Greenway support is. This is our moment to let the city know that we, as a community, demand change. 

We encourage everyone to start by writing a letter of support to the Board of Appeals at boardofappeals@sfgov.org. Deadline for this letter is Thursday, April 20th 4:30PM. 

Show up at the hearing to let your voice be heard, too! You can join in person, online, or by phone. Come speak as a member of the public on the future of our neighbourhood by coming to City Hall on Wednesday, April 26 at 5PM or joining from home.
Find out how to join remotely via this link. 

Many of you spent last year successfully arguing for Slow Streets, or Car Free JFK, all measures that prioritized people over cars, slowed this city and advanced the idea that green spaces are not only possible but urgently needed. The Greenway is a part of that vision: pedestrian-friendly, open to the public and in line with the push to decarbonize San Francisco and restore some of its natural landscape. 

Here is a sample letter to the Board of Appeals, feel free to personalize it: 

-------
Subject: Appeal Number 23-008 

I’m writing as a supporter of Friends of the Mission Greenway, a non-profit that is working with the Mission community to transform Parcel 36, a historic railroad right-of-way connecting Treat Ave to 22nd St., into a micro-farm supporting small-scale food production, education, and environmental stewardship.

Please immediately rescind the Department of Building Inspection permit #2023 03022910 issued on March 2, 2023. The applicant of this permit, Alejandro (Alex) Menendez, knowingly supplied false information when he stated that he is both “owner” and “owner's agent” of 957 Treat Ave (parcel 3639-036) through his LLC 17th & Peralta. 

There are no owners on record for Parcel 3639-036, including Menendez, who lied in order to build a private gate to enclose property he does not own to build a 24/7 parking lot and loading zone for private use. 

I support the restoration of public access to this parcel, as well as its transformation into a garden for the benefit of the neighbourhood and support the Mission Greenway’s efforts to that end.

Until legal ownership of this parcel is established, we insist that parcel 3639-036 and its three sub-parcels are red-flagged by the Department of Building Inspection in order to prevent other fraudulent permit applications. There should be no future permit applications for this parcel approved for Menendez, any of his LLCs, or for any other parties.
---------

We can make this Greenway grow, and reclaim the parcel for public access. Have any questions? Just ask us on the Greenway, at themissiongreenway@gmail.com or message us on social media.

Thank you for your support!