April was a busy month for the Marina Community Association (MCA). Along with an ongoing list of projects and action items, the MCA held a general neighborhood meeting on April 27 to allow all members and neighbors to learn more about activities in our neighborhood. I would like to thank all the MCA directors, members and guests who helped make this an outstanding event.

Here are some of the other issues that have involved the MCA over the past month.

America’s Cup: We are all excited to have the opportunity to host a world-class sailing event in San Francisco. The America’s Cup sailing races will begin in the summer of 2012, culminating in the championship races that will be held in the summer of 2013. Residents of the Marina have a special incentive to get involved: while we are likely to have front-row seats to the event, preliminary projections suggested that approximately 100,000 spectators per day may be travelling to our neighborhood – four to five times as many as a typical Fleet Week event. The MCA is working hard to ensure that the needs of our residents are not overlooked.

AT&T Mobility: We all love our cell phones and want them to work regardless of where we are. But the growth in cellular subscribers, along with the demand for high bandwidth data applications, is driving the need for more cellular antennas. AT&T Mobility has two projects underway that have raised some concerns among residents. The first is a proposal to locate several communications centers – with 9 to 12 antennas – at various locations in the neighborhood. One proposed site is on top of a residential apartment building on the corner of Chestnut and Scott Streets. AT&T Mobility is also proposing to install numerous aboveground equipment boxes on sidewalks throughout the City. A number of organizations; including the MCA, have challenged the need and placement of these boxes, and question their requirement to undergo environmental review.

Busses in the Marina: Marina residents continue to complain about commercial busses operating on restricted streets in our neighborhood. The busses, operated by private contractors, are frequently being used to shuttle commuters to and from offices on the Peninsula. At other times, however, they are simply flaunting the bus restrictions to facilitate tourist trips through our neighborhood. The MCA is actively working with city agencies to achieve a reasonable resolution to the issue.

King Edward II: The project to convert the King Edward II Inn into housing for at-risk young adults is still under review in the Planning Department. But neighborhood concerns about how the Community Housing Partnership and the Mayor’s Office of Housing have managed the project are growing. While the original plan was to continue to operate the King Edward II Inn as a tourist hotel, shortly after the funding was received, CHP chose to close the inn because of potential ADA violations. They have also been cited on more than one occasion for doing unpermitted work on the property. Regardless of how you feel about the objectives of the project, CHP has done little to demonstrate their willingness to become a part of our community.

Fort Mason F-Line: A draft EIS for improvements to Fort Mason was recently released for public comment and included, among other projects, the extension of Muni’s Historic Railway through the Fort Mason tunnel. The proposal has resurrected an ongoing debate about how this might affect traffic and parking congestion in the Marina, as well as whether or not this is the most beneficial use of resources. Proposals to expand bus service or convert the tunnel to a bike path or walkway were apparently not reviewed in detail, raising questions among many neighborhood residents.

Café at the Marina Green: The Recreation and Park Department, which manages Marina Green, have issued a RFP to convert the former Degaussing Station – the small gray building along the waterfront on the Marina Green – into a food service facility. Many of us would enjoy a cup of coffee or bite to eat while spending time at the Green, but also share concerns about the impact of a commercial establishment. The MCA is actively engaged in working with RPD to ensure that any potential establishment is in keeping with the needs of our neighborhood.

Many neighborhood projects and issues are ongoing and their status may change from day to day. To learn more, feel free to visit the MCA website at www.sfmca.org. Better yet, if you are a resident or property owner in the Marina, become a member of the Marina Community Association. You can reach us via e-mail at [email protected].

John Millar is the president of the Marina Community Association. You are eligible to join MCA if you are over 18 and a resident or owner of a dwelling within the Marina. Visit www.sfmca.org for more information.