How Safeway is faring in other neighborhoods

[jon winston]

Looks like other nieghborhoods are more wary of Safeway than we have been.

http://fb.me/193qZSZ1f

[Jennifer Heggie]

Yes, though I think they have more reason to be concerned. We don't have a large number of specialty stores around to compete; we don't have an upscale, trendy image; and the remodeled Sunnyside Safeway isn't going to have a footprint any larger than the current Safeway plus small parking lot. It will never be a super store. I do hope the Sunnyside remodeled Safeway provides us a greater variety of food options.

   

Jennifer

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From: jon winston <jwins...@gmail.com>
To: sunnysidesf <sunny...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, August 1, 2011 5:38 AM
Subject: [sunnyside-sf] How Safeway is faring in other neighborhoods

Looks like other nieghborhoods are more wary of Safeway than we have been.

http://fb.me/193qZSZ1f

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[jon winston]

Agreed. But one thing we do have in common is the loading dock and parking entrance problems. Safeway wants a variance for a three lane entrance to the parking lot and they want to remove most of the median on Monterey, along with three palms. In view of all of the work we have been doing at FoMB to improve safety at Monterey and Forester this is a big step backwards.

"In Albany, Safeway is tinkering with plans for an expansion of the Solano Avenue store, based on complaints from the public. The store size will remain the same, but the loading dock and parking garage entrance are under review due to fears about traffic"

--jon

On Mon, Aug 1, 2011 at 9:44 AM, Jennifer Heggie <jennife...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Yes, though I think they have more reason to be concerned. We don't have a large number of specialty stores around to compete; we don't have an upscale, trendy image; and the remodeled Sunnyside Safeway isn't going to have a footprint any larger than the current Safeway plus small parking lot. It will never be a super store. I do hope the Sunnyside remodeled Safeway provides us a greater variety of food options.

   

Jennifer

http://fb.me/193qZSZ1f

[Ellen Wall]

I think the other neighborhoods are right. The current Sunnyside store is quite profitable for Safeway; it does not need to be bigger. All the new store will do for us is cause more traffic problems on Monterey with its inadequate access to loading docks. I do not care that SNA has supported this new store; it will scarcely affect me at Edna at Judson. But it will not be a plus for the neighborhood. Best, Ellen

>>> jon winston 08/01/11 5:38 AM >>>

[Jennifer Heggie]

What are the safety issues?

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From: jon winston <jwins...@gmail.com>

To: Jennifer Heggie <jennife...@yahoo.com>
Cc: sunnysidesf <sunny...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, August 1, 2011 9:55 AM
Subject: Re: [sunnyside-sf] How Safeway is faring in other neighborhoods

[S.]

If Safeway would just get rid of the trashy recycling center, paint all over, clean up the filthy parking lot and keep the produce section stocked I'd be happy. It's the only store I've even been to in the U.S. that is regularly out of bananas.

Removing the trees and median and blocking traffic flow on a major freeway corridor is ill advised, at best.

Sharon

---

From: jon winston <jwins...@gmail.com>

To: Jennifer Heggie <jennife...@yahoo.com>
Cc: sunnysidesf <sunny...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, August 1, 2011 9:55 AM

Subject: Re: [sunnyside-sf] How Safeway is faring in other neighborhoods

--

[Jennifer Heggie]

The recycling center will be removed with the change.

Per the concerns regarding safety and traffic blocking: My understanding is that the only median that will be removed will be for part of the block between Foerster and Gennessee. I have not heard of any median removal planned on Monterey between Edna and Foerster, which are the roads that intersect with Sunnyside and St. Finn Barr schools. Students can use the side of the intersection that is unchanged if they have any discomfort crossing on the other side. I would think that having three less palm trees as drivers approach Foerster from Ridgewood provides a better view of the intersection at Monterey and Foerster and therefore makes that intersection more rather than less safe. Cars coming from the freeway direction will have the same view they have always had of the Foerster and Edna intersections. And traffic will be held up less at the Foerster intersection when they make a left turn into Safeway further from the that busier intersection.

The purpose of removing part of the median between Foerster and Gennessee is so that the large delivery trucks can enter the store from Monterey Boulevard during non-primetime hours. This compromise was discussed many times over the last few years at the neighborhood association meetings which are open to and free to the public. Large truck deliveries will be made at non-primetime hours, and my understanding is that the deliveries will end before students need to use the crosswalks on their way to school in the morning, since concern for student pedestrians was brought up in the meetings.

By the way, in no way do I represent Safeway, and I am not writing in representation of the SNA. It's just that I have been following what has been discussed and negotiated during the SNA meetings over the last several years. I am an interested neighbor who walks to Safeway frequently. The only safety/traffic concern I have is with the left turn out of the Safeway parking lot. If there were alot of traffic going toward Gennessee, and that is the direction I want to take, I'd turn right instead of left and go around the block.

Jennifer

---

From: S. <azaramic...@yahoo.com>
To: "jwins...@gmail.com" <jwins...@gmail.com>; Jennifer Heggie <jennife...@yahoo.com>
Cc: sunnysidesf <sunny...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, August 1, 2011 11:43 AM

Subject: Re: [sunnyside-sf] How Safeway is faring in other neighborhoods

[Richard G.]

Thanks for recapping the long well attended community process, Jennifer.  It is going to be a good safe addition, and almost all Sunnysiders involved have agreed.  

Besides something has to compete with the new 26,000 square foot Whole Foods that is opening in our neighborhood soon, (with 177 market rate 1 and 2 bedroom condos on top of its 8 story building...).

Our new Safeway will only double it's current 5,000 square footage to mere 10,000 square feet by comparison.  

Lowering the speed limit on Monterey to 25mph, which is also in the hopper, will make things safer. The rest  of the modifications all make sense, and will work fine.

[Adrienne Johnson]

I am concerned that there are still plans, even if they are not firm, to make the Monterey Safeway a 24 hour store.  The store is currently not good at keeping it's external areas clean (they are covered in motor oil and filth), the driveways are unsafe and there are frequent interactions between drivers and pedestrians at those driveways.  When I report to the store that there are shopping carts left at the Detroit intersection, they do not come and get them (someone in the store unlocks the carts to allow customers to leave the premises with them) and people then throw the carts down the staircase.  If we then add more customers from a larger store, more traffic to get them in and out... I have little faith with what I have seen of this Safeway over the last 18 years to believe that a larger store will not cause more problems and that those problems will extend to all hours of the day and night.

[Rebecca Kennedy]

Oh, I DO hope they put those poor palm trees out of their misery.  Someone must have heard "sunny"side neighborhood and believed that we actually get enough sun during the year to grow palm trees.
A turn lane into Safeway would be a great benefit. I've never been in the left-hand lane heading west without needing to wait for one or two cars to turn into the parking lot.

[Jennifer Heggie]

Tonight's meeting might be a good time to ask those questions. The meeting starts at 7pm,  and issues from the floor are usually brought up at the end of the meeting if the topic isn't already on the agenda. If there is no time, then we could ask a board member to bring it up with the board.

Jennifer

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From: Adrienne Johnson <bus...@gmail.com>
To: "richa...@gmail.com" <richa...@gmail.com>
Cc: "jennife...@yahoo.com" <jennife...@yahoo.com>; S. <azaramic...@yahoo.com>; "jwins...@gmail.com" <jwins...@gmail.com>; sunnysidesf <sunny...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Monday, August 1, 2011 3:44 PM

Subject: Re: [sunnyside-sf] How Safeway is faring in other neighborhoods

I am concerned that there are still plans, even if they are not firm, to make the Monterey Safeway a 24 hour store.  The store is currently not good at keeping it's external areas clean (they are covered in motor oil and filth), the driveways are unsafe and there are frequent interactions between drivers and pedestrians at those driveways.  When I report to the store that there are shopping carts left at the Detroit intersection, they do not come and get them (someone in the store unlocks the carts to allow customers to leave the premises with them) and people then throw the carts down the staircase.  If we then add more customers from a larger store, more traffic to get them in and out... I have little faith with what I have seen of this Safeway over the last 18 years to believe that a larger store will not cause more problems and that those problems will extend to all hours of the day and night.

On Monday, August 1, 2011, Richard G. <richa...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks for recapping the long well attended community process, Jennifer.  It is going to be a good safe addition, and almost all Sunnysiders involved have agreed.  
> Besides something has to compete with the new 26,000 square foot Whole Foods that is opening in our neighborhood soon, (with 177 market rate 1 and 2 bedroom condos on top of its 8 story building...).
> Our new Safeway will only double it's current 5,000 square footage to mere 10,000 square feet by comparison.  
> Lowering the speed limit on Monterey to 25mph, which is also in the hopper, will make things safer. The rest  of the modifications all make sense, and will work fine.
> On Mon, Aug 1, 2011 at 12:14 PM, Jennifer Heggie <jennife...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> The recycling center will be removed with the change.
>
> Per the concerns regarding safety and traffic blocking: My understanding is that the only median that will be removed will be for part of the block between Foerster and Gennessee. I have not heard of any median removal planned on Monterey between Edna and Foerster, which are the roads that intersect with Sunnyside and St. Finn Barr schools. Students can use the side of the intersection that is unchanged if they have any discomfort crossing on the other side. I would think that having three less palm trees as drivers approach Foerster from Ridgewood provides a better view of the intersection at Monterey and Foerster and therefore makes that intersection more rather than less safe. Cars coming from the freeway direction will have the same view they have always had of the Foerster and Edna intersections. And traffic will be held up less at the Foerster intersection when they make a left turn into Safeway further from the that busier intersection.
>
> The purpose of removing part of the median between Foerster and Gennessee is so that the large delivery trucks can enter the store from Monterey Boulevard during non-primetime hours. This compromise was discussed many times over the last few years at the neighborhood association meetings which are open to and free to the public. Large truck deliveries will be made at non-primetime hours, and my understanding is that the deliveries will end before students need to use the crosswalks on their way to school in the morning, since concern for student pedestrians was brought up in the meetings.
> By the way, in no way do I represent Safeway, and I am not writing in representation of the SNA. It's just that I have been following what has been discussed and negotiated during the SNA meetings over the last several years. I am an interested neighbor who walks to Safeway frequently. The only safety/traffic concern I have is with the left turn out of the Safeway parking lot. If there were alot of traffic going toward Gennessee, and that is the direction I want to take, I'd turn right instead of left and go around the block.
>
> Jennifer
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: S. <azaramic...@yahoo.com>
> To: "jwins...@gmail.com" <jwins...@gmail.com>; Jennifer Heggie <jennife...@yahoo.com>
> Cc: sunnysidesf <sunny...@googlegroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, August 1, 2011 11:43 AM
> Subject: Re: [sunnyside-sf] How Safeway is faring in other neighborhoods
>
> If Safeway would just get rid of the trashy recycling center, paint all over, clean up the filthy parking lot and keep the produce section stocked I'd be happy. It's the only store I've even been to in the U.S. that is regularly out of bananas.
> Removing the trees and median and blocking traffic flow on a major freeway corridor is ill advised, at best.
> Sharon

> ________________________________ --