Though vibrant 24th Street stands firm in maintaining its unique Latino identity, the concept of “urban prototyping” is now sweeping the neighborhood, as it has many other areas of San Francisco in recent years.
A movement that is self-defined as “temporary interventions in public space to drive longer term conversation and changes in a city,” Urban Prototyping is embodied by the numerous “parklets” that dot Valencia Street and other San Francisco streets.
Matthew Passmore of San Francisco-based design firm Rebar, spoke on sustainability and community-themed methods during “Design Cycle,” an event hosted by Brava Theater, proclaiming “we can reinterpret the urban landscape to create a more adaptive, creative, responsive, resilient city.”
But who benefits from these “temporary interventions of space,” and what kind of community will the spaces be sustaining? Will Rebar be as “adaptive and responsive” to the community should they not agree with the changes taking place?
“Accessibility must start in the planning phase. A diverse group representing the community will guarantee true accessibility to the whole community,” said Charlie Sciammas of People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights (PODER).
“It is important to recognize the context of development,” he added. “The City says that any new development is good, but policies working alongside economic interests are surpassing and excluding folks who have helped create the cultural identity of the community.”
Ilaria Salvadori of the City-sponsored Pavement to Parks program, confirms a new round of parklets is coming soon, adding to the 42 existing parklets throughout the city, along with the Rebar-designed Bartlett Mercado Plaza to be constructed at 22nd and Bartlett streets in 2014.
“We’re fighting tooth and nail against parklets, the merchants depend on vital parking spaces being available to customers who drive from outside the Mission to get items only available on 24th Street,” said Erick Arguello of Lower 24th Street Merchants Association.
Spanning three spaces, a temporary parklet in front of Brava offered a mini-stage with live bluegrass music, Rebar-designed “bubbleware” categorized as “social furniture,” and the Taco Bike to patrons of the $18 event.
Roger Ortega, a full-time plumber and sheet metal worker who has lived in the Mission for over 12 years, was doing his family’s laundry at Laundry World while the event was taking place next door.
“[The parklet] isn’t a bad idea, but when I need to pick up the clothes soon, it will be harder to park my van near the laundromat,” he said. Ortega rents a studio apartment with his wife and two children.
Images of artwork rendered from ordinary plumbing pipes and fittings flickering behind Passmore stand in stark contrast with the daily struggle to survive that Ortega and many other people of the Mission community describe.
“I love San Francisco, but it’s getting ridiculous. My wife and I both work, even with two incomes we can only live month-to-month,” said Ortega.