Residents pushing for redevelopment of Schlage factory site

From today's SFGate,

A closed factory on San Francisco's Bayshore Boulevard has become the blight of Visitacion Valley, but a redevelopment plan could bring new housing and retail space to the site.

The Schlage Lock Co. shut in 1999, and city officials say they envision the company's 12-acre site transformed into an extension of the existing community, with 800 housing units, 15 percent of which would be designated as affordable housing, and 100,000 square feet for a much-needed major grocery store, plus other retail and open space.

Plans, however, are in the very early stages -- the property is still owned by Schlage's parent company, Ingersoll Rand Co. Ltd.

Planning Department and Redevelopment Agency officials will hold the first of four community meetings to discuss the redevelopment possibilities of the site tonight at the Church of the Visitacion.

Many residents in the neighborhood welcome plans for renewal, frustrated by the seeming lack of progress in razing the factory and rebuilding on the site.

"Right now we have a big gaping hole in the neighborhood," said Fran Martin, chair of the Visitacion Valley Planning Alliance. "It'll never develop or become whole until this issue is taking care of. People definitely want something to happen there."

Planners hope to be able to add an additional 8 acres to the Schlage site for development, for a total of 20 acres. [more...]

Next meeting:
August 28, 2006 | Monday 6:00 - 8:30 PM
@ the hall of the Church of the Visitacion
655 Sunnydale Ave. (@ Rutland Ave.)

Residents pushing for redevelopment of Schlage factory site [SFGate]
Visitacion Valley / Schlage Lock Master Plan [SFGov]
Visitation Valley vs. Ingersoll Rand [SFHomeBlog]