The proposed plans to develop Main Post (CAMP, Movie Theater, Lodge,
Café, Visitors Center) are destructive to both the park, open-space conservation/restoration, neighborhood planning & historical integrity.

Having gone to many of the meetings over the past year, it is apparent the current members of the Presidio Trust are not & have not been acting on behalf of the park nor the majority of its neighborhoods. The last meeting was a travesty given that not only was the meeting planned when 50+% of the affected neighborhoods were out of town on Spring break (including Bob Burke who is a trust member) but also a large group of people, that were clearly either paid or work for one of the development constituencies, wasted everyone’s time giving repetitive remarks – they were not concerned, informed citizens.

The drawings are misleading – the buildings w/ their walk-ways are going to translate into a dense urban feeling.

Where are all the cars going?

The Trust’s traffic solutions were undermined by Muni’s recent cancellation of the primary feeder bus routes so the primary access is going to be cars.

Presidio Executive Director,Craig Middleton’s assertion the development will only increase traffic by 4% is insulting to anyone who is has ½ a brain and makes no sense when compared to the other projections – such as the development is expected to more than triple the number of annual visitors to Main Post. How do you get a 300% increase in visitors to a small area but only a 4% increase in traffic?

I go to the Presidio Post office every day – currently the congestion of cars, buses, bikers, dogs and pedestrians can be daunting.

The Trust’s solution for dealing with the traffic has been to put lights down Presidio & Arguello Avenues and sync them to Bush Street/Fulton St’s respectively. I say why not re-open the Presidio/Broadway gate (@ the Lyon Street Steps) since this is a much more direct (about 1/2 the distance) and safer route (not as many pedestrians and only 10% number of garages opening onto Broadway) to a major thoroughfare (Divisidero). Of course I know the answer…but the answer is evidence of cronyism and political self dealing.

There are numerous other reasons to oppose this development as I am sure you are aware. What about the noise? The wildlife?

In closing – If the development must go in the Presidio, please locate the plan to Fort Scott which is lying fallow right now and has thousands of square feet of empty buildings (other than a few offices and kids playing fields which could be moved to Main Post). Fort Scott is a majestic site with great views; it is conveniently located off the Golden Gate Bridge and would not have the impact on so many dense residential neighborhoods. One could route traffic down 19th Ave, Doyle Drive-Lombard or across the bridge. And it is far enough from neighborhoods to not have an adverse affect on them… Fort Scott is “on the edge” like the Metropolitan Museum in Central Park/NYC.

There is a meeting tomorrow night – all elected officials should attend and openly explain his/her position on this highly charged issue.

Thank you.

Weren’t there more cars in the Presidio when it was an active military base?

I’m no fan of hoards of cars but this sounds a bit too much like whining. I wish we had such good, adaptive reuse ideas for our old military bases here around NYC.

Hey, at least this is a good reason to expand streetcar service west, through the tunnel at Fort Mason and down to the Presidio.