Funders
What is a Better Neighborhood Plan?

The work of the San Francisco Planning Department is focused on developing General Plan policy and permanent controls - revisions to zoning, review procedures and planning code requirements. Their objective is to find positive ways to accommodate growth ensuring that new development enhances and preserves the quality and character of the neighborhoods and provide new places with services and amenities that support urban living. The Japantown neighborhood, with its rich 100-year history, is truly an urban place that supports a variety of lifestyles, ages and income groups.

It is one of the only three remaining Japantowns in the United States. It has excellent access to city and regional public transportation and offers a good variety of commercial streets that provide access to daily needs. It continues to be one of the major San Francisco tourist attractions.

The Better Neighborhood Plan (BNP) is an initiative of the City Planning Department to bring together interested landowners, merchants, residents, non-profit organizations, and community stakeholders to develop a plan to insure the neighborhood's future viability and orderly development. The BNP process is expected to begin in early 2007 and be completed by mid-year. The JTF will be working with the Planning Department to engage the community in the process. More specific details of the process will be forthcoming.

To sign up for future mailings please call Ken Rich at (415) 558-6345 or by e-mail at Ken.Rich@sfgov.org.

We need each and every person who lives in, works in, shops in or cares about Japantown to get involved in the process. Please keep watching this site for more information about how to get involved. In the meantime, please make sure we have your mailing address and email address so we can keep you informed. Contact us by phone at (415) 575-9068 or email japantown@sfgov.org to join the mailing list.


Updated Project Timeline:We are in the beginning of the third and final phase of the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan. To get a better understanding of the overall project schedule, review our timeline by downloading a copy by clicking here.
Upcoming Focus Groups: Review Preliminary Solutions

Small group discussions will be held to present preliminary solutions for critical aspects of the Japantown Better Neighborhood, including design and heights, open space, circulation and parking, affordable and mixed-income housing, historic and cultural preservation, the proposal for 1481 Post Street residential tower, and the future of Japan Center.

Over the past four months, we have met with community members and stakeholders to better understand what issues, ideas and priorities people have for the future of Japantown. The Focus Groups have been organized by topics so you can discuss each one and their potential solutions in more depth.

Transportation & Circulation (parking, traffic and transit)
Tuesday, February 19
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Japantown Planning Room - Miyako Mall
Click here to see the presentation.
Click here to review meeting notes.

Cultural & Community Service Organizations Retention
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Japantown Planning Room - Miyako Mall
Click here to see the presentation.
Click here to review the meeting notes.

Urban Design (Street and building design, building heights)
Thursday, February 21, 2008
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Japantown Planning Room - Miyako Mall
This meeting used hand drawings to discuss the design ideas and therefore did not use a PowerPoint presentation.
Click here to review the meeting notes.

Business Retention and Support
Monday, February 25, 2008
2:00 - 4:00
Japantown Planning Room - Miyako Mall
Click here to see the presentation.
Click here to review the meeting notes.

Historic and Cultural Preservation
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Japantown Planning Room - Miyako Mall
Click here to see the presentation.
Click here to review the meeting notes.

Open Space and Wayfinding
Monday, March 3, 2008
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Japantown Planning Room - Miyako Mall
Click here to see the presentation.
Click here to review the meeting notes.

Housing: (Affordable & mixed-income; for seniors and families)
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Japantown Planning Room - Miyako Mall
Click here to see the presentation.
Click here to review the meeting notes.

Japan Center
Thursday, March 6, 2008
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Japantown Planning Room - Miyako Mall
Click here to see the presentation.
Click here to review the meeting notes.

1481 Post Street
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Japantown Planning Room - Miyako Mall
This was a brainstorming session since the proposal is changing, thus there was no presentation.
Click hereto review the meeting notes.

Please RSVP to Rosie Dudley at rosemary.dudley@sfgov.org or call 415.575.9068. In order to keep the size of the groups manageable, participants who RSVP first will be secured a spot in the group(s) of their choice. If space is filled, we will contact you with other options.
Recent News: Materials from Community Town Hall Meeting

We understand that everyone has busy lives so we've asked the presenters at the meetings to give us the materials they presented.

We are now in the second phase of the Japantown BNP. Learn about what happened at the latest community meeting, held on December 1st, by clicking here for the presentation by Planning Department staff, planning consultants, and project sponsors of two major development projects; Japan Center (Miyako and Kintetsu Malls) and 1481 Post St (a proposed 400-foot high-rise residential tower).

At this community meeting, Planning Department staff summarized the priorities we heard during the October 18th community meeting. The Department's planning consultants presented their findings on issues and opportunities related to urban design, implementation, and historic and cultural resources.

3D Investment's presented a range of concepts that they are considering for Japan Center. ADCO presented their proposal for 1481 Post Street. Participants had the opportunity to discuss the presented material with each of the consultants, planning staff and developers and provide their feedback in small groups.

Stay tuned for a summary of the meeting and announcements at our January/early February community workshop.
Project Update: Community Town Hall Meeting 3 & Entering Phase II

We have wrapped up the first phase of the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan, which included two townhall community meetings, 14 focus groups with a range of Japantown constituents, and five Steering Committee meetings. If you would like to read what people had to say during the focus groups, click here.

Saturday, December 1

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

JCCCNC (1840 Sutter St.)
(breakfast and lunch will be provided)

At this community meeting, we will cover the following:
  • Planning staff will summarize the priorities we heard during the October 18th community meeting.
  • Our planning consultants will present their urban design, economic, and historic and cultural resource analyses.
  • 3D Investment's consultants will present a range of concepts that they are considering for Japan Center.
  • You will discuss the presented material and provide your feedback in small groups.
Summary of Community Workshop #2

Our October 18th community meeting was well attended by over 150 people. Planning staff, Japantown Task Force and planning consultants presented a summary of our planning efforts over the past 6 months. There was a presentation done by Planning Department Staff and EDAW Staff. Community Members in attendance were split into small groups to participate in a prioritization exercise to talk about their goals and priorities.

The following are available to download including:
Project Update: Last Call for Surveys

Monday, November 12 will be the last day to submit your survey either by hardcopy or online. We have currently collected feedback from over 500 surveys in addition to feedback from 14 focus groups. This will conclude the first phase of the Better Neighborhood Plan (BNP).

The Survey is available in English and Japanese. Hard copies are available at:
  • Better Neighborhood Planning Room (Miyako Mall 2nd Floor)
  • Community Bulletin Board (near May's Coffee Shop)
  • Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California
  • Japantown Task Force
  • Kimochi Nutrition Site
  • Union Bank of California
Please return completed surveys to

Japantown Task Force
1765 Sutter St.
San Francisco, CA 94115

or

San Francisco Planning Department
Attn: Rosemary Dudley
1650 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Project Update: Community Town Hall Meeting #2 & More Focus Groups

We have wrapped up the first round of focus groups with the community, but there are a few more people who asked to participate. We have gathered over 300 surveys in English and Japanese. We will be continuing to collect surveys via online or hard copies through November 12. Don't wait too long, there is still time to participate!

We had a great attendance at the Community Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, October 18, but for those of you who were unable to attend, we will be having a review session of what was covered at the 10/18 meeting and will ask for your feedback on emerging priorities from the survey and focus group responses.

Please Join Us!

REPEAT SESSION OF COMMUNITY TOWN HALL MEETING Who? Those who missed the 10/18 Town Hall Meeting
What? Review the same information presented and prioritized at 10/18 meeting
When? Monday, October 29 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Where? Issei Memorial Hall, JCCCNC (1840 Sutter)

Focus Group: English and/or Japanese Speakers
Who? Japanese speaking community members
When? October 15 from 3 to 5 pm
Where? Hinode Tower, 1615 Sutter Street

Focus Group: Youth and Young Adult

Who? High-school students, college students and young adults
When? Saturday, October 19 from 3 to 5 pm
Where? Japantown BNP Planning Room, Miyako Mall 2nd Floor
Project Update: Focus Group Minutes and Next Community Town Hall Meeting

We have wrapped up the first round of focus groups with the community. In addition, we have summarized the responses from the first 170 surveys that have been submitted. Click here for a brief summary of what we have heard so far. If you would like to read what people had to say during any of the focus groups, go to the Planning Department's website to view Previous Meetings to download any of the meeting minutes from the nine focus groups.

It's not too late to tell us what you think! We will review what we have heard so far, show examples from other neighborhoods and confirm the priorities at our next community meeting.

Please join us!

Who? Everybody from the Japantown community
What? Second Town Hall Community Meeting
When? Thursday, Oct. 18 from 6 - 9 pm
Where? Issei Memorial Hall, JCCCNC (1840 Sutter)
Project Update: Focus Groups
As part of the first phase of the project, the Planning Department, Japantown Task Force and the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan Steering Committee have been holding a series of small group meetings to gather ideas and insights from community stakeholders. In order to hear from the wide range of people who live in, work in and visit Japantown, we have arranged nine focus group meetings. If you would like to learn more about the topics discussed at these meetings, download the description of planning topics below (Each one has a brief description of the topic, some images of the existing conditions related to that topic, and some examples from other places):


Project Update: How YOU can get involved
Small group meetings are being held to gather ideas and insights from you and other community members who have a stake in Japantown. The small group setting will provide you an opportunity to voice your opinions and discuss what improvements should be prioritized in this plan.

In order to hear from the wide range of people who live in, work in and visit Japantown, we have arranged the groups according to your perspective or experience. Each group will cover all of the plan topics, but depending on the interests of the participants, more time may be spent on particular topics.

What's most important to you? Which areas of Japantown would you like to see improved over the next 20 years? Come learn more about how the plan can address the following topic areas and tell us about your ideas! The schedule and location of these meetings, along with more information can be downloaded in the Summer 2007 Newsletter.
Project Update:
Since the March 28th Community Meeting that kicked off the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan, an ad hoc planning committee has been working with the Planning Department to organize the planning process. Small focus group meetings with community members representing various constituents in the neighborhood will be scheduled in July and August to gather feedback on priority issues and interests.

The ad hoc planning committee has accomplished the following in the last 90-days:
  • A steering committee of stakeholders that represent various segments of the community will be formed to oversee the planning process. The committee should be announced by the end of June.
  • The Scope of Work that lists the various stages and tasks necessary to complete the planning process. It calls for a 14-month process concluding with Planning Commission’s endorsement in June 2008. There will be four community town hall meetings to update the community on the progress. The next one will be held in the Fall (Aug/Sept.). Click here to see the Project Schedule and Scope of Work.
  • A Request for Proposals to hire five technical consultants has been released. These consultants will provide the Planning Department and the Japantown community with technical analysis; the team will include an Urban Planner, Transportation Planner, Economist, Historic Preservationist, and Cultural Preservationist. There will be a separate RFP for a Public Relations/Community Outreach Coordinator released by next week. Selection of the consultants is expected to be concluded by mid-July. The RFP is available for download here.
  • Small group meetings will be held to gather feedback from the various constituents and community members representing the Japantown neighborhood. The schedule, location and description will be sent to people who expressed interest at the March 28th Community Meeting or who have asked to be on the Japantown contact list. The information will also be posted on this website in late June. The groups will be organized to include individuals with the following perspectives or associations:
    • Residents and Homeowner Associations
    • Business and Property Owners and Tenants
    • Religious Organizations and
    • Seniors and Service Providers
    • Youth and Service Providers
    • Educators
    • Cultural Organizations
    • Shoppers/Visitors
    • Japanese-speaking community groups
    • Korean representatives and speaking groups
    • African American representatives

Community Meetings:
  1. Wednesday, March 28, 2007 from 6 to 8 p.m.
    Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California
    1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco

    The Planning Department has been asked by the Japantown community to begin a community planning process aimed at securing the future of Japantown and creating a better connection to Geary Blvd. and the Fillmore. This community discussion will be an opportunity to hear your ideas and concerns before the process if formally under way.

  2. October 18 & 29
    Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California
    1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco

    Our October 18th community meeting was well attended by over 150 people. Planning staff, Japantown Task Force and planning consultants presented a summary of our planning efforts over the past 6 months.

    PowerPoint Presentation (2.32 MB)
    Meeting Summary- (155 KB)
    Emerging Priorities - (40 KB)
    Group Notes - (143 KB)
    Comment Card - (59 KB)

  3. December 1, 2007 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Downloads:
Better Neighborhood Plan Survey
  • English Online Survey
  • Downloadable English Survey
    • - Click Here
  • Japanese Online Survey
  • Downloadable Japanese Survey - Click Here