the impact adjacent to this project. if you want to talk about where the impact is, clearly if there is parking on the site, they will drive there. these are for the conclusion of the parking spaces in the project. they're likely to drive the park. more probable -- more people would probably be in the garage. we come up with the limitation of the current methodology that we used. there seems to be a convenient

factor that would mean more trips on site rather than less convenient parking a block away. it would be great if the modeling can get you to the point where it that is factored in. it is more likely that that would drive to or the parking is convenient as opposed to what you have. i don't think it always works like that. >> i guess we are not saying that it would always work like that but in this area there is an abundance of parking. the decision on whether to drive or not is whether or not you can find parking. there was a memorandum that was prepared on the subject on how

this parking influenced trip making that was included in the package. in one sense, the memo was not completely on point. this was focused on essentially work trips which was focused on what research exists. intuitive or not but when we talk about substantial evidence, that is what we have to rely on and we have to look at that memo carefully. what this looks at is a half dozen studies where there is better information on these. the conclusion really was that intuitive or not, the relationship between supply and parking and how people travel, this is not as obvious as you would think.

we can all have punches or intuitions. >> if i have access to car and a bicycle, then i can carry one i'm going to have if i'm making a trip from here or my house. this will be a factor in determining whether i take my

bicycle or whether i grabbed the car. this is another hypothetical. as you see san francisco choosing alternatives, the way that we build, this will affect what kind of for a term made. -- what kind of trips are made. >> supervisor mirkarimi has been very instrumental in trying to take a different approach. one of the things that we have been urging is that there needs to be a follow-up. one reason there's not data because there has not been an assessment of the different things that would beat the resulting behavior pattern. in terms of your second

observation, in terms of what is the environment you are referring to, we might disagree on whether pedestrians and bicycle impacts are significant, we don't disagree that the conflicts are meaningful and need to be dealt with. those are perhaps the most meaningful aspects of the negotiations today. there is a commitment of dollars, there is a commitment of resources to try to come up with solutions that will make that environment safer. >> any additional questions.

>> we respectfully request that the board denied the appeal and of old the-- and uphold the permits. we feel that this is without merit. we have analyzed all parts of the project. there is a wide range of alternatives. this identifies different significant impact. this also engages in a comprehensive analysis of the potential historic resources on site. there is a potential impact which are adjacent to the site. all of the conclusions are supported by substantial evidence in the record.

the appellants have offered no evidence to substantiate their claims other than their verbal statements. i would respectfully submit that the real point is not the environmental impact but the appellants objection to the amount of parking approved by the planning commission. the planning commission voted 6-1 to approve parking as proposed. the planning code offers the appellant the ability to appeal the conditional use authorization. i will keep my remarks short. we have asked some of our speakers to for gorham making their comments. thank you. -- we have vast sum of our

speakers to forgo making their comments. >> at this time, if i can hear from members of the public that wish to speak on behalf of the project. each speaker shall have to two minutes. >> good evening. i work for richard hutcheson who is the ceo. he could not be here today but he wanted me to come here and voice our support. >> good evening, supervisors. i am with smith kreme finance in san francisco. a couple of years ago, some friends of mine came to visit me from germany and they brought

with them an extended family so there was six or 8 of them. they took the door to door jamb service into the city. i met with them later for dinner. on one of the people that was in the bus or in their group was a 19-year-old brother of one of the people visiting. in the course of our conversation, i said, what do you think of san francisco? he said it was the worst city that he had seen in the united states. this astounded me. mine used to teach hearing people say this is a great city. i asked what happened. -- i am used to hearing people say that this is a great city.

he said that he had never seen poverty and homelessness like he saw. he said we don't have this in germany. i have been to several other cities in the u.s. and they were not like this at all. i think that this project is capable of improving the traffic in this area and increasing our image which is something that we need to do. thank you. >> thank you. >> good afternoon. i live in the east bay and i work in san francisco. i will comments on what the previous speakers said. i remember long ago when the project tore up market street

and the promise of what it was going to look like when the project was completed. all of all zero of sidewalks, the brick. the area really looked good. a lot of the project has been offered up and frankly this is one of the last and possibly best hopes. i also have in-laws and family who have come from other parts of the country. when we walk around this part of san francisco, we are careful and we realize that the area is really noted for blight and crime. if the board backs, that could be changed into opportunity or tax revenue. this is a good project. i think that the developer has spent over backwards. this is something that should be approved.

>> good evening, supervisors. >> we are satisfied with the report and we urge you to except the plan in commission's decision. >> good evening, supervisors. i am here to express our support of the project. thank you. >> hello, i live 1/2 rincon hill. this project is necessary to revitalize the mid market. thank you. >> good afternoon. i am located on market street.

the proposed parking garage provides convenient and safe parking. i look forward to the day when customers don't have to park on stevens' high street. thank you. >> good afternoon, supervisors. i am here representing the union square business improvement district. we support this project, we believe that it will provide jobs and tax revenue for this city. with regards to the architecture, i would just comment that to the open facades will bring light to the street much like macy's does sense it has been renovated. i think that this is a nice improvement. we urge you to support this

project. thank you. >> i am the chief executive officer of -- and we own or lease the golden gate. we more than anyone are aware of how challenging it is to do business in the mid market neighborhood. safety improved with the renovation over 10 years ago and attracted more visitors and locals to the area. the construction will continue what unfortunately has become a stall the trend in the area and it will attract more customers. this development will bring

much-needed foot traffic west of fifth street and will help to revitalize the area and the increase safety. existing businesses will benefit from the increased parking. our theater doors have limited access to the surface lots and these additional spaces would be meaningful this evening. the parking will also attract more positive activity to the area. as it stands today, the city place is one of the most promising proposals we have same. i urge you to approve the project as proposed without delays. thank you. >> i am a native of san francisco. we have a building about a block away from this project. this has been a trouble street

for a long time and now we have an opportunity to really approve the neighborhood both for the property owners and the people live there. >> i have been involved for a number of years. i've done a number of developments. i am a member of the tenderloin economic development project. i am here to support the denial of the appeal. i believe that this building would be extremely helpful to the residents of the tenderloin in the coming years. thank you. >> good afternoon, supervisors. i am the director of central market arts. we feel that this will be a significant step towards

revitalization of the cultural district. thank you. >> i am the proprietor of show dogs down at six and market. we are right in the middle of our happy area -- happy hour. i am a strong supporter of city place. as i live and work in the neighborhood today, when i have to go get diapers for my daughter, we actually generated trip. we would like to walk across the street. as a business owner, we would like to see some additional traffic. we could probably use more pedestrians, frankly even some more bars.

in terms of the architectural look and feel of the building, the attorney who is showing a picture of what the building looks like, i'm pretty sure that was taken from my office. since i'm the one looking out of the window, i would like to see that nice building. we hope you will support the project. >> good afternoon, supervisors. i am a 41-year member of local carpenters union. i want to speak in favor of this project. many of the dangerous conditions that exist there, the developer did not create and is not responsible for. they are doing their best to mitigate them. i believe they are moving seven and a thousand people a day and this is at capacity for people

who are disabled. they would need to drive to stores and would like to be shopping on market. history is important but we also need to keep making it. we cannot get stuck in the past. last but not least, our unions lost a lot of members. we need the union's desperately. the city needs a tax revenue desperately. certainly the other building, they need the work desperately as well. please move this project forward. thank you. >> i was an urban design planner.

this is the best chance to revitalize and improve the street. we are fortunate the architects designed this handsome building. this means all of the design guidelines and i urge you to reject the appeal and support the adequacy. thank you. >> good evening, supervisors. thank you for your time, thank you for your service. i would like to express support for city place. we are excited not only about the jobs and businesses and pedestrian traffic but also all of the spillover that the

additional foot traffic would bring to the businesses in the area. we are trying to support new businesses. thank you. >> good evening, supervisors. i am here to support the project. please support it. >> good evening, supervisors. i've yet to hear anyone say they are against the project.

>> and madame clerk, fellow supervisors. let's move forward. it is time. we have been waiting a long time for this one. i urge you to approve this. thank you very much. >> thank you. can we ask the appellant to comeback? >> i was tempted to join the line here to speak in favor of the project because it lot of the sentiments that were breast i wholeheartedly concur. we are not here to talk about the project, we are here as to

whether there is a certifiable environmental impact. i was struck by the statements about what impact was identified and she identified the traffic impact. i think this typifies what is the matter with this. the planning department went in with lenders. we avoided seeing some of the most significant impacts of this. that is why the environmental impact is not even talk about them. for example, on the question of the impact visually and historically, --

with respect to the traffic impact. there's a lot of discussion about parking. putting a 200 space parking garage in a shopping center his is going to generate traffic around this project. the question is is there an adequate analysis of the wrist injury to pedestrians and bicyclists. the answer is no. this is a study that is used to determine whether motorists will have to wait and stop signals, not if motorists will run into or injured pedestrians.

turning to the letter that supervisor daily mentioned, this is a constructive step forward. this is a blueprint for a process. this is not in mitigation. this letter proposes funding a feasibility study for pedestrians. we need this right now. >> thank you. >> any final questions to any parties? this hearing has been held and

it is closed. items 26-28 are in the hands of the board. >> first, let me respond. let me thank him for this. this has been incredibly constructive. this isn't in mitigation. i think that this is a document that speaks to the traffic impact. there is a plan to move forward with improvements. i am pleased that city place will be participating. i want to make one comment. it generally i don't comment on ascetics but i agree that the building is ugly with all due

respect. there is some good news. let me move forward with mr. rhodes comment. "thank you for moving this project forward as per our discussion." we would like to have a parking fee. this is known as the surcharges. this parking surcharge it shall be paid to the mta is until such a time as the aggregate amount is greater than a, specifically identified in a feasibility study to be conducted by the

sfmta. -- agrees to implement this agreement. the mta shall reserve the right to audit the quarterly payments from the surcharge and the basis for them. the city does not attend a surcharge for any current or future parking tax by the city. . market street holding shout continue to work with the planning department to refine the design which for the purpose of this agreement shall be continued work between the architect, planning department, and community stakeholders. we understand that the city agrees that in the event of any

future settlement of legal action of the payment of any money, they will be credited against the amount otherwise agreed to. finally, we agreed to work on any legislation or any formal document needed, this is on behalf of market street holdings." i read this letter and not because of the issue of the mitigation, obviously there are improvements. i know that this administration is interested in improving by safety. i am pleased that market place is participating.