The Haight has long been on the cutting edge, in one capacity or another. This time the iconic street has all but won the “first parklet to be removed” award. But who will pay for the removal? That’s what SF is still trying to figure out.
Uppercasing has been keeping a close eye on the parklet located just outside of Martin Macks at 1568 Haight St. The parklet is reportedly rarely in use, and is more than a little bit of an eyesore, its plants dying, surrounded by trash, and littered with crumbling bricks and human waste.
Neighbors say they want the parklet gone and tell the Ex that they haven’t liked the parklet from the get-go, with one saying that “When it was constructed it was not well received in terms of appearance. It’s not a very inspired design and it’s kind of ugly.”
But here’s where it gets tricky: There are currently no protocols or procedures in place to remove parklets. According to a Planning Department spokesperson, “figuring out how to remove parklets and who is responsible…is next on the list of issues to solve,” reports the Ex.
According to Uppercasing, the parklet’s removal may cost up to $5000, but no one quite knows who would pay that hefty price.
