Bus loop will serve new community

By Robert Romano
The Guardsman

The San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency approved the development of the Muni Phelan Loop transit circle, changing the direction of buses and allowing the construction of the affordable multi-family housing units as well as a mix-use building.

Currently, buses must turn right into the loop going counter-clockwise and exit on Lee Street to return to Ocean Avenue. Upon completion of the transit circle, buses will enter the existing loop, but then encircle the nearby fire station and turn back on to Phelan Avenue at Ocean. This will allow for faster projected transit times.

Bob Herman’s firm, Herman Coliver and Locus Architecture, was hired to design the mix-use building.

“There has been some discussion of the retail shops,” Herman said. “Some suggestions have been a hardware store or a cafe on the corner over looking the new town plaza, but nothing is certain yet.”

The City of San Francisco and the Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center have joined forces with developers to build this “transit village.”

Construction Traffic is an issue said William Ho , of B.H.N.C Project Manager for the Phelan loop, “We will have to work with city there will be a lot of coordination. Our goal is to be at least disruptive as possible with the traffic.”

The project will Include 71 affordable housing units, studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The prices will be determined by the capacity of low-income people to the pay the rent, Herman said.