GLRAG Improvement Committee Survey of Lakeshore Avenue
Updated June 9, 2009
Contact: Eric Hughes 510-384-4907 or eric@foggygulch.com

italics = reported and/or plans made; strikethrough = completed

CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY

Street Paving Issues:

  • Break in paving on crosswalk between KFC and theatre is a tripping hazard
  • Large, deep depression in street, 3351 Lakeshore repaired by Public Works 2/09; new sewer work completed week of 3/30/09.

    NOTE: Paving on northbound Lakeshore lanes very worn with multiple breaks in paving

    Sidewalk Tripping Hazards:
  • Bank of America, 496 Lake Park, a very large section of sidewalk was previously ground down to alleviate tripping hazards but now needs replacing
  • Serenader, 504 Lake Park
  • Beauty Shop, 3227A Lakeshore Repaired 4/13.
  • Easy Lounge, 3255 Lakeshore Repaired 4/13.
  • Adventure Toys, 3291 Lakeshore Worst tripping hazard ground down by Public Works. Repairs made 3/24/09.
  • Vine Wine Bar, 3343 Lakeshore Repair scheduled. Repair completed by Public Works April 2009.
  • Blockbuster Video, 3300 Lakeshore Repair scheduled for February at latest. New concrete installed by City 2/09.
  • Union 76 station, 3200 Lakeshore, severely damaged sidewalk Repaired by Public Works.

    NOTE: This list is far from complete, but includes the worst of the tripping hazards. Aside from the severe break adjacent to the Union 76 station which may be the owner's responsiblity, most of the above damage appears to be caused by street trees. In addition, there is considerable minor damage that does not constitute a major hazard and is not listed. Some, but not all, of the above areas have been marked by Public Works for repair--but some of those marks may date back more than a year.

    Trash Receptacles:
  • Trash can overflowing in front of Grand Lake Express
  • Trash can overflowing adjacent to pocket park
  • Trash can in front of Peet's.

    NOTE: These photos were taken Sunday (In November 2008) at about Noon. Trash pick-up is likely most problematic on weekends, but last photo is illustrative of essential problems. The latch on the receptacle is broken and will not stay closed. Interior galvanized liner is out of round and leaks. As a result, a substantial quantity of trashed misses the can and liquids seep out staining the sidewalk beneath. This is likely the case with all the trash receptacles. In addition, patrons sitting in front of Peet's told us the city employee who had just emptied the can left the trash scattered on the pavement.

    Miscellaneous Issues and Graffiti:
  • Computer Center, 3450 Lakeshore needs a tree
  • Corner adjacent to Union 76 station lacks a tree as do 2 or 3 tree wells up the offramp adjacent to Trader Joe's
  • Car pool sign in front of B of A, 496 Lakepark should be removed. Sign removed.
  • Clogged gutter and storm drain on Rand adjacent to T-Mobile.
  • Storm drain clogged with debris, northeast corner of Lakeshore adjacent to 76 Union station
  • Street light bases need re-painting.
  • Red curbs needs repainting.
  • Grates at all 3 bulb-outs deformed
  • Parking meter posts should be removed or utilized for bike parking
  • Fire plug needs paint, corner of Lakeshore and Trestle Glen.
  • Splash Pad Park Damage on 1/31/09Reported to public works 2/2; Light pole removed by PWA 2/2, damaged trash receptacle replaced and moved.
  • graffiti on AT&T underground boxes at Mandana/Lakshore and Prince/Lakeshore. reported 2/24/09. Cleaned 3/5/09.
  • graffiti on Mandana Park Utility boxes and benches. reported 3/4/09. Cleaned within a few days by Public Works.

    PG & E's Responsibility

    Slippery, Steel Sidewalk Grates:
    note: as of 4/15, PG&E has repainted all of these to make them less slippery.

  • Gap Kids, 3229 Lakeshore
  • Washington Mutual Bank, 3241 Lakeshore (screw coming up out of sidewak reported to Public Works3/26, follow up sent on 4/17)
  • Easy, 3255 Lakeshore
  • Arizmendi, 3265 Lakeshore
  • Lakeshore Natural Foods, 3321 Lakeshore
  • Noah's, 3351 Lakeshore Grating is raised and a tripping hazard
  • Silver Lining, 3340 Lakeshore This grate missing screws and is a tripping hazard.
  • Burrito Shop 3265 Lakeshore
  • Graffiti on sidewalk grate in front of Longs reported 2/24/09.

    Concrete Meter Boxes:

  • 3268 Lakeshore, Vacant. Box is damaged and below sidewalk grade.
  • Between Long's and Union 76 station. Double box is damaged and somewhat unstable.

    NOTE: A number of comments in the GLRAG survey mentioned the slippery steel grates and a number of merchants have subsequently confirmed that they are hazardous. Most of the grates listed above are marked PG & E. One or two may not. Some grates at one time had an applied non-slip surface but it's worn away. Steel grates with intact non-slip surfaces are not listed. PG&E has started the process (March) to repaint these grates.

    Lakeshore BID's Responsibility

    Tree Wells:
  • Private Mailbox, 484 Lake Park needs new shrubs/flowers. Upgraded by Lakeshore BID in early March, 2009.
  • Bank of America, 496 Lake Park would benefit from shrubs or flowers. Tree well has been filled with decomposed granite by BID's gardener.

    Other Issues:

  • Loose gravel migrates from tree wells. Add binder to stabilize
  • Pocket Park, badly neglected. Not irrigated. Plants dead. Needs regular maintenance. Now being maintained by Tom Souza and Sansome Pacific, the Trade Joe's/Walgreen's developer.
  • Landscaped traffic island sadly neglected corner of Trestle Glen and Lakeshore. Inadequate water. Dead roses. Unsightly volunteer plants. Irrigation repaired, area weeded 2/09.

    BID's gardeners have removed the largest of the volunteers and dead roses. Pamela Drake contacted Amy De Reyes in Keith Carson's office to determine if irrigation can be repaired by county's contractor and De Reyes has asked Public Works to confirm the problem.

  • Pigeon-proofing required, BID display case Trash Receptacles: Although the trash receptacles are the city's responsibility, the BID can help by insuring that the janitorial crew steam cleans the containers at the same time they do the sidewalks. Application of a stain remover immediately adjacent to the containers may also be necessary. The BID should also consider purchasing new liners if they city cannot provide them expeditiously.

    Merchant's or Property Owner's Responsibility

    Grafitti
  • Post Office mailbox and front corner USPS has agreed to clean drop boxes, but after three call has yet to complete this.
  • Kwik Way, 500 Lake Park
  • Szechuan Restaurant, 528 Lake Park
  • 4 Star Pizza, 436 Lake Park and Busy Body, 3199 Lakeshore Graffiti over painted by property owner.
  • Holy Land Restaurant, 677 Rand Graffiti over painted by property owner.
  • Kids' Gap, 3229 Lakeshore Blight complaint lodged 1/09, Graffiti over painted by property owner 2/09
  • George's Cleaners, 3310 Lakeshore Graffiti removed by concerned neighbors .
  • Lakeshore Hair Cut, 3312 Lakeshore. Discussed with Manager 2/24. She will report to building owner. Discussed again, but still not done.

    Pigeon Poop

  • Mirabel, 3251 Lakeshore
  • Pylon at Lakeshore entrance to Trader Joe's
  • Foot Locker, 3275 Lakeshore.
  • T-Mobile, 3211 Lakeshore

    Other Issues:

  • Space between GAP and Foot Locker collects trash and should be filled
  • Space between Bank of America and Post Office collects trash and should be filled
  • Cheese Steak, 3308 Lakeshore awning is dirty and torn
  • Cheese Steak Shop, 3308 Lakeshore possible water or sewage leak
  • Lakeshore Hair Cut, 3312 Lakeshore illegal banner. Removed April 2009.
  • Post Office unsightly asphalt patch on top of sidewalk and larger area between B of A and post office where concrete has been removed and replaced with asphalt
  • KFC, 470 Lake Park storage area alongside should be screened and concrete wall that juts onto sidewalk mitigated
  • Kwik Way, 500 Lake Park rain-damaged ceilings + broken front window
  • T-Mobile, 3211 Lakeshore missing tiles
  • George's Cleaners, 3310 Lakeshore broken planter
  • Foot Locker, 3275 Lakeshore security gate frame is rusted; Awning needs to be repaired or replaced (reported to footlocker 3/26/09, plans being made to replace in June or July)
  • A bicycle rack in front of the Private Mailbox (484 Lake Park) was knocked over by a car and mangled. Reported to Public Works 1/15/09. Removed and replaced in early March.
  • EBMUD saw horses left behind at Erie/Mandana from November 2008 job. Reported twice to EBMUD; picked up 2/19/09.
  • Grafitti on Stop signs at York/Prince and Erie/Prince. Reported to Public Works 2/8/09. Cleaned 2/20/09.
  • New bicycle racks installed by Public Works on Lakeshore in early March.

    Other's Responsibility

    News Racks and Package Drop Boxes:
    March 2009 note: each news rack is maintained by the newspaper provider. East Bay Express has agreed to do their best to maintain theirs (they were contacted on 3/5/09), as have the Open Exchange folks.. 'Bay Area Business Woman' vendor has also been contacted.
  • Colonial Donuts, 3318 Lakeshore news rack damaged and covered with grafitti
  • Damaged rack in front of Noah's at 3351 Lakeshore
  • Noah's, 3351 Lakeshore, unauthorized newsbox
  • Noah's, 3351 Lakeshore, Momento and Learning Annex boxes
  • Two unauthorized boxes east side of Lakeshore.
  • DHL box needs to be removed, UPS and Fed Ex need to be cleaned periodically. DHL box removed by DHL; FedEx box cleaned by FedEx.

    Beautification Opportunities

  • Upgrade landscaping and maintenance at Union 76 to create a more attractive gateway to Lakeshore Avenue; discussed with Manager on 2/24/09.
  • Decorate utility box southeast corner Lakeshore & Mandana
  • Decorate utility box, adjacent to Wachovia Bank