India Basin Neighborhood Association

PUBLIC STREET TOSSED IN -- San Franciscans lose publicly owned Griffith Street for four years to accommodate construction convenience of Residential Builders Association mogul, despite early city draft demand fence be removed. SanFranciscoSentinel.com Photos by LUKE THOMAS

After granting Residential Builders Association's Joe Cassidy prime waterfront and tidesland property at bankruptcy prices, then slashing tax assessment by $3.3 million, city officials acquiesced a publicly owned street for the project.

In doing so, City Attorney Dennis Herrera disregarded years-long neighborhood objections to Griffith Street closure, and Herrera's involvement resulted in the Department of Public Works (DPW) putting a lid on its draft demand Cassidy remove the fence.

Cassidy, a leading underwater tidesland expert, acquired the land through a web of mutuality in 2001 (see story below), then skyrocketed value of his investment -- and loss in city tax revenues -- as a volunteer in the Tax Assessor's Office lowered tax assessment because underwater tidesland parcels are "...underwater."

In 2002, chair of a local neighborhood association took resident dismay with street loss to Todd Huntington, serving in DPW Bureau of Street Use and Mapping.

The neighborhood association chieftain, who requested anonymity, wrote to Huntington on December 3, 2002, asking the city "to justify in writing the Department of Public Works toleration of this illegal closure, especially in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions (Cole v. County of Santa Barbara, 01-1773, and Daniel v. County of Santa Barbara, 02-107) granting Californians unrestricted coastal access."

Three months later, Huntington's bureau prepared a draft letter demanding Cassidy reopen Griffith Street, with notation "3/11 Faxed to J. Cassidy 503-3104."

The demand, in letter form, to reopen Griffith Street apparently never went out, as Huntington later allegedly refused comment, reportedly citing City Attorney review of the matter. An association member alleged the draft letter was faxed to Cassidy as either a heads-up or request for Cassidy input.

Meanwhile, a boatwright's dwelling being considered for landmark status on one parcel under Cassidy ownership, allegedly has been defaced. Gingerbread trimming of the dwelling reportedly has been sawed off.

The Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board will consider landmarking the dwelling on April 6, 2005, at 12:00 p.m., in Room 400 of City Hall.


	Community Issues » Residential Builders Association mogul gets free public street On top of waterfront bonanza

	By Pat Murphy SanFranciscoSentinel.com 2005 Monday, March 28, 2005 PUBLIC STREET TOSSED IN -- San Franciscans lose publicly owned Griffith Street for four years to accommodate construction convenience of Residential Builders Association mogul, despite early city draft demand fence be removed. SanFranciscoSentinel.com Photos by LUKE THOMAS After granting Residential Builders Association's Joe Cassidy prime waterfront and tidesland property at bankruptcy prices, then slashing tax assessment by $3.3 million, city officials acquiesced a publicly owned street for the project. In doing so, City Attorney Dennis Herrera disregarded years-long neighborhood objections to Griffith Street closure, and Herrera's involvement resulted in the Department of Public Works (DPW) putting a lid on its draft demand Cassidy remove the fence. Cassidy, a leading underwater tidesland expert, acquired the land through a web of mutuality in 2001 (see story below), then skyrocketed value of his investment -- and loss in city tax revenues -- as a volunteer in the Tax Assessor's Office lowered tax assessment because underwater tidesland parcels are "...underwater." INSULT TO INJURY In 2002, chair of a local neighborhood association took resident dismay with street loss to Todd Huntington, serving in DPW Bureau of Street Use and Mapping. The neighborhood association chieftain, who requested anonymity, wrote to Huntington on December 3, 2002, asking the city "to justify in writing the Department of Public Works toleration of this illegal closure, especially in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions (Cole v. County of Santa Barbara, 01-1773, and Daniel v. County of Santa Barbara, 02-107) granting Californians unrestricted coastal access." Three months later, Huntington's bureau prepared a draft letter demanding Cassidy reopen Griffith Street, with notation "3/11 Faxed to J. Cassidy 503-3104." The demand, in letter form, to reopen Griffith Street apparently never went out, as Huntington later allegedly refused comment, reportedly citing City Attorney review of the matter. An association member alleged the draft letter was faxed to Cassidy as either a heads-up or request for Cassidy input. Today, the fence still bars public use of Griffith Street. COTTAGE CONSIDERED FOR LANDMARK STATUS SAID DEFACED Meanwhile, a boatwright's dwelling being considered for landmark status on one parcel under Cassidy ownership, allegedly has been defaced. Gingerbread trimming of the dwelling reportedly has been sawed off. The Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board will consider landmarking the dwelling on April 6, 2005, at 12:00 p.m., in Room 400 of City Hall. See related opinion, click here.