Link loss: Say goodbye to San Francisco’s favorite chain.
Posted on 12/23/2023 8:59:31 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
Workers are replacing the charming rusty chain that lines the road to Fort Point with a dull metal barrier
Link loss: Say goodbye to San Francisco’s favorite chain.
Marine Drive in the Presidio isn’t even a mile along, but as it descends a short hill from Lincoln Boulevard, you’re awarded with one of the most commanding views in San Francisco. Ahead, the Golden Gate Bridge towers above the hulk of Fort Point, while on the right, the constantly churning bay splashes on the rocky shore.
Over the next few weeks that view is going to change. The bridge and fort will still be there, but a large barrier chain that keeps awe-struck drivers from plunging into the icy water is being replaced by a more pedestrian aluminum barrier.
If you haven’t visited the site, you’d be forgiven for wondering what’s so special about a chain. But THIS chain, dangling between crumbling concrete posts and rusty from years of fog and salty spray, has been featured in countless photos on Instagram and Flickr.
At least one Instagram user is already mourning the chain’s loss. But a spokesman from the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which manages the area, said there’s a good reason for its removal.
New barrier... 
The new two-rail, 3-foot tall barrier will be more tolerant of the harsh marine environment, said spokesperson Julian Espinoza, and its smaller footprint will make the narrow roadway safer for everyone. And while they’ll still be awarded unobstructed views, he acknowledged the pain of photographers the world over.
“While we appreciate that some visitors really like the old design, the new barrier will improve the safety of the pedestrians, cyclists and drivers using Marine Drive and that’s been our priority for this project”
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I agree. We had a 3-way stop that T’d into a main side road. Been there forever. They put in a Roundabout, now no one knows who turns first. The speed limit is 18 miles an hour. Supposed to relieve school time backups. All it did was create more accidents, as no one uses turn signals but Senior Citizens. Even the creeping speed is not followed. Waste of money.
You're right SF WAS great back then.
I did a couple of stints at Hunter's Point (Drydock) in the early Sixties and mid Seventies, between WestPacs.
Being a Fleet Boat Sailor, I was indistinguishable from the counterculture hippies and spent a lot of time Rock 'n Rollin' at the Fillmore.
Interesting times, especially for an anti-drug dude inside the scene.
SF was incredible until the mid Eighty's, however Liberals can destroy anything.
In the fed/gov they're called "change agents". They take policies and procedures that have worked well for decades and apply the new magic thinking they learned in collage.
The ensuing carnage and poor agency performance is recognized and rewarded and the "change agent" then goes on to do more damage elsewhere. Change agents are defined by their basic lack of agency knowledge, history and operational experience.
They want to change things they don't even understand.
Fort Point is part of the GGNRA that the feds maintain. Long ago, in the 1960's I would visit Fort Point and explore it. There were lots of rifle cartridge shells on the grounds inside, because of National Guards doing firing practice. My Dad had access to the Presidio and other regional military bases and would take me along while he visited. All gone now, as the liberal left chased out the military and bases fell under civilian control. At least Fort Point was preserved as a museum piece for tourists.
My dad trained on sonar in the Marine Corp on Treasure Island in WW II before shipping out. His favorite restaurant was the “Iron Pot” on Montgomery. When I moved to San Fran in summer ‘73, dad came out on a business trip and said “Son, let’s go out to dinner. I’ll take you to my favorite restaurant from when I was on Treasure Island.”
I said “Dad, come on, that was 30 years ago. The place must be gone by now.”
We drove down there and sure enough! It was still there and in business. It was a great Italian meal with Dad! Huge pots of delicious minestrone and hot sourdough bread. Yummy ravioli and a Baby Steak followed by Spamoni ice cream for dessert.
The Iron Pot had first opened in 1934, not long before dad was stationed on TI.
It moved to another location about 20 years ago, but I can’t find it any more. What a loss!
The chain was part of the historical nature and view
It was beautiful
This just looks utilitarian and ugly
The person who thought this was a good idea hates humans
Using their logic about tolerating the marine environment much better they should go on a spending spree and rebuild the Golden Gate Bridge in Aluminum so it too will be able to tolerate the marine environment
I guess Biden is getting a 10% kickback on this ..🤓
This [replacement] just looks utilitarian and ugly
No kidding #2! AND it looks déclassé and cheap. Why would they make that area UGLY?
Not really, the taxpayers got the money the government can waste on crap like this..
Biden didn't get their 10% on the chain job!! 🤓
I miss Capp’s at Powell and Green. “Get up! You’re done!” Hilarious.
The biggest loss is The Condor on Broadway!
I was too young for that but was introduced to Carol Doda when she would occasionally show up on an obscure UHF channel.
My folks said the traffic engineer in that town is a douchewagon, so that doesn’t surprise me.
Very very very ugly...
“that flimsy (looks like aluminum) new barrier won’t stop anything”
No it won’t.
It looks like 1¼ to 1½ pipe (probably thin wall pipe) that’s secured to the concrete with four lag bolts
They could have installed something that had character
Someone got a kickback for this lousy job
The juxtaposition is horrible, isn’t it? The drop-dead gorgeous waterfront setting, classical Fort Point, beautiful GG Bridge and that ugly, utilitarian, useless, flimsy railing.
Nobody at the National Park Service could be concerned about visual harmony, esthetics and homage to our seafaring past?
It is so damned cheap ass looking and does not go with the area at all.
Someone at the Presidio Trust got paid for this POS and San Francisco is getting uglier by the day.
There was no reason to remove the chains that makes any kind of sense except someone was involved in a payola.
Was this even up for public discussion, which might be part of the law?
If this is a historical site then they violated terms of the National Register of Historic Places, of which the Presidio at San Francisco is a registered National Historic Landmark and was designated as such in 1962.
And the reason they made it a Shitty 3 foot high barrier is because they could hide their crime as a permit is not required for any fence that is 3 feet or less.
Except now a disable person or drunk can easily topple over this and sue because it’s purpose is to prevent people from falling over but, it would need to be 4 foot to accomplish that
https://sfplanning.org/resource/fences
A building permit is not required for a fence that is three feet or less in height at the front of a property, or six feet or less in height at the side or rear property lines. Neighborhood notification is not required for fences ten feet or less in height. If a fence is ten feet or less in height and it meets the restrictions discussed below, it will usually be approved over the counter.
Clever huh?
They are beautifying the rest of the Presidio but, here they make it flat out ugly?
Someone got paid.
I doubt SF Planning applies in the GGNRA (which includes the Presidio).
So maybe Brandon got his 10%?
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