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Mission Greenway advocates say businesses are blocking a historic access path with new locks
Summary
A representative for Friends of the Mission Greenway told the Board of Appeals that Monkey Brains and a nearby preschool have installed locks and signs that the group says are blocking public access along 20th Street; the group said businesses have threatened residents with legal action and removed community shared locks.
During general public comment at the May 10 meeting, a representative of Friends of the Mission Greenway reported escalating efforts by nearby businesses to restrict long‑standing public passage along a parcel adjacent to 20th Street. The speaker said Monkey Brains installed a large lock on a gate and that other businesses, including a preschool, placed signs and removed shared locks that community members used to access a public parcel that the speaker says has been available since the 1860s.
"Since we last met here, Monkey Brains has completely blocked public access from the parcel along 20th Street by adding this $300 monster lock," the speaker told commissioners, saying the business removed parts of the chain link and did not respond to emails asking for shared access. The speaker also said businesses had sent attorney letters threatening neighbors with court orders and damages and that community members have faced intimidation.
The board took the comment as part of general public comment and did not act at the May 10 meeting. The speaker asked the board to note the situation and consider follow‑up avenues; commissioners did not indicate immediate agenda action on that matter.
