December Neighborhood News
Corbin Place/Panos Place Commemorative Sign
On December 4, 2023, the Land Use and Transportation Committee held a public hearing to add “Panos Place,” a commemorative sign, to the existing Corbin Place sign on Corbett between 198 and 200 Corbett Avenue. It passed 3-0. The Board of Supervisors approved the addition of the commemorative sign
on December 5, 2023. Watch for the announcement of a celebration at the stairway to follow.
Panos Koutsoyannis, a CHN member, is the park steward for Corbin Place. Panos has developed a remarkable fantasy stairway garden, which changes quite often to the delight of passersby. He has expended thousands of dollars to create this park since 2011. This park has continually been maintained over the years beginning in the 1960s, first by the Twin Peaks
East Neighborhood Association, and later Corbett Heights Neighbors. Panos has been a significant contributor to the betterment of the Corbett Heights. The sign is a “commemorative” and the Corbin Place sign will remain along with the new addition.
A bit of history of Corbin Place: Corbin Place was dedicated on 8 December 1909 (San Francisco Bill 1117, Ordinance 988). Diligent research (original records no longer exist) has not confirmed the person, if
any, for which Corbin Place was named, it nonetheless is speculated that it most likely was named for Major General Henry Clark Corbin who was born in Monroe Township, Ohio, and visited San Francisco for ten days, arriving on October 6, 1904, while enroute to the U.S. colony of the Philippines where he was to assume a position as a Commander, this according the San Francisco Chronicle in its edition of the same day. General Corbin died 8 September 1909, and it is believed that the
naming of the stairway was in his honor, his death having occurred three months prior.
More trivia
Prior to Corbin Place, the stairway was also called Colton Place, possibly for General David Colton (1831-1878), who was the chief lawyer for and vice-president of the Central Pacific Railroad and was the “half” of the “Big Four and a Half.” His mansion is now the site of the Nob Hill Huntington Park. The stairway was also named Corbet (yes, one t) Place for a
period, most likely for the same person for which Corbett Road/Avenue was named.
General Corbin Panos and his wife, Ant
Panos with Harvey Milk
This is a well-known photograph of Harvey Milk at his 1978 inauguration. And that’s Panos in a knit cap to the right of
Milk.
More construction on 17th, Ord, Corbett, Levant, States
You may have seen no parking signs on several streets within our
boundaries (Corbett, Mars to Clayton; Levant, States to Vulcan; Vulcan to Corbett; States, Castro to Levant) for the period November 21 to December 21, 2023, Monday through Friday, 7:30 to 5:30 PM. It is part of the Better Streets Program. If you want to read all about it—it’s only 80 pages. See document. If you don’t
want to read the 80 pages, the infrastructure work will consist of pavement resurfacing, curb ramp upgrades, traffic control improvements, sewer replacement, and other associated infrastructure work.
District 8 Toy Giveaway/Mission Police Station
The annual Toy giveaway is on Saturday December 23, starting at 9am. Toys donated for the event are much appreciated and can be dropped off at the station anytime before December
21. If you have any questions, contact Officer Jim Pandolfi, Mission Station Special Events (415-558-5461).
Castro Annual Winter Wonderland Block Party
The 3rd annual Castro Winter Wonderland Block Party was a hit! Presented by Castro Merchants, it occurred on Sunday, December 3rd at Noe & Market Streets. It featured a petting zoo, costume competitions, and of course, Santa! We look forward to the 4th installment next
year.
