Don’t for a moment believe David Chiu’s claim that there’s little difference in the “shades of blue [Democrats]” between he and David Campos. Nor should you believe observers who ludicrously claim that there’s very little difference in the voting records of Chiu and Campos. There are vast differences between the two candidates, not just ideological differences between them. Continue reading →
Filed under planning
by JIM MEKO
In her latest land use analysis, former Berkeley Planning Commission Chair Zelda Bronstein tears into our Planning Department’s thin veil of excuses for allowing office space where it is currently illegal. “Why SF City Planning can’t protect local industry from office encroachment: An alarming case study,” appeared on Tim Redmond’s 48 Hills website last week. Continue reading
Filed under planning
David Chiu, running for the State Assembly, consults with members of the building trades.
by JIM MEKO
Word is spreading that Board of Supervisors President David Chiu may nominate Michael Theriault to one of the two seats on the Planning Commission currently occupied by either Commissioners Kathrin Moore or Bill Sugaya. Continue reading
by JIM MEKO
On Monday, the Planning Department appeared before the Land Use Committee of the Board of Supervisors to argue that there is such a severe shortage of space for PDR (good working class jobs) that we need to allow offices to move into an area set aside for industrial protection.
This Thursday however, the same team will be arguing at the Planning Commission that we can afford to lose 80,000 square feet of PDR space at 660 Third Street “for the sake of historic preservation.” Continue reading
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by JIM MEKO
Last fall, voters rejected 8 Washington, an over-sized condo project on the waterfront that would rise to 136 feet in an area zoned for 84 feet. The Planning Department didn’t get the message. They’re still supporting a large housing and retail project proposed by the San Francisco Giants at Pier 48/Seawall Lot 337 and a sprawling office, residential, and retail project that Forest City wants to build at Pier 70. Each project violates parts of the Waterfront Land Use Plan, which just so happens to be the law.
I dislike ballot box planning as much as anyone but Prop B is an effective response to a Planning Department that doesn’t respect its own rules. Continue reading
by JIM MEKO
I’m part of a coalition that is petitioning Board of Supervisors President David Chiu to go on the record, prior to the end of his State Assembly race, to announce the reappointment of Kathrin Moore and Hishashi (Bill) Sugaya to the San Francisco Planning Commission. Let’s get the politics out of planning. Sign here. Continue reading
Real estate blog “Linked-in” graphically illustrates the Warriors curt surrender to community concerns by switching the location of their new arena from prime waterfront property to the backwaters of Mission Bay. ”Move along, move along now. No story here.”
by JAMIE WHITAKER
SoMa activist and 2014 D6 candidate for Supervisor
I believe that we should take the success of the Brannan Street Wharf’s demolition of Piers 34 and 36 and creation of more seating and open space, and continue the design northward by demolishing Piers 30-32 and building out a continuation of the open space with proceeds from the sale and development of Seawall Lot 330 across the street. Brannan Street Wharf’s demolition of Piers 34 and 36 plus the development of the park itself cost $26.1 million. Even if it costs twice as much to demolish Piers 30-32, the value of the land across the street and what could be developed within 105′ should be able to pay for it. Continue reading
Filed under open space, planning, politics
from APRIL VENERACION
Legislative aide to Supervisor Jane Kim
San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim introduced legislation today to balance the continued development of market-rate housing with the successful delivery of badly-needed affordable housing. The city of San Francisco has been grappling with a well-documented housing crisis even in the midst of a rapid acceleration in development. Although 80% of all development is currently being built in District 6, the average District 6 resident has struggled to secure housing in the district. Continue reading
Filed under planning
Judge Marla Miller has issued a ruling rejecting a lawsuit brought by real estate development interests who were attempting to prevent San Francisco voters from having their say on Proposition B (No Wall on the Waterfront).
This is a major win that will allow San Francisco voters to decide whether our beautiful waterfront should remain open and accessible to all or become a wall of tall towers like Miami Beach. Opponents of Prop B describe the waterfront as “an accident of history” and would like to leave its future in the hands of city planners.
Join supporters on Wednesday, March 19 at 11:00 AM on the Polk Street Steps of City Hall to hear more about the judge’s ruling and to celebrate with supporters of Prop. B.
Zelda Bronstein is back with further analysis of the Planning Department’s commitment to good working class jobs. In her study of their efforts to encourage construction of new PDR (production, distribution and repair) space by allowing three times more high tech offices in areas where they’re currently not allowed, she does touch upon the uncomfortable irony I continue to bring up that our Planning Department staff is undermining and destroying existing PDR space less than a block away from many of the properties covered in their legislation and there is no indication that they are willing to reconsider their illogical direction.
Bronstein’s piece, “Can the supervisors save manufacturing in San Francisco?” appears in today’s edition of Tim Redmond’s “48 Hills, the Secrets of San Francisco.”
Filed under planning
soma leadership council 