Our group formed in the spring of 2018 to express our concerns and eventually our opposition to a proposed 9-story development project at 1355 Fulton St., between Divisadero and Broderick. We are residents, home owners, renters, and small business owners, all members of the North of the Panhandle and Alamo Square neighborhoods.
We believe the proposed tower is using the very real crisis in income disparity that is tearing apart the very fabric of San Francisco as a smoke screen to impose a 9-story tower on a residential block of 2 and 3 story homes and apartment buildings. This 9-story tower, if allowed to be completed, would be a misuse of the CA Code 65915 Density Bonus Law and circumvent established SF Planning Department laws and development standards.
| Affordable Housing | NNSG wants housing for all income levels, and strongly supports a guaranteed minimum of 20% below market rate units. |
| Reasonable Building Height and Bulk | Building height and bulk should be at a scale and in proportion to surrounding residences and businesses. We support a maximum building height up to 45’, consistent with the adjacent buildings and the buildings across the street. We feel the mid-block project at 1355 Fulton Street should be limited in height as 1) it is not located on Divisadero Street, and 2) it is not located on a corner, serving as an “anchor” building. |
| Adequate Light and Air | NNSG believes it is essential to maintain reasonable access to light and air. New buildings/projects should not cast a shadow over existing residences, businesses and open spaces, adversely impacting residents and open spaces. |
| Wide Mix of Units | NNSG strongly supports housing projects which offer a wide mix of unit sizes (e.g. studio apartments, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom and 3 bedroom apartments) and price levels in order to encourage an influx of residents who will compliment our diverse neighborhood population of artists, small business owners, teachers, and senior citizens. |
| More Rentals, Less Condos | NNSG advocates a minimum of 50% of all new units to be designated as “rental units” in order to support our neighborhood’s growth and diversity, and to accommodate people who live and work in the City of San Francisco. |
| Clean & Green | NNSG strongly supports a full Environmental Impact Review (EIR) for this particular housing project, including wind and groundwater studies. We are very concerned about toxic materials and contaminated groundwater which may be present at 1355 Fulton St. since the site has been utilized as an autobody repair garage for decades. |
Re-evaluate the State Density Bonus:
NNSG believes that the State Density Bonus program has been incorrectly and inappropriately applied to the proposed project at 1355 Fulton St. rendering a plan which is completely out of context with the rest of the buildings on the block.
Retail: NNSG believes that any retail development (e.g. on the street level) should be sensitive to the needs of nearby residents with regard to noise, congestion and cleanliness. Further, NNSG supports the use of ground floor space for community activities.
NNSG is asking for:
- Affordability beyond the present 18% mandated by SF Planning
- Restrictions on the height significantly below the presently proposed 6 to 9 stories
- cost projections on size and selling prices of the condo units
- A breakdown of how many rental and condo units
- The developers’ adherence to the recommendations of the SF Planning Department’s preliminary analysis of the initial application