A rendering of the proposed development at 2700 Sloat Blvd. San Francisco Housing Development Corporation and Housing America submitted an application for a 446-unit-building. (Courtesy of SCB and Bezier)
A new developer has turned its attention to San Francisco’s Ocean Beach just months after a proposal to construct a 50-story apartment building on the 2700 Sloat Boulevard site was withdrawn.
The initial proposal was met with vehement pushback by Sunset District residents and local officials. It was slammed for its scale and density. Eventually, the developer, CH Planning LLC, withdrew its name from consideration.
Now, the San Francisco Housing Development Corporation has partnered with Housing America to submit an application on Tuesday for a 22-story, mixed-income building with senior housing.
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The proposal envisions a 446-unit building spanning approximately 38,000 square feet, complete with a parking lot designed to accommodate both bicycles and cars. About half of the units, which range from studio apartments to condominiums, would be set aside as affordable senior housing.
The planning application estimates construction costs at $223 million and includes plans for amenities such as over 4,000 square feet of shared common spaces, electric vehicle charging stations, and both public and private parking.
A rendering of the proposed development at 2700 Sloat Blvd. (Courtesy of SCB and Bezier)
The building would appear to be somewhat split in two, according to Dan Sider, chief of staff of the city’s planning department. He described two conjoined buildings that form a cohesive structure, with one building facing the ocean and the other on a slight slant, facing the East.
Although CH Planning still legally owns the site, its manager, Raelynn Hickey, said that the company is in the process of selling to the new developers.
“We have nothing to do with their proposed project,” Hickey said in a written statement.
The new developers have submitted their application under state law AB 2011, which streamlines certain regulatory requirements typically required for development projects, such as full environmental reviews and prior approval from the planning commission.
While the developers claim that the proposed project “exceeds” AB 2011’s standards, the application is still under review to determine if it qualifies for the expedited approval process granted by the law.
Sider noted that the proposal “hasn’t yet been assessed for Code compliance, but we remain hopeful that the project will be thoughtfully designed and adhere to all regulations.” He added that the location “has always been an ideal spot for new housing.”
The original plan for a 50-story, 712-unit high-rise was met with fierce opposition from city planners, residents and Supervisor Joel Engardio, who represents the Sunset District, where the site is located.
Engardio called the initial proposal a “middle finger to the city” and dismissed it as a plan “no one would take seriously.”
Although the new proposal significantly reduces the building’s height, with only 22 stories, Engardio remains critical.
“Twenty-two stories is still far beyond what’s reasonable,” he said in an interview. “We need to stop dreaming up massive skyscrapers at the beach and focus on real housing that will meet the needs of real families.”
Engardio pointed out that the Coastal Commission will need to weigh in on the project and criticized the developers for not adhering to the Sunset District’s current zoning laws, which limit building heights to 10 stories.
“We need more housing for seniors and families in the Sunset and throughout San Francisco,” Engardio said. “But no one wants Ocean Beach to turn into Miami Beach.”
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