Balboa Reservoir Project Approved by SF Board of Supervisors

This week the San Francisco Board of Supervisors gave the final approval for the Balboa Reservoir Project, the housing development planned for the Upper Balboa Reservoir located south of Sunnyside next to City College. The project will have 1100 units of housing, including 550 units of affordable housing, about 100 market-rate houses, 150 units for educators, a central two-acre park, childcare facilities, a community room for public use, and other features. View slides from the Design Standard and Guidelines (PDF) at the end of this post.

The western portion of the Balboa Reservoir, slated for development, which has been used as CCSF parking for six decades. Photo courtesy SF Housing Action Coalition.

The approval marks the end of a five-year-long process that encompassed regular community engagement. SNA and Sunnyside residents regularly participated in meetings of the Balboa Reservoir Community Advisory Committee.  The committee was initiated in 2015 by President Norman Yee, supervisor for District 7 where the site is located.

Read an archive of posts about the Balboa Reservoir Project on this website here. Links to news articles found below.

Changes for businesses and transit during Covid-19 reopening

UPDATE, June 26: Hair salons, barbers, indoor dining, outdoor bars, outdoor pools, indoor museums WILL NOT be opening on Monday June 29th. The City has given no new date has been given for these types of businesses to reopen.

Several changes have come into effect, or soon will, related to Covid-19 restrictions.

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Transportation:

Muni Service: As of Saturday June 13th, the 43-Masonic began running, but the northern terminus will be Masonic and Geary. Read more about other lines re-starting here. 

As of Monday July 15th, SFMTA began enforcing street-sweeping violations by parked cars.

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Businesses and services:

As of Friday June 12th, restaurants began to operate with outdoor dining. Details here. Also in D7 Supervisor Yee’s newsletter here.

As of Monday June 15th, the following are allowed: non-emergency medical appointments, private indoor services like house-cleaners, indoor retail, manufacturing (with limits). Anyone who can still work from home is asked to continue doing so. Also allowed: Summer camps (with limits), religious gatherings, and pro sports with no spectators present. Read more here. 

As of Monday June 29th, the following will be allowed to operate: Hair salons, barbers, outdoor bars, outdoor pools, indoor museums. Read more here.  Also this SF Examiner article. 

Article about delay in reopening schedule [June 26]: https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/06/26/reopening-setback-sf-june-29-openings-delayed-hair-salons-barbers-zoos-museums/

[Update: this stage of re-opening has also been delayed (July 7)]: As of Monday July 13th [PENDING STATE APPROVAL], indoor dining and real estate open houses will be allowed.Read more here. 

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Libraries:

Unfortunately, at this time there is no announcement about the reopening of SF Public Libraries. The word is that there will first be a curbside pickup program, and then a reopening of a few branches. Meanwhile, your hardworking librarians are doing service as Covid-19 contact tracers. Read more here (KQED).

For households with young children, the Library has a Dial-a-Story program, now with video: More here.

 

June Update from D7 Supervisor Norman Yee

D7 Supervisor Norman Yee has published another timely and informative newsletter. Read it here:

https://sfbos.org/supervisor-yee-newsletter

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Subjects covered in the newsletter: 

June 9: Special SNA Senior Transportation Meeting

SNA is holding a special online meeting focused on current transportation options for seniors and people with disabilities.

• Tuesday June 9th, 5-6 PM, via Zoom. Meeting link BELOW.

The meeting includes a short presentation by Cathy DeLuca of Community Living Campaign (CLC) followed by a question-and-answer time. Cathy has been working for safe streets in the city for many years, and is now bringing her knowledge and passion to CLC in service of seniors. Hosted by SNA President Kenneth Hollenbeck. CLC is the organization behind Sunnyside Community Connectors. More about the meeting:

How to Get Around During COVID-19 for Seniors and People with Disabilities

Getting around San Francisco is challenging for seniors and people with disabilities in the best of times, but during the COVID crisis, it’s hard to keep track of what the options are. Join Cathy DeLuca from Community Living Campaign to hear the latest about all your transportation options, including Muni, the Essential Trip Card program, Paratransit, and more!

Meeting information: SNA Senior Transportation Meeting
Time: Jun 9, 2020 05:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Balboa Reservoir housing project clears Planning Commission

Last Thursday, The SF Planning Commission approved the Balboa Reservoir Project, the housing development planned for the 17-acre site between Ocean Ave, City College, Riordan High School and Westwood Park currently used for CCSF parking.

The rest of the approval process includes: a hearing at the board of the SF Municipal Transportation Agency, then the SF Public Utilities Commission, and finally the Board of Supervisors, likely in late summer. The first housing will be begun in 2022, with the project finish anticipated in 2028.

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From the SF Examiner [source: https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/planning-commission-greenlights-1100-unit-balboa-reservoir-project/ ]

Planning Commission greenlights 1,100 unit Balboa Reservoir project

Development near CCSF expected to include 50 percent below-market rate units

IDA MOJADAD May. 28, 2020 6:45 p.m.

The Balboa Reservoir project, expected to bring 1,100 units to a City-owned parking lot near City College of San Francisco, received key approvals Thursday.

The San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously approved the mixed-use project’s environmental review and agreement with a private developer, and recommended that the Board of Supervisors rezone the 17.6-acre area.