Protect Our Historic Waterfronts

from High Rise Development

On Sansome Street, developers used both local and State density bonus programs to supersize their proposed towering luxury-condo complexes. Two are over 20 stories, far exceeding

height limits, nearly rivaling Coit Tower.

Thank you for your emails to the Land Use Committee advocating for the protection of the NE Waterfront!

We're excited to share that your efforts have paid off, and the Committee has recommended Board President Peskin's amendment to the full Board of Supervisors. Now, we need your continued support to ensure its final approval. Please take a moment to email the full Board of Supervisors—it only takes a few minutes. The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, February 27th. Your voice can make a difference!

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Board President Peskin has introduced an amendment to the SF Planning Code to correct an inadvertent error in legislation passed last year that was designed to encourage the conversion of downtown offices to residential uses. 

By eliminating density controls for the downtown, this legislation unintentionally subverted the existing height limits in the Northeast Waterfront area and two of the City’s oldest designated historic districts. Already developers have proposed three multi-story luxury towers - two of these are more than 200 feet, in an historic district, tripling their currently zoned height limits. This iconic area along the Embarcadero below Telegraph Hill -- renowned around the world -- stands to be ruined forever with a wall of expensive high rises.  

The Planning Commission supports these changes proposed by Board President Peskin, but the developers’ lobbyists and their YIMBY promoters are opposing this sensible fix and trying to scare members of the Board of Supervisors from voting for it. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Currently, the Mayor is proposing the same elimination of density control in our commercial business districts. It's referred to as Form Based Density or Density Decontrol. Once an area is density decontrolled and the State Density Bonus is applied on top, a developer could double or tripling the current heights anywhere - and the residents and businesses will have no say in the matter.

State and local legislators claim this 50-story project in the Sunset will never happen, but with the Density Decontrol + State Density Bonus, it's a real possibility.

Please email members of the Board of Supervisors and let them know that you support the passage of Board File No. 2331079 to preserve our cherished waterfront and allow for sensible, appropriate development in San Francisco.

Neighborhoods United SF (NUSF) is a growing coalition of long-established neighborhood, business, and civic organizations across San Francisco that are concerned about the proposed height increases (zoning changes) in our neighborhoods.