SF’s housing solution may be hiding in plain sight: Land it already owns
A new report identifies 147 city-owned properties in San Francisco that could be developed for affordable housing. It says funding gaps are the main obstacle, not a lack of land.
Housing & Land Use
4 stories, 3 outletsThis SF Renter Is Trying to Beat the AI-Fueled Housing Boom With an Analog Approach
Harlow Srain, a 28-year-old renter in Bernal Heights, has contacted more than 200 landlords and property managers in nine months to find an apartment she can afford. She says rents have risen more than 25 percent over the past year, driven by the AI boom, and she is cold-calling landlords to ask for lower rents.
Long-Stalled 15-Story High-Rise at Fourth and Harrison Advances In SF’s SoMa
The developers of a long-stalled 15-story office project at 725 Harrison Street in SoMa received an 18-month extension from the Planning Commission, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The $1 billion project would include 770,000 square feet of office space, retail, childcare and public open space, but the developer still needs a major tenant before construction can be financed.
SoMa nonprofit Dev/Mission says landlord seeks 156% rent increase
Dev/Mission, a SoMa nonprofit that trains young people for technology jobs, says its landlord wants a 156 percent rent increase to renew its lease at 546 Bryant St., according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The group currently pays $7,426 a month for 4,000 square feet, and the landlord is seeking $19,000 a month.
San Francisco luxury home market booms while Los Angeles cools
San Francisco's luxury housing market is booming while Los Angeles's cools, according to SFGATE. Nearly 85 percent of single-family homes in San Francisco sold above asking price in August, and homes sold in about 19 days compared with 58 days in Los Angeles.
City Hall
3 stories, 2 outletsSan Francisco Supervisors to Weigh Suspension of Sheriff’s Oversight President
The Board of Supervisors Rules Committee is set to vote Monday on a motion to suspend Sheriff's Department Oversight Board Commissioner William Palmer. The motion, which will go to the full board Tuesday, follows an Inspector General investigation that found Palmer violated city law by using his public position for personal benefit.
Supervisor Fielder pitches ‘good government’ measures on transparency, corruption
Supervisor Jackie Fielder is proposing legislation on transparency and corruption that covers the Sunshine Task Force, city contracting and behested payments. The measures are aimed at good government reforms.
Here Are San Francisco’s Top Picks to Rename César Chavez Street
A working group convened by Mayor Daniel Lurie has selected two possible new names for César Chavez Street: Las Campesinas and Sí, Se Puede. The names follow sexual abuse allegations against the late labor leader reported by The New York Times.
Public Safety
2 stories, 1 outletPedestrian killed steps away from Inner Richmond playground
A pedestrian was killed Monday near an Inner Richmond playground after being struck by a driver, according to San Francisco police. The victim was taken to a hospital, where they were declared dead.
S.F. sticks with Flock surveillance cameras, but mayor tightens police use
Mayor Daniel Lurie announced new rules for San Francisco's Flock license plate cameras that cut police data access from 12 months to 30 days and require officers to link searches to active investigations. The policy also adds monthly audits and removes SFPD data from the Flock platform after 30 days.