Development and Permitting
Page 2 of 2 · 1 upcoming event · 62 stories · 15 meeting summaries · Aug 25, 2026 – Nov 6, 2026
Stories
Thursday, September 10, 20261 story →
A Richmond nonprofit served neighbors for 46 years. SFUSD almost took away its land.
A neighborhood nonprofit in the Richmond District has stayed off the San Francisco Unified School District's list of sites considered for development, at least for now. The group has served the neighborhood for 46 years, and people there say they still fear being displaced.
Wednesday, September 9, 20263 stories →
Richmond Neighborhood Center Fights for Lease Extension Amid Development Fears
More than 100 people filled a San Francisco Unified School District board meeting after rallying outside district headquarters to demand a public process over 741 30th Ave., the Outer Richmond building that has housed The Richmond Neighborhood Center since 1980. The district recently told the center it will release a request for proposals to gauge developer interest in the site.
Golden Gate University sells Mission Street campus for $31.6M and moves out
Golden Gate University has moved out of its longtime downtown campus after selling 536 Mission St. to a developer on Friday. The sale, reported at $31.6 million, will settle part of the university's debts. The developer plans one of San Francisco's first new skyscrapers since the pandemic.
San Francisco housing shortage persists with more than 2,000 vacant lots
San Francisco has more than 2,000 vacant, undeveloped lots even as it faces a housing shortage, according to World Journal. Some empty parcels now show signs of development.
Tuesday, September 8, 20261 story →
S.F. homeless service providers must prove their programs work. S.F. permitting software, not so much…
San Francisco has moved homeless services contracts to performance-based metrics, according to Mission Local. The city's OpenGov permit software, which has struggled, has not been held to the same standard.
Sunday, September 6, 20261 story →
A West Portal project doubled in size. It’s the latest in SF’s ‘F your feelings’ era
A proposed West Portal development has doubled in size, and nearby businesses are reckoning with the possibility that it will move quickly through city approvals. The story looks at the project and San Francisco's current development climate.
Friday, September 4, 20261 story →
Controversial PermitSF Contract Extension Advances Without Supervisors’ Support
The Board of Supervisors' Budget and Finance Committee advanced Mayor Daniel Lurie's proposal to extend the city's PermitSF contract with OpenGov for five years at $33 million, but did not recommend full board approval. Some supervisors questioned the portal's performance and the administration's decision to bypass competitive bidding.
Thursday, September 3, 20261 story →
S.F. supervisors advance $33M OpenGov extension — but without their blessing
San Francisco supervisors let a $33 million OpenGov contract extension move forward without endorsing it, after hours of debate over whether the project was awarded fairly and had a clear plan, Mission Local reports. The software is at the center of Mayor Lurie's push to overhaul permitting.
Wednesday, September 2, 20262 stories →
‘Lurie vs. Lorax?’ San Francisco Tree Advocates Bring Planting Fight to City Hall
Supervisors were scheduled to vote Tuesday on street tree rule changes backed by Mayor Daniel Lurie and Supervisor Alan Wong. Environmental advocates say the ordinance would let developers pay instead of planting trees, and they warn the city is already losing tree canopy.
S.F. is poised to spend $33M more on OpenGov. It’s still only handling basic permits.
San Francisco is expected to spend $33 million more on the OpenGov permitting software, which has still not replaced the city’s older permitting system. City workers say they continue to use the old system for anything beyond basic permits.
Tuesday, September 1, 20261 story →
The Latest Fight Over a Large, Upzoned Housing Development Comes to West Portal
A proposed apartment building in West Portal has grown to 172 units and 12 stories, nearly triple its original size. The project would replace the former Empire Theater at 85 West Portal Avenue and include an adjacent property. The developer cites Mayor Daniel Lurie's family zoning changes as a reason for the expansion, according to SFist.
Tuesday, August 25, 20261 story →
San Francisco cut red tape to spur development. Is the market catching up?
San Francisco rents are rising, and developers predict a building boom within the next two years. The article looks at whether the market is responding to the city's recent cuts to red tape.