The San Francisco City Council convened on July 4, 2025, to address ongoing disputes regarding a residential remodeling project at 11030 Second Avenue. The meeting focused on the appeal filed by neighbor Sanford Garfinkel, who raised concerns about the replacement of windows in the project, which he claims could infringe on his privacy.

The session began with Garfinkel detailing his attempts to communicate with the property owners and architects, expressing frustration over their lack of response. He highlighted discrepancies between the approved plans and the new plans submitted by the architect, Sam Kwong, which he argued did not adhere to the original commitments regarding window placements and obscurity.

Kwong, representing the property owners, provided context on the lengthy history of the project, which began in 2016 but faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent permit issues. He emphasized that the current plans had been approved by the planning department and that the windows in question would be replaced in kind, maintaining their obscured nature as previously agreed.

The Planning Department's representative, Tina Tam, confirmed that the project complied with all relevant codes and regulations, asserting that the proposed changes had undergone thorough review. She noted that the windows facing Garfinkel's property would remain in their original locations and sizes, with some designated to be obscured.

During the discussion, Commissioner Trezyna inquired about the relationship between the two neighbors and the efforts made to address Garfinkel's concerns. Kwong stated that while they had responded to Garfinkel's complaints, the arguments presented lacked substantial evidence.

As the meeting progressed, Garfinkel reiterated his request for clarity on which windows would remain obscured, expressing dissatisfaction with the plans he believed were inaccurate. He insisted that all previously obscured windows should be replaced with obscured glass, not just a select few.

In response, the board members discussed the possibility of including a condition in the permit to ensure that the windows facing Garfinkel's property would indeed be obscured, as a compromise to address privacy concerns. The board ultimately leaned towards denying Garfinkel's appeal while considering the inclusion of stipulations regarding the window replacements.

The meeting concluded with a consensus that further clarification on the window specifications would be beneficial, and the board expressed a commitment to ensuring that the project adhered to the agreed-upon terms regarding privacy. The next steps will involve formalizing the conditions of the permit to reflect the discussions held during the meeting.