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Arts community urges council to remove ‘Site 23’ from housing element to protect Sanchez Art Center
Summary
Sanchez Art Center supporters and other residents told the City Council that designating the art center campus (Site 23) for housing would harm community arts programming and senior social connections; speakers asked staff to draft an amendment removing Site 23 from the housing element.
Artists, nonprofit leaders and community members urged the City Council on Monday to remove a campus identified as “Site 23” from Pacifica’s housing element, saying the site — home to Sanchez Art Center and related arts activities — serves a broad social and cultural role that housing development would damage.
Speakers described the Sanchez Art Center as a regional draw that provides classes, exhibitions and community programs that reduce social isolation and support seniors. Sanchez Art Center Executive Director Cindy Abbott and a local artist who identified herself as Larissa Wasserman said losing Site 23 would remove a rare gathering space for older adults, artists and visitors and damage the city’s cultural economy.
Why it matters: The housing element must identify potential sites to meet state RHNA requirements, but residents argued that Site 23’s community uses and economic contributions make it unsuitable for residential redevelopment without alternatives.
Larissa Wasserman, who said she is not a Pacifica resident but has strong ties to the art center, told the council the site supports vulnerable people who benefit from community art programs. "Removing Site 23, which is Sanchez Art Center, is a very thoughtless and ill considered proposition," she said.
Cindy Abbott outlined recent activity at the art center — gallery exhibitions by known regional artists, summer camps, concerts and an asphalt art pilot project — and asked the council to "do the right thing for the community" by directing staff to prepare an amendment removing Site 23 from the housing element.
Speakers also linked arts preservation to economic and social benefits: they said FogFest and other events bring visitors and revenue to downtown businesses and that the Sanchez campus draws people from across the Bay Area. FogFest organizers spoke separately during public comment to announce the September festival dates and call for volunteers; later in the budget presentation staff noted a $25,000 funding request from FogFest received after packet publication that was not included in the proposed budget.
City response and next steps: Several speakers asked staff to prepare a formal amendment removing Site 23 from the housing element; staff did not commit to a specific action on the dais during the public‑comment portion but the request became part of public record. The council did not take immediate action to amend the housing element; staff indicated the housing element will return to the Planning Commission in July and that the earliest council review could be in August, depending on the commission schedule.
Ending: Arts advocates asked the council to prioritize the cultural and social benefits of Sanchez Art Center when finalizing the housing element; the council will consider housing‑element timing and related staff recommendations at future meetings.
