Supervisors OK 530 Sansom Mixed‑Use Tower and New Fire Station 13 on First Reading

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Oct. 7 passed, on first reading, a package of ordinances and agreements clearing the way for the 530 Sansom mixed‑use tower and construction of a replacement Fire Station 13 in downtown San Francisco.

Supervisor Connie Chan, who spoke in support of the project, described it as “a really good example, of how I think we could accomplish, developments in our city,” and said the city would receive a “brand new fire station that’s been, a long time coming” for the area. The board approved items 15 through 18, and companion items 25 and 26, by an 11–0 roll call vote.

Why it matters: The package revises the general plan and planning code, creates a special use district for the site, approves a major encroachment permit for pedestrian and streetscape work, authorizes a conditional property exchange to build the new fire station, and adopts a development agreement and a hotel/fire station incentive agreement. The development agreement includes approximately $4.3 million for additional affordable housing payments and sets aside $7 million in transit funding; the incentive agreement offers up to about $86 million in net present value over 25 years as a percentage of new transient occupancy tax receipts tied to a proposed hotel, according to the ordinance summaries presented to the board.

Speakers and debate: Supervisor Chan and Supervisor Sauter delivered the substantive remarks recorded in the legislative proceedings. Chan acknowledged the project’s tradeoffs, including the required demolition of a landmarked building at 447 Battery Street and the displacement impact on a small business there, but argued the new fire station and the overall public benefits justified approval. “It may not be something that we all want,” Chan said, but she emphasized the multi‑stage review by the Historic Preservation Commission, Planning Commission and the Government Audit and Oversight Committee. Supervisor Sauter described the item as “an extensive process” and highlighted city benefits including transit funding and an upfront affordable housing contribution for a Chinatown site (New Asia at 772 Pacific Ave).

Project and funding specifics recorded in the meeting record: the package (as summarized at the hearing) includes (a) amendments to the General Plan and Downtown Area Plan; (b) creation of the 530 Sansom Mixed‑Use Tower and Fire Station Special Use District with conditional use review; (c) a major encroachment permit for EQX Jackson SQ Hold Co, LLC for streetscape and pedestrian improvements; (d) an amended and restated conditional property exchange for 530 Sansom and 447 Battery Street to enable construction of the new fire station; (e) a development agreement that accepts and appropriates roughly $4.3 million for additional affordable housing; and (f) a hotel and fire station development incentive agreement calculated at roughly $86,000,000 net present value over 25 years for measurement purposes tied to future transient occupancy taxes. The board record notes the project footprint sits adjacent to Transamerica, Chinatown and the Jackson Square Historic District.

Votes: The board took a single roll call on the group of items. Supervisors Sauter, Sheryl (Cheryl), Walton, Chan, Chen, Dorsey, Engadio, Fielder, Mahmood, Mandelmann and Melgar voted aye; the clerk announced 11 ayes and the items were passed on first reading.

Context and next steps: The ordinances were passed on first reading; subsequent required steps include additional legislative readings and final adoption where applicable, and implementation of the development agreement and incentive terms subject to the timelines in the ordinances and agreements. The record shows outreach and review by several city commissions and the Government Audit and Oversight Committee prior to the board vote.