Board approves termination of development agreement for Geneva Office Building and Powerhouse, Supervisor Avalos outlines phased rehab plan

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Oct. 6 adopted a resolution to terminate the lease disposition and development agreement for the Geneva Office Building and Powerhouse so the city can pursue a revised, phased plan to rehabilitate the property for community use.

Supervisor John Avalos (identified in the proceedings as Supervisor Avalos) explained to colleagues that the project has "been starting and stopping for a number of years" since the land transferred from the MTA to the Recreation and Park Department. Avalos said the building needs roughly "$26 million or so to rehabilitate and to make it functional for community use" and described a plan to phase work, starting with the powerhouse side of the property using available park bond funds from the 2012 park bond.

Avalos credited staff and supporters across the city for keeping the project alive and named individuals who helped coordinate support, including Beth Rubinstein, Nicole Averell of Rec and Park, Amy Cohen of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Joaquin Torres and Tom DeCaney. He said the revised approach would allow a phase 1 rehab and programming demonstration to inform a subsequent phase.

The resolution to terminate the prior lease/disposition and development agreement and proceed with the new approach was adopted unanimously on the consent calendar.

Ending: The board's action clears the way for the city to pursue a phased rehabilitation of the Geneva Office Building and Powerhouse, beginning with the powerhouse using available 2012 park bond funds; project planning and subsequent phases will be subject to future approvals and funding availability.