Board adopts resolution annulling sidewalk-vault permits for Central Subway; property owners say they will seek negotiated solutions

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt a resolution annulling certain subsidewalk basement encroachment privileges along Stockton, O'Farrell, Market and adjacent streets to allow construction of the Central Subway Union Square station.

City and transit officials said the actions are necessary to relocate utility lines and clear space for a station and required construction work. John Fungi, program manager for the Central Subway, told supervisors the Federal Transit Administration's recent approval of final design makes timely vacation of vault space urgent: "Project delays on a project of this scale would cost the project roughly $3'$4 million per month," he said.

Property owners and tenants appealed the city's revocations at the meeting. Representatives for Stockton Street Properties and the tenant Barneys complained they had not been given sufficient notice that the encroachments would be annulled and urged negotiation rather than immediate revocation. Marshall Wallace, counsel for Stockton Street Properties, said the…