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SFPUC votes to transfer Francisco Reservoir site to Recreation and Parks for park use at $9.9 million
Summary
After public testimony and a staff recommendation, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission declared the Francisco Reservoir surplus to utility needs and authorized a conditional jurisdictional transfer to the Recreation and Park Department at a fair market value of $9,900,000; the measure passed by voice vote and staff were authorized to execute a memorandum of understanding and seek Board of Supervisors and mayoral approval.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on the record voted to declare the Francisco Reservoir property (Bay Street between Larkin and Hyde) surplus to SFPUC utility needs and authorized the general manager to execute a memorandum of understanding to effect a conditional jurisdictional transfer to the Recreation and Park Department at a fair market value of $9,900,000.
The decision followed a staff recommendation and a public comment period in which multiple speakers urged that the city convert the roughly 4.5-acre, long-unused reservoir site into a public park. Matt O'Grady, CEO of the San Francisco Parks Alliance, told commissioners the transfer was consistent with the city's general plan and would fill a need in a park-deficient neighborhood, saying the move "would not have a significant negative impact on the city's ability to acquire other parcels for other park deficient neighborhoods." Margo Kelly, legislative aide to Supervisor Mark Farrell, said the payment terms preserve money in the Open Space Acquisition Fund while allowing this acquisition to proceed.
Several residents and advocates spoke in favor. Frank Dawkins said, "I fully support it and I hope there's a positive vote," and Jan Blum described plans for native plants, pollinator gardens and low-use water recapture systems to conserve water and create habitat. Rebecca Evans, representing the Sierra Club, noted other nearby housing projects and argued the long-unused site should serve recreation for Districts 2 and 3 and Chinatown.
A few public commenters urged housing on the site instead of a park. Lorraine Lucas argued the city needs more housing and said "Everybody wants housing in the city, but nobody wants it in this neighborhood," urging consideration of a housing component. Commissioners acknowledged those competing priorities during the discussion.
Commissioner Moran explained a fiscal rationale for the vote, saying he preferred "roughly $10,000,000 today than $20,000,000 never," noting prior development proposals had repeatedly failed. After calling the question the Commission approved the transfer and related authorizations by voice vote. The action includes asking the Board of Supervisors and the mayor to approve the conditional jurisdictional transfer and allows the general manager to execute the MOU to move the site toward park conversion.
Next steps: staff will finalize the MOU terms and submit the request for the jurisdictional transfer to the Board of Supervisors and mayor for their review and approval.
