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Developers and neighbors converge on partial-preservation path for 770 Woolsey project
Summary
Planning staff presented preservation alternatives for 770 Woolsey in Portola, showing trade-offs between historic retention and housing yield; the proposed project would build 62 units while full and partial preservation alternatives would produce 24 and 40 units respectively. Commissioners praised the outreach and alternatives; no formal approval was required at this review stage.
Planning Department staff and the project sponsor presented preservation alternatives on Dec. 16 for the proposed mixed-income housing project at 770 Woolsey Street in the Portola neighborhood, a 2.2-acre property that was home to the University Mound Nursery.
Justin Grebbing of the Planning Department described the site’s history and character-defining features, noting the former Garibaldi family nursery’s greenhouses, boiler house and auxiliary structures and that the property is eligible for the California Register under criteria tied to agricultural history and vernacular landscape. The department characterized the demolition of most extant structures as a “significant and unavoidable” impact under CEQA and said a range of feasible alternatives must be evaluated.
The project sponsor, Eric Tao of L37 Partners, summarized the evolution of the proposal, saying the original plan for up to 63 units would now include a community open space that incorporates replicated greenhouse features and a boiler house. He told commissioners the sponsor is committed to rebuilding two replica greenhouses on the corner, reusing materials where feasible, and incorporating Garibaldi roses and interpretive programming developed with the Friends of Woolsey and Supervisor Ronan’s office.
Planning staff presented three alternatives for the draft environmental impact report: no project; a full preservation alternative that would retain most greenhouses and yield about 24 units; and a partial preservation alternative that would retain roughly six of the 15 extant greenhouses and produce about 40 units. The sponsor’s proposed project would construct 62 units (31 duplexes) with approximately 0.3 acres of public park/community garden and 12 affordable units (20% of the proposed project).
Amy Beinart, aide to Supervisor Hillary Ronan, said by unanimous Board resolution in 2016 the area was designated the Garden District and that the supervisor’s office has facilitated productive talks between L37 Partners and Friends of Woolsey; Beinart said she expected a memorandum of understanding to be executed by the end of the year. Multiple public commenters who grew up in the neighborhood offered photographs, oral histories and support for preserving elements of the site.
Commission discussion was broadly supportive of the alternatives analysis and the outreach process. Commissioner Perlman and others praised the careful evaluation of preservation options and said the partial-preservation approach balanced historic retention with housing goals. Staff stressed that the upcoming draft EIR will clarify remaining questions, including the number and percentage of affordable units under the preservation alternatives and how retained spaces would be programmed.
This meeting item was for review and comment only; no formal approval or vote on the project occurred. Staff and the sponsor will use commissioner feedback in preparing the draft EIR and return to the commission as the environmental review proceeds.
