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City—s Station 13 plan advances: Real estate RFP seeks bidders to fund affordable housing and rebuild station
Summary
City staff told the Fire Commission that the mayor—s Public Lands for Housing initiative has put 530 Sansom up for proposals; the Department of Real Estate and broker Colliers issued an RFP to leverage air‑rights for affordable housing funding and a replacement Station 13, with proposals due in early March and a multi-year entitlement timeline anticipated.
Mark Corso, the Fire Department—s finance and planning director, briefed the commission on Feb. 13 about a multi‑stakeholder plan to use air rights above Fire Station 13 at 530 Sansom Street to fund affordable housing elsewhere in the district and to replace the existing station at the site.
Corso said the proposal traces to the mayor—s Public Lands for Housing program (approved by the Board of Supervisors and voters) and two Board resolutions passed unanimously in 2017–2018 that directed the sale or transfer of air rights to produce funding for affordable housing and to expedite a study of development options. The Department of Real Estate issued an RFP to the development community, selected Colliers as broker, and is collecting questions from bidders; Corso said proposals were expected in early March and that Real Estate will bring selected proposals to the commission in late spring for comment before any formal approvals.
Commissioners asked whether the new housing could be reserved for firefighters or other civil servants; Corso said the current approach anticipates funding affordable housing elsewhere in the district rather than building housing at 530 Sansom for firefighters, but he said he would discuss earmarking possibilities with Real Estate. Commissioners also asked about constraints the RFP sets: Corso noted a 200‑foot height limit referenced in the materials and described an anticipated building form with three levels for the fire station (including basement and sublevels) and residential stories above.
Several commissioners emphasized the need for clear communication as proposals advance, asked for follow‑up meetings with Supervisor Aaron Peskin—s office, and requested additional details about where affordable housing funds would be applied (Corso mentioned Chinatown as a likely target in district planning documents). Corso acknowledged earlier communication lapses, apologized, and said the department will take a more active role in the selection and design review if viable proposals emerge.
Corso cautioned that even if a responsive proposal is selected, the entitlement and environmental review process can be lengthy: "You're still looking at six or so years until a station's actually built and completed" if the usual processes run their course. Commissioners asked for continued updates, and the commission requested a meeting with Supervisor Peskin, real estate staff and department representatives to clarify the timeline, funding targets and relocation plans for Station 13 personnel while the site is rebuilt.
No formal decision or vote was taken on the Station 13 materials at the commission meeting; Corso said staff would return with more detailed proposals as they are available.
