Commission pauses 468 Turk density-bonus project for more community outreach

The Planning Commission on April 15 agreed to a three-week continuance for a 468 Turk Street proposal seeking a conditional use authorization and state density-bonus approvals to build a nine‑story, 101‑room group-housing project with on-site below‑market-rate units.

Staff characterized the proposal as a market-rate group-housing project using the California State Density Bonus law (AB 2345) to seek waivers on height and rear yard requirements and noted a proposed affordable set-aside of 17 units across income tiers. The department found the project “on balance consistent” with the general plan and supportive of adding rental housing and BMR units in the neighborhood.

Project opponents — including Tenderloin advocates, the Central City SRO Collaborative, GLIDE Center for Social Justice and neighborhood residents — urged a continuance to improve community engagement, especially because the Tenderloin already contains a high concentration of SROs, group housing and other small-unit housing. Speakers cited public‑health, infrastructure and equity concerns and asked for time to negotiate a good‑neighbor agreement and larger family‑sized units.

Sponsor representatives said they had conducted outreach since 2019 and were willing to continue discussion; they also described the project’s ground-floor community spaces and the intention to provide a substantive community kitchen and indoor/outdoor amenity spaces. The project sponsor indicated willingness to consider some concessions, including an additional communal kitchen if feasible.

Citing Supervisor Haney’s request for additional outreach and community calls for time to craft agreements, the commission voted unanimously to continue the item to May 6, 2021. Staff will return with any project revisions and updated documentation.