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Commission approves 701 Harrison small‑cap office authorization with condition to consult Filipino cultural district
Summary
Planning commissioners approved a 7‑story small‑cap office at Third & Harrison (49,999 sq ft office within ~58,538‑sq‑ft building) and added a condition directing the sponsor to continue outreach with Filipino cultural district and neighborhood organizations and explore culturally appropriate art/programs.
The San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously approved a small‑cap office authorization on April 30 for a proposed seven‑story office building at 701 Harrison Street, allowing 49,999 square feet of office under the city’s small‑cap allocation and adding a condition that the sponsor continue outreach with neighborhood organizations, including those representing the Filipino Cultural Heritage District.
Planning staff described the project as a 7‑story building with mezzanine and ground‑floor commercial facing Third Street. The presentation said the project would include approximately 58,538 gross square feet of building area with 49,999 square feet allocated to office, approximately 1,508 square feet of usable open space, and 69 Class 1 and 16 Class 2 bicycle parking spaces.
Dan Fratton, representing the project sponsor, said the project complies with the Central SoMa plan and code requirements, estimated roughly 275 permanent jobs when occupied, and noted nearly $6.7 million in onetime impact fees and long‑term Mello‑Roos taxes that would fund neighborhood improvements. "What the city and what the country need is a rapid return to normal," Fratton said, arguing that construction now would provide work for trades and position the city for recovery.
Members of the public and neighborhood groups raised concerns about outreach to community organizations, the project’s proximity to the South of Market Youth & Family Special Use District, and the absence of explicit references to the Filipino Cultural Heritage District in staff materials. David Wu of Soma Filipinas told the commission the developer had not done outreach to the Filipino community and asked the commission to suspend hearings on nonessential items during the pandemic; Wu also said the project undermines existing neighborhood policy aspirations.
Staff and the sponsor responded that outreach had been attempted to dozens of organizations (sponsor said 34 groups were contacted), that the project is technically outside the Youth & Family Special Use District and therefore not subject to those land‑use controls, and that the 49,999‑square‑foot office figure counts only office area (retail excluded) to comply with small‑cap thresholds.
Commissioners nonetheless pressed for stronger neighborhood benefits and greater recognition of cultural context. Commissioner Johnson asked the sponsor to continue working with neighborhood groups and to consider culturally appropriate art or programs tied to the project; the motion to approve incorporated that direction.
Commissioner Diamond moved to approve the project with amended findings and conditions directing the sponsor to continue consultation with neighborhood organizations related to the Cultural Heritage District; the motion passed unanimously 6–0.
The commission’s approval allows the sponsor to pursue subsequent ministerial permits and required city approvals, subject to the added outreach and program‑development conditions.
