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Planning Commission approves Conservatory of Music Van Ness project with binding tenant relocation and return protections
Summary
The commission approved the San Francisco Conservatory of Music's planned mixed-use building at 200'/214 Van Ness, including 420 student beds, 30 new units and legally recorded commitments ensuring replacement of 27 rent-controlled units, temporary comparable housing during construction and a right to return at current rents.
The San Francisco Planning Commission voted to approve the San Francisco Conservatory of Music's proposed mixed-use project at 200 and 214 Van Ness Avenue, adopting the necessary general plan amendment, planning code map and text changes, a downtown project authorization with exceptions and a conditional use authorization.
The project, as described to the commission, will include roughly 420 student housing beds, 30 dwelling units (three intended for faculty and 27 replacement units), performance and teaching spaces and ground-floor retail. Anne Topier of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development told the commission the development agreement includes a 1-for-1 replacement commitment for the 27 existing rent-controlled units and a detailed relocation plan that will be recorded with the city.
Key tenant protections in the development agreement and relocation plan include:
- A legally recorded notice of special restrictions that submits replacement units to ongoing rent-control jurisdiction for as long as the ordinance or any successor ordinance remains in effect; - A plan for temporary comparable housing prior to construction commencement (the sponsor is in advanced talks for master-lease temporary units at the new 150 Van Ness complex); - Sponsor-funded moving costs and utility reconnections; - Assurance that tenants moving into replacement units will be offered substantially the same lease terms and base rent as before construction; and - A dispute-resolution component recorded as part of the development agreement.
The Conservatory's project team and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development said they had worked directly with each existing tenant and with the city to prepare the relocation plan; the sponsor said temporary housing and move costs would be paid by the conservatory and that the sponsor would coordinate with the San Francisco Housing Authority to preserve Section 8 voucher eligibility through temporary and permanent moves.
Public comment was extensive. Residents of the existing building and the student body spoke in favor, citing improved living conditions and proximity to campus for students. Housing advocates and neighborhood groups pressed the commission and sponsor to ensure robust enforcement and transparent communication; the department and sponsor answered with commitments to a recorded DA exhibit and a formal noticing and dispute process.
Commissioner Moore moved to approve the full slate of entitlements and the motion carried in a unanimous roll call, with Commissioners Fong, Coppell, Richards, Moore, Vice President Melgar and President Hillis voting aye.
What happens next: With the commission's approval, the development agreement and map/text amendments will be forwarded as recommended to the Board of Supervisors (where applicable) for final approvals and implementation. The development agreement language giving tenants the right to return and rent-control protections will be recorded and will be the principal enforcement mechanism for tenant protections going forward.
