Planning commission approves 400 Divisadero mixed‑use project with 20% on‑site affordable units

The San Francisco Planning Commission voted June 13 to approve a conditional‑use authorization for the 400 Divisadero mixed‑use project, a proposal by developer Genesis to replace a cluster of auto‑oriented uses with a 3–6 story building containing about 184 rental apartments and ground‑floor retail.

The commission’s decision follows a multi‑year outreach period and an updated staff recommendation. Planning staff described the project as replacing three residential units with new rental housing, including 37 on‑site below‑market‑rate units, approximately 8,100 square feet of retail, and substantial bike parking. Project sponsor David Krizier said the design emphasizes a pedestrian‑friendly streetscape, widened sidewalks, and a stepped massing that reduces impacts on adjacent blocks. “We just need housing,” he told the commission during his presentation.

Community response was mixed. Merchants associations and numerous neighborhood speakers supported the project for bringing housing and small‑business‑oriented retail to the Visidereo corridor and praised the developer’s outreach. Other residents and housing advocates urged a larger on‑site affordability requirement — some speakers cited the Divisadero Community Plan’s 50% affordability target for new projects — and asked for stronger commitments to prevent fee‑outs or later conversion of BMR units.

Commission discussion focused on enforceability and design details. Commissioners raised questions about nested bedroom layouts in some two‑bedroom plans and the difficulty of regulating bedroom counts. Staff said they had flagged those design issues to the sponsor and worked with building‑code reviewers to address natural‑light and egress requirements. Commissioners also pressed the sponsor on relocation plans for tenants of buildings slated for demolition; the developer said it has committed to interim housing subsidies and to offering replacement units in the project where feasible.

The commission approved the project with conditions, including standard monitoring and mitigation measures. Commissioner comments indicated support for the balance the proposal struck between added housing, the 20% on‑site BMR requirement set through subsequent legislation, and design measures intended to limit neighborhood impacts. The project's approval is subject to standard environmental review and implementation of the commission’s conditions.

What happens next: The sponsor will return with final permit applications and construction‑level plans; the record shows continued community interest in affordability and tenant relocation protections.