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Mission activists press developer for more affordable units and retail; commission records hallway deal on 1863 Mission
Summary
After hours of testimony about gentrification and design at 1863 Mission Street, petitioners and the sponsor reached a hallway agreement: sponsor to offer 1,000 sq ft of ground‑floor space to a nonprofit at $2/sq ft for 15 years and to add one studio BMR, subject to appeals; commission approved the project and noted the private agreement.
The commission heard extended public testimony May 17 on a 37‑unit proposal at 1863 Mission Street that many neighborhood advocates described as emblematic of Mission‑wide displacement. Critics said the project's proposed inclusionary rate (4 on‑site BMR units, about 10.8%) falls short of current Mission area expectations and that the storefront design and glazing would accelerate gentrification.
Project counsel and supporters emphasized that the development meets current code and inclusionary requirements, will revive a long‑vacant lot and provides market‑rate rentals rather than luxury condos. Speakers for United to Save the Mission, Mission No Eviction and other groups asked for more on‑site affordability and long‑term below‑market leases for community organizations in the ground‑floor commercial space.
Following the public hearing and commission debate about grandfathering, feasibility and rounding the fractional BMR requirement up to an additional unit, the parties held a short hallway negotiation. Project counsel said the sponsor offered 1,000 square feet of ground‑floor commercial space to a nonprofit at $2 per square foot triple net for 15 years and agreed to add one studio BMR, contingent on no appeals of the project's environmental clearance or building permit and subject to a private memorandum of understanding. The commission voted to deny the discretionary request and approve the project while recognizing the private agreement; the motion passed unanimously.
