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Commission approves Realtek’s 1335 Folsom SRO project amid community support and management questions
Summary
The Planning Commission approved a 53‑unit SRO project at 1335 Folsom Street that includes Ground Floor activation, a community room and four tourist rooms; supporters highlighted community investment and nonprofit partnerships, while a Doctor requester raised questions about SRO definitions, on‑site management and whether some compact rooms could be operated as short‑term rentals.
The Planning Commission voted on July 14 not to take discretionary review and approved a proposed SRO dwelling project at 1335 Folsom Street, a six‑story development by Realtek that will provide 53 small SRO dwelling units, four tourist hotel rooms, Ground Floor active frontage and a community multipurpose room.
Staff recommended approval, finding the project complies with the Folsom NCT zoning and associated design guidelines. The sponsor emphasized the project’s neighborhood benefits: 53 SRO units (individual bathrooms and cooking facilities within the SRO definition used in this location), 55 bicycle parking spaces, no on‑site car parking, a flexible community room for local groups, added street trees and public realm improvements, and seven on‑site affordable units at below‑market rates.
Several local nonprofits and neighborhood organizations spoke in support, citing Realtek’s prior local investments and commitments to donate space, fund youth programs and partner on community events. The Doctor requester raised questions about how SROs differ from dwelling units and group housing, whether SRO unit configurations met exposure and kitchen rules, and who would manage tourist rooms. The sponsor pledged an on‑site manager and an operations plan to collect hotel taxes, manage reservations and oversee turnover for tourist rooms.
Commissioners asked staff and the sponsor clarifying questions about unit sizes, manager accommodations and flexibility of the community room; staff confirmed SRO dwelling units in Western SoMa may include individual cooking facilities and that the project met the code‑defined size range for SROs in the district. The commission approved the project with a request that the sponsor continue working with staff on final material selection and building details.
Next steps: sponsor will finalize design details in consultation with staff before permit submittal; staff will include a finding about continued collaboration in the approval record.
