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Planning staff briefs commission on Park Merced Phase 1; neighbors press for safety, air and tenant protections
Summary
Planning Department and Park Merced sponsor presented Phase 1 of the long‑running Park Merced redevelopment: roughly 1,600 units in phase 1 (part of ~5,700 net new units across all phases), guaranteed replacement of rent‑controlled units, 15% inclusionary housing (one‑third on‑site), and a community improvements program; neighbors asked for tenant mitigation, seismic and public‑health safeguards and clear mitigation for construction impacts.
Planning staff gave the commission a multi‑hour update on Park Merced’s Phase 1 build‑out and design review applications.
Joshua Switzke and Veronica Flores described the phased approach and the development agreement commitments: the full Park Merced plan aims for roughly 5,700 net new units over ~30 years (ultimately ~9,000 units on site, with ~3,200 existing units today). Phase 1 (subphases 1A–1D) focuses on northwest and southeast blocks; initial subphases 1A and 1B would build the earliest construction sites with over 1,600 units in the phase and a substantial program of street and open‑space improvements. The development agreement requires one‑to‑one replacement of rent‑controlled units and an inclusionary program requiring 15% affordable units, with one‑third of inclusionary units on‑site.
Staff emphasized that phase applications are processed administratively by the Planning Department in consultation with SFMTA, SFPUC, Public Works and other agencies; the phase approval is by the planning director but the Commission receives informational review of large buildings and design applications.
Public comment was extensive. Speakers from neighborhood groups and Park Merced tenants raised concerns about seismic safety (water pressure and lateral performance), air and soil testing during phased demolition and construction, pipelines, the need for tenant protections and a dedicated tenant mitigator, and the timing and transparency of outreach. Several speakers who live on or near the site urged firm, enforceable mitigation and ongoing monitoring during the 30‑year build‑out.
Staff and the sponsor said community improvements, intersection upgrades and replacement housing are embedded in the development agreement and stressed ongoing coordination among city agencies; staff also noted that replacement of parking and tenant relocation will be addressed with project‑specific plans.
Next steps: design review applications are under staff review; the planning director approved the phase application in June and the project sponsor anticipates construction of the first building in the coming year.
