Commission approves 1512 Twentieth redevelopment, drops proposed privacy screen after neighbor objections

The Planning Commission on April 2 approved renovation and limited vertical addition at 1512 Twentieth Street (Potrero Hill), a project that will restore a storefront long vacant for decades and add a second‑floor tenant space and mezzanine. The project sponsor, owners of Good Life Grocery, proposed neighborhood‑serving uses including a cafe and a small yoga studio.

Neighbors who filed a discretionary review request said the plans would remove an historically matching light well, convert a second‑floor dwelling to commercial use and install a rear deck and an opaque privacy screen that would block light and invade privacy for adjacent homes. Doctor Requesters asked the Commission to remand the project to staff, assert that assessor records list the building as multi‑family and request removal or heavy modification of the deck and screen.

Architect Carrie Bernstein and project counsel said the proposal follows NC2 zoning, provides a light well at the mezzanine level that meets code widths and had been reduced from earlier, more aggressive plans in response to neighbor input. Planning staff reported that records do not show a legal dwelling unit on the second story and that the project remains within allowable envelope and FAR.

During deliberations sponsor counsel agreed to remove the opaque privacy screen on the second‑floor deck while keeping a permeable trellis and landscape screening that permit light to pass through. Commissioners found the project compatible with the small NC2 commercial strip, noted the long‑vacant storefront and the sponsors’ outreach history, and voted to deny the discretionary review request and approve the project (6–0) with the privacy‑screen removal recorded in the motion.

Staff will follow up to reconcile assessor/building‑permit records regarding past unauthorized improvements and to ensure the final permit set reflects the agreed deck/screen changes.