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Board rejects demolition appeal; Bridge Housing’s SB 35 project cleared to proceed with agreed neighbor monitoring
Summary
The Board denied an appeal of the demolition permit for Bridge Housing’s SB 35‑approved 137‑unit affordable project at 4840 Mission Street, 5–0, while urging the sponsor to provide agreed survey markers and monitoring for immediately adjoining homes and to be responsive to neighbors’ concerns.
The San Francisco Board of Appeals denied an appeal by several adjacent homeowners challenging a demolition permit for the 4840 Mission Street project, a 137‑unit, 100% affordable development approved under SB 35. The vote was 5–0 to uphold the permit.
Appellants Vivian Padua and Yvonne Vasquez raised procedural and safety concerns: they said they had not received required notifications, questioned whether the project complied with SB 35 limits on local discretion, asked that Bridge Housing fund independent pre‑ and post‑construction condition assessments performed by firms chosen by homeowners, and raised health concerns related to asbestos and lead abatement. Ms. Vasquez cited earlier letters from MOHCD and DBI and said the property had earlier historic‑resource evaluations.
Sarah White, director for Bridge Housing’s Northern California team, said the project is SB 35‑eligible, fully permitted and financed, and backed by MOHCD. She presented a geotechnical opinion concluding demolition/excavation would have negligible risk to the immediately adjoining properties (1991 and 1927 Alemany and nearby Mission Street structures). White offered to perform survey marker work and to permit certain monitoring and agreed inspection protocols for the four immediately adjacent properties, and said Bridge had prepared abatement reports (asbestos/lead) and would share relevant information.
Planning and DBI staff told the board that SB 35 limits local discretion for new construction approvals, that the planning review found the project met SB 35 criteria and that the demolition permit was properly issued. DBI noted the permit includes third‑party special inspection for demolition and required abatement oversight.
Commissioners stressed the board’s limited authority under SB 35 but urged Bridge Housing to work closely with neighbors. Commissioner Rick Swig moved to deny the appeal and uphold the permit while directing the project sponsor to take steps to reassure nearby homeowners; the motion carried 5–0.
Project: 4840 Mission Street. Proposal: 137 units of 100% affordable housing. Key commitments from sponsor: neighbor survey marker work for immediately adjacent properties; willingness to provide certain pre/post monitoring for those properties by agreement.
