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Board upholds two Rincon Center permits, continues others amid tenant noise dispute with Google
Summary
The Board denied appeals and approved two lower-floor permits for Google’s Rincon Center work after parties reported recent negotiations and mitigation commitments; two other appeals involving noisy, floor‑cutting work were continued to allow time for further mitigation and possible temporary relocations.
The San Francisco Board of Appeals on April 25 denied appeals to two of four permits tied to Google’s tenant-improvement work at Rincon Center and continued the remaining appeals after tenants and Google reported progress toward a settlement.
Appellants said they and Google met and discussed a three‑part plan: immediate relocation of the most affected sensitive units, installation of real‑time noise monitors with dashboard alarms, and longer-term mediation of other claims. "We do have a tentative settlement," said attorney Steven Miyake for the appellants, urging the board not to issue a determination that would undermine talks.
Rebecca Prozan, Google’s community-outreach lead, acknowledged communication failures and said the company would implement sound mitigation, improved tenant communications and temporary supports such as workspace vouchers during the loudest periods. "It is clear that we could have and should have done better," Prozan said.
DBI inspector Joe Duffy told the board the permits complied with building code and highlighted where heavy work (saw-cutting and roto‑hammering) would be noisy, particularly where work penetrates slabs between floors.
Vice President Rick Swigg moved to deny the appeals for permits 201711214496 and 201712126276 (lower-floor work) and to grant those permits on the basis they were properly issued; commissioners recorded their affirmative votes. The board then continued the two remaining appeals (the stair/through‑floor permits and the Sixth Floor work) for additional negotiation and to give the parties time to present a more detailed mitigation plan on May 9 (later calendar adjustments set a follow-up date). The board emphasized it did not want to halt all work but sought concrete measures to limit tenant harm while allowing lawful construction to proceed.
Next steps: the parties agreed to continue negotiations and to return with specific proposals for sound monitoring, scheduling limits, temporary accommodations and further commitments to reduce the impact of structural floor work.
