Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Large Project topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves 1501 15th St. mixed‑use project with conditions to protect school routes
Summary
The Planning Commission approved a 5‑story mixed‑use building at Fifteenth and South Van Ness, requiring the garage entrance be moved to South Van Ness and directing follow‑up on facade details and the building cap to better fit the neighborhood and protect Marshall Elementary's safe routes.
The Planning Commission on Oct. 6 approved a five‑story mixed‑use project at 1501 Fifteenth Street, subject to modifications requested during the hearing to reduce impacts on nearby Marshall Elementary School and improve the building's contextual design.
Planning staff described the proposal as a 40‑unit building with 60 percent two‑bedroom units and retail on the ground floor. Neighbors and Marshall Elementary PTA representatives objected to a planned garage entry on Fifteenth Street, citing the school's Safe Routes to School and a new home‑zone traffic calming project. Beatrice Godinho, speaking for the PTA, asked that the entrance be relocated to South Van Ness to keep vehicular movements away from the school.
The sponsor and architect presented two options for garage ingress and egress and described design revisions including added light wells, additional windows, and massing changes. Commissioners debated the building's material contrasts and vertical emphasis and asked the sponsor to soften the cap and top termination. Commissioner Moore moved to approve the project provided the garage entrance is relocated to South Van Ness and the sponsor and staff continue to refine the top "cap" and facade details; the motion passed 5–2.
The approval includes conditions for on‑going coordination with MTA traffic calming measures and a condition to work with staff on design details to improve neighborhood compatibility.
