Commissions approve purchase of 4–8 Guy Place for Rincon Hill pocket park

The San Francisco Planning Commission and the Recreation and Park Commission voted March 15 to authorize acquisition of 4–8 Guy Place and to allocate up to $1.8 million from the Rincon Hill Community Improvement Fund for purchase, plus up to $60,000 for a conceptual design by the Recreation and Park Department.

Planning staff planner Joshua Switzke told the joint hearing the Rincon Hill plan directs the fund’s use for neighborhood open space and related public improvements, and that "a total of about $3,100,000 is available in this fund." He said the city obtained an appraisal valuing the parcel at $1,800,000 based on its potential for 18 housing units and that the owner accepted that price in a purchase agreement contingent on commission approvals and later Board of Supervisors action.

Daniel LaForte of the Recreation and Park Department said the Rincon Hill planning area currently lacks Rec and Park–managed open space and described 4–8 Guy Place as a candidate for an intimate neighborhood park that would offer "green relief for what is generally a pretty concreted area." The department recommended allocating up to $60,000 from the fund to complete a conceptual design and engineering plan, work the department estimates could take about six months and include community charrettes.

Public commenters voiced general support and cautioned about management. Michael Alexander of San Francisco Beautiful urged the commissions to approve the park, saying it would provide an intimate space and "eyes on the park" because of surrounding residences. John Tornas, president of the 50–64 Guy Place Homeowners Association, said he and his neighbors supported the project but asked the city to plan for monitoring and to prevent loitering or substance abuse, noting an assisted-housing facility nearby.

Commissioners questioned staff about prior uses and environmental work; staff said a Phase I assessment found no hazardous contaminants on-site and that the parcel is currently used as a parking lot. Commissioners also discussed a five-foot access easement that preserves emergency egress for an adjacent building; staff said the easement is included in the purchase agreement and can be adjusted spatially to accommodate future park design as long as the general access dimensions are maintained.

Planning staff outlined fund rules and remaining design support dollars: the Planning Code caps design and support spending at $250,000 for the life of the fund, about $25,000 has been spent to date, and approving the $60,000 design allocation would leave roughly $165,000 available for future design-support services. Rec and Park staff provided a rough preliminary estimate that construction of the pocket park might cost about $1.2 million, a number staff described as preliminary and subject to change after conceptual design.

Commissioner Bill Lee moved to authorize acquisition and funding under Section 318.6; the motion was seconded and the Planning Commission recorded unanimous approval. The Recreation and Park Commission subsequently moved and approved the same allocation; staff will proceed with documentation and the item will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for final acquisition approval and title arrangements with the Real Estate Division.

The commissions left the next steps as: finalize the purchase contingent on Board of Supervisors approval and the city attorney drafting a resolution, complete a conceptual design (with community outreach), and return with implementation details and funding requests for park construction.