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Supervisors recommend city buy five parcels in District 6 for new park
Summary
The Budget & Finance Committee voted to send a resolution to the full Board recommending purchase of five contiguous parcels in District 6 (Eleventh & Natoma) to create roughly a half-acre park; the committee heard appraisals, funding sources and neighborhood support. Purchase price negotiated below appraisal to address hazardous-material risks.
The Budget and Finance Committee unanimously voted to forward to the full Board a resolution recommending the city acquire five contiguous parcels in District 6, near Eleventh Street and Natoma, for park development. Chair Malia Cohen led the item after the clerk read the legislation authorizing the purchase and assumption of certain leases.
Supervisor Jane Kim, sponsor of the measure, and Rec and Park staff described the sites as a nearly half-acre opportunity to add open space in one of the city's fastest-growing and most park-poor neighborhoods. Stacy Bradley of the Recreation and Park Department said the acquisition would be funded from the Open Space Acquisition Fund and impact fees, supplemented by anticipated grants, and that planning and feasibility work will begin as leases on parts of the site expire in 2021.
John Updike, director of real estate, told supervisors the property had been appraised at $10 million (appraisal dated Sept. 13, 2016) and that the city negotiated a purchase price of about $9.725 million. Updike said the lower negotiated price reflects expected hazardous-material remediation the city will handle.
The committee's budget analyst noted the purchase price equates to roughly $497 per square foot based on the stated 19,570 square feet of land. The analyst also told the committee the proposed financing would leave a remaining balance in the Open Space Acquisition Fund and that fund replenishment is projected through impact fee receipts.
Several neighborhood and advocacy groups urged approval during public comment. Rebecca Evans, chair of Sierra Club San Francisco, and representatives of neighborhood park coalitions described the site as long-sought open space and asked that Rec and Park design the park with living grass, trees and habitat rather than artificial turf. Community groups also urged enforcement of the city's sunlight ordinance to avoid shadows from future development.
After brief questions about the appraisal and timelines, Supervisor Cohen moved to send the measure to the full Board with a positive recommendation; the committee approved the motion without objection. The full Board will consider the resolution on the supervisors' calendar.
Next steps: Rec and Park plans a feasibility study and preliminary design timed to the expiration of existing leases; development funding beyond acquisition will include impact fees and grant applications. If the full Board approves the resolution, the city will move to close escrow and begin the feasibility work outlined in staff testimony.
