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Committee sends Conservatory of Music Van Ness development to full Board with positive recommendation after tenant assurances and amendments
Summary
The Land Use Committee voted to forward three ordinances approving the San Francisco Conservatory of Music project at 200–214 Van Ness — including a general plan amendment, planning code exceptions and a development agreement — after sponsor commitments to 1-for-1 replacement of rent‑controlled units, right-to-return guarantees, and technical amendments; public comment included both support and concerns from tenants about notice and relocation logistics.
The Land Use Committee voted to send three linked ordinances to the full Board with a positive recommendation that would allow the San Francisco Conservatory of Music to build a mixed-use project at 200–214 Van Ness Avenue including about 113 student-housing rooms, performance and rehearsal spaces, and on-site replacement housing for existing tenants.
Supervisor Shane Kim introduced the package and stressed the Conservatory's commitments to replace existing rent-controlled units on a 1-for-1 basis, provide temporary comparable housing during construction at 150 Van Ness with master-lease protections, cover moving costs and any rent differential, and record permanent protections in a Notice of Special Restrictions attached to the development agreement. Planning staff summarized the ordinances, noting Planning Commission approval on Feb. 8.
David Stell, introduced as president of the Conservatory, described public performance spaces (about 600 performances a year, of which he said "9 out of 10" would be free) and presented renderings. Equity Community Builders and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development described tenant outreach, relocation protocols and contractual exhibits (Exhibit C: relocation plan; Exhibit G: notice of special restrictions).
Multiple tenants said they appreciated replacement housing but raised concerns about the timing and delivery of relocation documents, the form of the temporary lease at 150 Van Ness, receipt of 90-day notices and communications practices. City and sponsor representatives said the conservatory would master-lease a set of units at 150 Van Ness, that tenants would pay their current rent while under the sublease and be protected by the rent-control ordinance, and that the development agreement memorializes the right to return and rent-control protections and gives the city enforcement authority. The committee adopted Supervisor Kim’s three technical amendments (corrections to resolution references and a square footage change for Unit 308) and moved Items 3–5 to the full Board with a positive recommendation without objection.
