Elderly residents at a low-income housing project and their neighbors in The Northeastern Waterfront are sounding the alarm about a 51 unit housing project slated for 55 Francisco Street, though the developer insists the concerns are overblown.

Located on Kearny Street and butted up against Telegraph Hill, Wharf Plaza I & II houses 230 low-income residents-most of whom are either seniors, disabled, or both. Wharf plaza residents, along with other residents and community groups in the highly desirable neighborhood, are worried that the proposed condominium project will increase traffic, take away parking and block sunlight from apartments and the outside plaza where many seniors spend their days.

(to see photos showing blockage of light and air click here)

The Group, Stop 55, also complains about the noise and dust during a long construction project will add further stress and impose health risks to an already ailing population.

Attorney Vedica Puri, a neighbor of the project and head of Stop 55 said they have over 1,200 signatures on a petition decrying the development. Supervisor Aaron Peskin also expressed concern that the project could negatively impact the seniors.

(For health and other concerns click here)
 
“We have sick people here who must be taken care of ,” said Alfred Frerick, a 74 year-old resident. Many of the apartments, residents pointed out, depend on one sliding balcony door for ventilation, which will be facing the new development. “I’m pretty healthy, but I’m very concerned about others..They will die when all the dust comes in.”

Developer Douglas Rosenberg, who completed 12 buildings in The City, refutes the claims.

Rosenberg insists he has worked hard to ensure that all of the concerns are allayed to the best of his ability, pointing toward an extensive shadow study he commissioned and plans to submit as part of public record, and his willingness to minimize the impact of construction by any means necessary.

“We have looked into portable air handling units that suck up air and dust, and I would be happy to purchase and bring them in as part of the project, “ he said adding he is also looking at ways to enclose the garage and is “happy” to relocate residents if necessary.

The shadow study shows a minimal impact on the buildings and the plaza, which is confined to about 2 hours right after sunrise year round.

(The shadow study only included public open public space - the plaza area across the street and down the block from the proposed condos. The study did not take into consideration the senior/disabled one room apartments with a single balcony door for all light and ventilation. These units are located only 45 feet across Kearny from the west wall of the 65' tall proposed new project.)

Rosenberg pointed out that the building – currently a parking garage, which he says is usually at about 70 percent capacity-will only lose about 14 parking spaces, and will offer new residents parking.

(Rosenberg’s claim of only 14 parking spaces lost and only 70% current occupancy is false according to his own Transportation Impact Study, faxed to Art Agular, San Francisco Planning Dept. 1-5-2005 and Preliminary Mitigated Negative Declaration Draft submitted 12-2004. These studies show a loss of 81 public spaces (current available public spaces - 284 - all self-park; total new public spaces - 203 - all valet) and currently 80% of the spaces are occupied. He also fails to factor in that his adjoining office building has 21,000 sq. ft unoccupied office space (3-9-2005) which will require additional parking. Also 2 other large office buildings directly across the street from his property currently have another 85,000 sq.ft vacant (3-9-2005). Also, the Mills project at Piers 27, 29 & 31 is only 2 blocks away and is planning on using nearby public parking. It is clear that the demand for public parking will increase greatly in the near future in this small area.)

Rosenberg also said the development – 12 percent of which will be permanently affordable units – fits in both with The City’s general plan and the Northeast Waterfront’s plan.

The City’s Planning Department is still reviewing the project, according to planner Art Aguilar. He said nothing has been finalized, including the negative declaration, an analysis of environmental impacts done on projects where the supervising agency deems that a full-blown report is unnecessary.

                                                             Email: mlagos@sfindependent.com

 

The study shows a loss of 81 public spaces and currently 80 percent occupancy. The developer also fails to factor in that the historic adjoining office building has 21,000 sq. ft of unoccupied office space, and 2 other large office buildings directly across the street from his property have another 85,000 sq.ft vacant. When these are leased, and the Mills project at Piers 27-31 is completed 2 blocks away, the demand for public parking will increase greatly. If the developer's 51 luxury condos go up, vital parking resources will be taken from the increased demand.
 
 
Caren Zisson
The City