While plans for a nine-story building with 127 units of affordable housing to rise on the northern half of the parking lot parcel at the corner of Folsom and 17th Street, adjacent to the future Folsom and 17th Street park on the southern half of the lot, have been drawn and the development rights have been awarded to the Chinatown Community Development Center and Mission Economic Development Agency, the proposed plans – which don’t include a garage – have been formally challenged.

From the requested Discretionary Review (DR) filed by a neighbor and formally accepted by the City yesterday:

“Building should provide off-street parking for residents to make up for the loss of the existing parking lot [which will exhaust street parking and create a horrible parking situation for existing residents]. A taller building would be acceptable if it provided off street parking for all residents. [And buildings of this height] should require pilings down to bedrock to prevent settling and eventual abandonment of the building.”

In addition:

“Projects of this size should be postponed…until the City renovates [the] existing 100-year-old combined storm-sewage sever system to eliminate [the persistent flooding at this site], otherwise increased concrete surface area of tall building[s] will worsen flooding and damage to street level businesses / residences.”

While the project will still need Planning’s approval to proceed, the 2060/2070 Folsom Street site was recently rezoned to allow for the development as proposed and building permits have been requested.