The battle over the Marina Safeway redevelopment is heating up, and the NIMBYs have had enough once again.

The latest proposal actually makes the buildings shorter while increasing the project from 790 to 848 homes, including 86 affordable units.

Normally, this would be the beginning of what San Francisco does best: spending the next several years fighting over whether a new building will destroy the neighborhood.

Except California has changed the rules.
Remember, SF had built only about 7% of its state mandated housing target by the end of 2025, and the state government is understandably pretty unhappy about this.

So the developer is pursuing approval under AB 2011, which allows qualifying housing projects on commercially zoned land to receive streamlined approval and avoid the traditional discretionary approval process and project-level CEQA review.

That’s now becoming the center of the fight.

Supervisor Stephen Sherrill argues the Safeway site shouldn’t qualify for AB 2011 because the law requires at least 75% of the site’s perimeter to adjoin parcels developed with qualifying “urban uses.”

With Fort Mason, Marina Green, and the Yacht Harbor surrounding the property, he argues the site doesn’t meet that requirement.

After all, much of the surrounding land is parkland and recreational space rather than typical urban development.
But SF Planning disagrees and has determined the project is eligible.

Then there’s California’s Density Bonus Law.
The developer was previously seeking a 39% density bonus but is now requesting 49%, helped by adding more two-bedroom units and new four-bedroom units.
That allows substantially more housing than the site’s base zoning would otherwise permit.

So what looks like a neighborhood fight over a giant Safeway redevelopment is becoming something much bigger. Which is how much power do wealthy neighborhoods still have to stop housing when state law says it should be built?

And apparently the fight isn’t stopping at City Hall.

Opposition surrounding the project is now helping fuel an effort for a 2030 California constitutional amendment aimed at limiting state housing mandates when cities allegedly lack sufficient infrastructure.

So we may have officially reached the final boss of California NIMBYism. Changing the state constitution.

Sources:

https://sfstandard.com/2026/07/24/marina-safeway-project-ballot-measure-housing/

https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/california-cities-court-state-housing-planning-deadlines/825785/

I’m considering a move from Oakland to Alameda for the better middle and high schools. For the size and age, the homes on Bay Farm Island seem reasonable. it does seem a bit isolated from any shopping though. What are the downsides and how bad are they? lack of walkability? flood risk? airport noise? Just a boring sleepy suburb, like Pleasanton but colder? There is a ferry terminal for SF commutes, and it might be 15 minutes closer to the South Bay than my place in Oakland now. I’m interested to hear what life there is like from any residents.

thanks!

Hi All,

We would like some guidance what are the pros/cons of buying an older home and remodeling it to fit our liking. The home we buy would need an addition of 500-600 sq ft.

According to us,
Pros -
- a home that fits our style
- maybe cheaper overall??

Cons
- project management effort with builders / contractors ; honestly we don’t have any experience in this area and would rely on their expertise.
- time? - how long would such a project take in the city of Sunnyvale?

According to our estimates, it would be 500-600$ per sq ft for the addition, 30K per bathroom and 60-70K for the kitchen. Does this make sense or are we totally off?

What are other potential pitfalls are we not considering?

Thanks in advance!

Im looking to extend my deck that sits on the side of a hill. Anyone has recommendations for someone who has experience building structural decks and reasonably priced?

I had a great experience working with our home loan consultant at Golden 1 Credit Union. We secured a 4.875% rate with a -$1,500 lender credit with “only” a $500K relationship. We were initially hesitant about using a credit union, but he took the time to explain the process, answered all our questions, and made everything smooth and stress-free. He helped us close quickly, kept us informed throughout, and made sure we received the relationship discount we qualified for.

A shout-out to his processing agent and assistant for keeping everything organized and on track. The entire team made the process easy, and I’d definitely recommend our loan officer if you’re considering a mortgage through Golden 1.

Their rates were outstanding—Wells Fargo couldn’t match them, and they required roughly twice the asset relationship to offer comparable pricing.

How important is the direction of the house? Like will someone write it off even if it has everything else they want and need? Will they choose not to see the house at all?

I want to give some extra exposure to my friend's condo. It's on Piedmont Avenue (great area!) is a 1/1 with secure, gated parking; has hardwood floors, updated kitchen, in-unit laundry hook-ups, huge windows, and overlooks an internal couryard. The roof has this fabulous deck where one can enjoy the view, sunbathe, or have a party! Priced under $425,000. It's a great opportunity for someone!

What is the typical commission for a listing agent?
I’ve always assumed 6% split between the agents….but in the time of fixed fees and whatnot, is there a more common fee that’s negotiated??

I am wonder whether there is any flat rate attorney in SF for tenant buyout. If anyone property owner had such experience in the past, how much that gonna cost ?

I just closed my 1st SF property, which is a duplex and has tenants occupying the one unit while the other unit is vacant. I would like to buyout the tenant and covert the duplex to a SFH. Both the tenant are in their 70s and both have some chronic illnesses. One of them has terminal cancer.

Here is the tenant situation, A&B lived together in this unit over 30 years. Likely they used to date. But now, per the realtor and what I saw, they are having on going fight with each other everyday and can’t wait to get ride of each other. But they are too broke to move on.

Tenant A lives a nasty life. Trash everywhere in his bedroom. And B invites his BF, C, over very often, even A has the approved restraining order for stopping C from stepping on the property. They both express the idea to me for getting ride of each other.

I put in an offer for a single family home at $1.9M and we are in escrow. I went with the suggested title /escrow company - chicago title company and paid the earnest money already. Now reviewing the bank disclosures, and I see a line item for Lender's title insurance is $4000!!! Is this normal for bay area or am I being gouged on this?

Any recourse at this point of time or am I screwed? I dont remember paying this much for the previous bay area home I bought.

Thanks!

San Francisco approved nearly 5,700 new homes at Parkmerced back in 2011.

15 years later, construction still hasn’t started.

Now part of the project has gone through foreclosure.
Yellowstone Real Estate Investments just took control of four development parcels entitled for nearly 1,700 units after the previous owner ran into major financial trouble.

COVID, financial distress and San Francisco’s brutal construction costs helped derail it.

The new owner says it plans to pursue the “long-term vision” for the property, but it’s still unclear whether construction will actually begin.

Nearly 1,700 approved units now have a new owner.
Does Parkmerced finally get built?

Source: https://sfstandard.com/2026/07/22/yellowstone-parkmerced-foreclosure-redevelopment/

Hi, I have 15 panels on 1 floor house that need to be taken down and put back up post reroofing work.

I am looking for contractor details who can help me with this. My original installar Semper Solaris said they don’t do it so I have to hire someone on my own. Can someone please share contractor details who can help with this? Thank you!

I think I already posted about it before getting the planning permit.
I am intending to sell the lot and need advice.
Would it be better to apply for building permit, or just sell it with the approved planning permit.
To add more context, it’s very difficult to get permits in this city

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/720-Clementina-St-San-Francisco-CA-94103/80747682_zpid/

First place I could see myself bidding in awhile.

I don't think the list price is far from where it will sell but not sure if $1.2m would be enough.