One of San Francisco’s most famous waterfront grocery stores is heading to the wrecking ball after nearly seven decades, clearing the path for hundreds of new apartments following a fiery neighborhood war.
City planning officials have officially signed off on developer Align Real Estate’s controversial proposal to tear done the landmark Marina Safeway, which was first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. In its place will be two residential high-rises reaching 22 and 18 stories, packed with 848 housing units, ground-floor commercial space, and a newly rebuilt Safeway supermarket.
The green light, which was granted on Friday, marks a major victory for the developer after a yearlong battle over the mammoth project, which has drawn criticism from residents and even Mayor Daniel Lurie.
But while the city has signed off on the development, the fight isn’t entirely over since opponents are pursuing a federal lawsuit over alleged environmental hazards lurking beneath the aging grocery story, according the San Francisco Chronicle.
The redevelopment would dramatically transform the low-rise Marina waterfront, a picturesque neighborhood known for its multimillion-dollar homes, sweeping Golden Gate Bridge views and proximity to the Marina Green park and Fort Mason waterfront space. The project also calls for 86 affordable apartments reserved for lower-income households.
“We appreciate the diligent work of city staff in moving this important project forward,” Dave Balducci, a principal with project developer Align Real Estate, told the San Francisco Chronicle. “This approval brings us one step closer to welcoming new families to a neighborhood that has seen far too little housing development, while delivering a modern grocery store for the entire community.”
The ambitious proposal has been a lightning rod for controversy since it was unveiled last year, with some local residents furious over the prospect of two towering apartment buildings rising above the neighborhood. Roughly 250 people attended a town hall over the summer to voice concerns about the project, according to the San Francisco Standard.
Rather than wading through San Francisco’s sluggish public review process, the developer bypassed local battles and lengthy environmental reviews by invoking Assembly Bill 2011.
The state law, which went into effect in July 2023, allows developers to fast-track housing projects in commercial areas as long as they meet affordability thresholds and labor wage standards.
The developer also used California’s density bonus law to exceed the property’s existing height restrictions by including affordable housing.
The maneuver stripped local politicians and neighborhood groups of a traditional playbook to block the build.
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