Welcome back to our โMeet the Candidatesโ series, where District 2 supervisor candidates respond to a question in 100 words or fewer. Answers are published every Tuesday.
District 2 covers neighborhoods in the north of the city including the Presidio, the Marina, Cow Hollow, Pacific Heights, Presidio Heights, Anza Vista and portions of the Western Addition and North of the Panhandle.
When the news dropped about plans to build a 25-story building on the site of the Marina Safeway, one concern that residents soon raised was that views of the bay from private homes and public lookout points would be impacted.
“I would block the view of the bridge for some people. I don’t think it’s that great of an idea,” one resident told ABC.
Fury about towers impacting waterfront views has a long history in San Francisco. In the early 1960s two 17-story apartment buildings, dubbed the Fontanta Towers, were built on the waterfront near Fort Mason and Fishermanโs Wharf. They sparked intense backlash, in part because they blocked views of the bay.ย
Soon after, the city instituted a 40-foot height limit along the waterfront. And the city has defended that limit โ in 2013 San Francisco voters squashed a 12-story condo building proposal near the Embarcadero.
But 1965 is not 2026. Even after adjusting for inflation, average rents in San Francisco have more than doubled since 1970. Home prices, too, have shot up.
As the cityโs housing affordability crisis has grown, pro-development YIMBYs have become a louder voice in the city. For them, preserving views is not as important as building more housing to address the cityโs shortage. Most have come out in favor of the Marina Safeway proposal, for instance.
This week, Mission Local asked District 2 candidates to share their views on views.
Lori Brooke, who has long opposed tall developments, was quick to advocate for preserving San Franciscoโs โiconicโ sightlines. โWe must ensure that we do not lose what makes our city so special,โ she said.
Stephen Sherrill dodged the question, instead talking about his support for projects that are aligned with the cityโs plan to upzone for taller buildings. โI went parcel by parcel through the entire district with neighbors and communities to set clearer expectations about where new housing should go and what form it should take,โ Sherrill said. โThat is where community input belongs.โ
This weekโs question: Some housing projects in San Francisco face opposition over impacts to views and sightlines. Do you think thatโs an appropriate basis for political pushback from elected officials?
Mission Local color codes the answers to yes/no questions. A blue background means the candidate answered yes, an orange background means no, and a yellow background means that the candidate dodged the question.
Lori Brooke
- Job: President, Cow Hollow Association
- Age: 62
- Residency: Homeowner, moved to the district 31 years ago
- Transportation: Driving and walking
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara
- Languages: English
Yes. San Francisco is known for its iconic views and sightlines that help drive our economy, attract new residents, and support tourism. While we cannot block housing just because it impacts views, we must ensure that we do not lose what makes our city so special.
We need planning that concentrates height and density in areas that work for our neighborhoods. What weโre seeing now is luxury projects that mostly serve speculative investors, developers, and the ultra wealthy, not real affordability needs. Our city should continue to grow, and create the housing we need without destroying the neighborhoods we love.
Endorsed by: Former District 2 Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, former State Senator and Supervisor Quentin Kopp, AFT 2121, Local 38 (#2) … read more here.
Stephen Sherrill
- Job: Appointed District 2 Supervisor
- Age: 39
- Residency: Homeowner, moved to the district 11 years ago
- Transportation: Driving, public transportation, biking
- Education: Bachelorโs degree from Yale University
- Languages: English
San Francisco needs more housing.
Thatโs why I worked so hard on โ and supported โ the Family Zoning Plan. I went parcel by parcel through the entire district with neighbors and communities to set clearer expectations about where new housing should go and what form it should take.
That is where community input belongs. With those rules now set, elected officials need to focus on lowering the cost of construction so that we can build the housing we desperately need, instead of trying to re-litigate a thoughtful, forward-thinking plan.
Endorsed by: Mayor Daniel Lurie, GrowSF, Nor Cal Carpenters Union, San Francisco Police Officers Association, SF YIMBY, Northern Neighbors โฆ read more here.
Candidates are ordered alphabetically and rotated each week. Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at io@missionlocal.com.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website.
Build tall. Build just about everywhere. Protect views from public parks. Fund robust public transportation. Tax unused residential units. Keep chipping away at Prop 13.
Why would anyone in their right mind want to harm the iconic views of our bay? Unbelievable that this is even a debate. We can add plenty of new housing without destroying what makes this city special. But that means restraint, zoning regulations that block tack monsters like the Marina Safeway proposal.
“Why would anyone in their right mind want to harm the iconic views of our bay?”
But many times a new building or structure becomes part of those “iconic views”.
Most obvious example is the Golden Gate Bridge – artificial and man-made, and yet beautiful and surely a defining aspect of our views.
And I have heard people wax lyrical over Sutro Tower, the TransAmerica pyramid and even SalesForce Tower.
John – good point. Yes, there are some structures that complement the surrounding natural environment, but then there are structures that rudely block, and harm it. I say the Marina proposal is in the latter category – a 100% certified hunk of junk. Shrink it down to miniature then sell it at a t-shirt shop at the wharf.
Please read Patrick Condon before accepting pro-development hand-waving about building our way to affordability. Ask why nobody can afford those glassy new condos.