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San Francisco Unveils Rezoning Plan to Add 36,000 Homes in High-Resource Areas

Mayor Daniel Lurie's 'family zoning' proposal targets historically low-density neighborhoods to meet state housing mandates and avoid penalties.

Fisherman’s Wharf has long been for tourists and businesses, but Mayor Daniel Lurie’s first plan for rezoning San Francisco could make it easier to build housing in the famed tourist district.
An empty undeveloped lot sits between the Surf Hotel and a residential building on Lombard Street in San Francisco’s  Cow Hollow area. The area could see the rise of eight story buildings, under a new plan for rezoning the city.
Under Mayor Lurie’s new rezoning plan, buildings on San Francisco’s Taraval Street could be built as high as 85 feet.
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Overview

  • The rezoning plan aims to increase housing density by allowing taller buildings along major streets and transit corridors in neighborhoods like the Sunset and Richmond districts.
  • Mayor Lurie’s proposal is part of San Francisco’s effort to meet state-mandated goals of planning for 82,000 housing units by 2031, with a focus on adding 36,000 units in the near term.
  • Pro-housing groups, including SPUR and SF YIMBY, support the plan, while tenant advocates and preservationists raise concerns about displacement and neighborhood character.
  • The plan includes tenant protections, such as replacing demolished rent-controlled units, but critics argue these measures may not prevent long-term displacement.
  • San Francisco must finalize the rezoning plan by January 2026 or face state intervention, funding losses, and the potential application of the builder’s remedy.