Everything you every wanted to know about Western SOMA…

November 13, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Last April 2008, I attended the Town Hall meeting for Planning and Task Force for the Western SoMa District in San Francisco. The meeting was well attended by property owners, environmentalists, developers, transportations specialists, local residents, and all sorts of indendent groups concerned with the future of the is area.

I was delighted to see the overall changes that will be happening to this area in the near future. The Planning department intends to make this area more user friendly by combining public transportation, wide sidewalks in retail and business areas, and by providing for open space. There will also be new building height and use restritictions on some of the developments in the proposed area. The proposals are challenging to many as there are conflicts of interest between the various enities, but overall, the atmosphere of the neighborhood will be an improvement. Providing for new retail and business opportunites, more community and public transportation options, shops and restaurants will enhance property values.

In past years, many SOMA residents found good value with the convenient City location and the favorable SOMA climate, but were diasppointed with the lack of a “neighborhood friendly” feel that makes many of the San Francisco areas more desirable. The abundance of concrete and steel, with a mish mash of mixed use businesses coupled with an undesirable street element turned many potential buyers away from this area.

The new SOMA plan will provide for investment potential for both homeowners and developers and encourages the feel of a neighborhood as new developments unfold.
Check it out for yourself.

Here’s the link to the new San Francisco Planning Department recommendations with ZONING & USE MAPS, HEIGTH LIMITATIONS and OPEN SPACE recommendations.

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