Final community meeting aims to end 4-year impasse over 400 Divisadero development

Final community meeting aims to end 4-year impasse over 400 Divisadero developmentAn architectural rendering of the current design for 400 Divisadero. | Image via 400 Divisadero
Camden Avery
Published on March 22, 2019

After years in the pre-planning phase, the proposed mixed-use housing and retail development at 400 Divisadero St. is making progress. 

The development, to be located on the current site of Touchless Car Wash and a Shell gas station, has been in the works in one form or another since 2015, undergoing numerous rounds of neighborhood outreach.

But next Monday, March 25, Genesis Real Estate Group's David Kriozere plans to hold his final community meeting before taking the project to the Planning Department. Kriozere said he will present a final iteration of the building's design, representing years of community input and redesigns.

"Our final proposal is the result of almost four years of discussions with local groups, neighbors and merchants," Genesis said in a statement.

The Shell service station at 400 Divisadero, site of the proposed mixed-use development. | photo: camden avery/hoodline

The current plan is for 186 residential units, 36 of them below market rate (BMR). The development will also have room for 56 cars and 170 bicycles, and ground-floor space devoted to small-format retail.

The current design, including the allotment of required BMR units, aims to resolve Genesis' impasse with local groups that wanted the site's density bonus put towards affordable units.

Charles Dupigny, the president of the North of Panhandle Neighborhood Association, has been one of the more vocal representatives advocating for the interests of lower-income neighborhood residents in the new development. 

He said NOPNA's goal is for 400 Divis "to be beneficial to the neighborhood and to San Francisco in general ... to make it a beautiful community."

Before taking a final position on the project's current design, Dupigny said, NOPNA would submit the final design to its land-use subcommittee for review. 

"If someone is for it or against it for some reason," Dupigny said, "we need to find a way to come together. That's what I'm trying to do, to [get the neighborhood to] come together."

Those seeking to offer a final opinion on the project are encouraged to attend the public meeting this coming Monday, March 25 from 6 - 7 p.m. at the Redemption Church (1660 McAllister St.)