A housing proposal for a prominent San Francisco mall has undergone key changes as the project gets closer to getting greenlit by the city.
First proposed in September 2021, the original vision for a reimagined and upgraded development around Stonestown Galleria had called for more than 2,900 residential units, up to 160,000 square feet of retail and service use space, and a 200-room hotel, as well as more than 4,200 parking spots, six acres of open space and other infrastructure upgrades.
A revised plan shared by the developer, Brookfield Properties, at a Dec. 7 Planning Commission meeting proposed removing the hotel, cutting back on office space and adding more than 500 additional homes. If the project is approved by city officials next year, the development will become a reality in the next decade-and-a-half to two decades.
"The hearing was an important milestone for the project and the first step in the approval process," Anne Yalon, a spokesperson for the city's Planning Department, told The Standard.
The 40-acre development would include the existing mall and add a new merchant lane along its 20th Avenue corridor, improved pathways and connections for walking, biking and scooter riding. The latest plans propose building up to 3,500 residential units—both rentals and for-sale housing—in several structures ranging in height from three to 18 stories on existing parking lots outside the mall.
"We are pleased that the project has been revised to include more housing," Yalon said in an email.
She added that while the project is still under review, the proposal would bring the city 3,500 units closer to meeting its goal of creating 82,000 new homes by 2031.
"Building new housing in the City is a shared responsibility," Brookfield Properties Senior Director for Development Christie Donnelly said in a statement provided to The Standard on Thursday.
The mall's fortunes have been on an upswing in recent years, with the arrival of an 11-screen movie theater and Sports Basement, Target and Whole Foods drawing increased foot traffic. A new bowling complex and arcade is expected to open in 2024.
Brookfield Properties is also planning to develop a plaza for a neighborhood farmers' market, parks, a town square and other open space for gatherings and recreation.
Donnelly described the project as "a rare opportunity" to not only help the city meet its housing goals but also diversify retail and increase open space to help ensure the mall's long-term survival.
"The project also will unlock the site’s potential as a needed economic engine in the construction, retail and service sectors," Donnelly said.