Align Real Estate is reportedly in agreement to buy Webster Plaza Safeway grocery store, located across from the Japantown Peace Plaza in San Francisco’s Fillmore District. The developer has signaled plans to transform the large parcel into a mixed-use development with commercial space and housing.
Across San Francisco, Align Real Estate is behind constructing The Fitzgerald in the Mission District, opening 30 Otis Street and 1028 Market Street, and plans for the 62-story cube-capped skyscraper at 620 Folsom Street. The firm is also pursuing a 42-unit apartment infill in Walnut Creek designed by the world-renowned architecture firm Woods Bagot.
1335 Webster Street, image by Google Street View
J.K. Dineen was first to report the potential redevelopment for the San Francisco Chronicle. Dineen reported that the agreement “will build a mixed-use development with housing and commercial space” at the 3.68-acre parcel. The property is currently zoned for high density, up to 130 feet tall. If Align includes affordable housing to use the State Density Bonus program, the project could easily add over a thousand units to the city.
The grocery store is located along Webster Street, occupying much of the block between Geary Boulevard and Eddy Street. Across Geary Street from Safeway is the Japan Center shopping mall and the Japantown Peace Plaza.
Align Real Estate has yet to reply to our request for comment.
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The smart decision would be to build out the entire site with dense housing (15 stories MINIMUM) and reserve space for the grocer at the base.
You have now just dedicated 500+ units that will be regular customers, replaced a lousy parking lot, and continued to add to the community instead of replacing an asset with unattainable luxury housing that typically only rises 4 stories across SF.
Geary subway @bart! I hope to see this in my lifetime.
Hoping for the Geary SUBWAY before 2100. Fingers crossed
People living in cities need services like places to buy food as well as housing. While I have always disliked the environment at this Safeway and the way both the parking lot and store were run, it nevertheless was the only full service supermarket in a large area of San Francisco. I think the city should bluntly tell the developer they will not approve any plans that do not include a replacement store. I agree with “Drew” above that the housing should be at least midrise with the store on its ground floor and parking underground (yes, parking, because the existing store serves an area much too large for many of its customers to walk to the store and lug multiple bags of groceries home on foot or transit).
I agree. The Fillmore District is like West Oakland in that respect — few or no grocery stores. People need somewhere to buy groceries. Of course, it’s possible retail theft could force Safeway to close the store anyway. All over town and even on Market Street, stores are closing because of looting.
I question if we need more apartments in SF especially one with high unaffordable rents? also the Safeway closure will be a big impact on the community.
You question if SF needs more apartments? Really?
More apartments are always good, all else held equal. Rental units will mostly be occupied, not sitting empty parking wealth for far-off investors. If rents are unaffordable, it’s because we have such a shortage that the market can support it. To Drew’s point above, include a mass-market grocery store in the lobby.
I can’t imagine what I would do without a Safeway or other comparable supermarket for three +/- years of construction?
They could phase in the development so that they would not lose the Safeway, although the parking lot would be unavailable for the duration of phase one. The idea is that they develop the parking lot first. This building would have housing and the grocer in the ground floor retail space. They could easily build parking below ground to accommodate the residents and grocery store. Then once phase one is open, they could demo the existing Safeway and build out phase two with more housing.
We used to go to that grocery store all the time as it is the only big grocery store really in the neighborhood. There was a Lucky’s on Gerry but that is a ways to travel on a street at capacity. If they get rid of that, I guess people will have to buy from Amazon and have them delivered, making Amazon more of a monopoly and Jeff Bezos richer. There already is a shortage of grocery stores in SF. Even if they replace it in the new building where are people suppose to shop interm?