Category Archives: News

Update on Upzoning

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San Francisco Planning has nearly completed its years-long project to meet the quota of 82,000 new housing units imposed on us by the State.  (For more information read this primer from SF Planning.)  The City’s response is to upzone nearly two-thirds of the City’s residential lots – from Glen Park/Noe Valley to the northeast/northside and all the areas west of Twin Peaks.  (See this interactive map with the Lurie Administration’s “Family Zoning Plan” proposed heights.)  This blanket upzoning plan includes “waivers” of key planning code requirements – such as current rear yard setbacks and added height bonuses for some blocks and for corner and large properties. 

How does this affect Dolores Heights?  The table on the DHIC website summarizes the key changes that can be incorporated into new housing projects in our neighborhood. Say hello to 65 foot buildings on corners and to adjacent buildings that extend 20 feet past your home’s rear wall.  

DHIC opposes this strategy to upzone hundreds of thousands of lots to meet SF’s goal of only 36,200 additional projects by 2032.  And 80% of these projects must be affordable housing (see the primer linked above); however, inclusionary units and subsidies fall short of meeting this goal.

What’s next? On June 24 Mayor Lurie introduced legislation amending the Planning Code rules to incorporate the provisions of the Family Zoning Plan. It will be heard at the Board of Supervisors during the summer and likely voted on in early Fall.   

Upzoning: Impact on Dolores Heights 6/24/2025

Incentivizes significantly taller/longer buildings with negative impacts on open space and public views

Zoning  ElementDH SUD – the way it’s been since 1980Proposed Upzoning – the way it will be for multi-unit projects
Height35 feet height throughout the Dolores Heights Special Use District (DH SUD)40 feet – 65 feet heights – see SF Planning map for heights by street, plus up to 50’ on blocks east of Sanchez and north of 20th St.More changes – height, length, etc. below
Impact: taller buildings – 40 feet up to 65 feet, and 50 feet on some blocks – will cast more shadows on nearby homes, reduce public views, and degrade the view of Sanchez Hill.  See proposed map
Rear yard setback45% of lot depth  For a standard Dolores Heights lot (114’ deep), required rear yard: 51 feet Reduce current setback by 18% of lot depth: For a lot depth of 114 feet, required rear yard reduced to: 30.5 feet,
Impact: buildings can extend 20 feet further into the rear yard than the adjacent homes – reducing neighbors’ light, privacy, & the midblock open space in Dolores Heights.
Additional height allowedNoneCorner lots and lots > 8000 sq feet can add two stories, up to 65 feet height. 50 feet allowed on lots east of Sanchez and north of 20th.
Impact: Regardless of “base height”, properties on a corner or on a 8000 sf lot anywhere in Dolores Heights can build to 65 feet height – casting shadows and blocking public views up & down Sanchez Hill   
Project reviewHearings for variances and some demolitions“Ministerial” review: in many cases, no appeal rights or hearing if project meets standards
Impact: New buildings can be approved with no notice to neighbors or hearing to assess impact on neighbors or the neighborhood.  

What can we do?  DHIC is part of Neighborhoods United SF (NUSF.net ) which opposes the plan and advocates for alternative strategies.  You can write or call the Mayor to express your views on the plan. 

Castro CBD Needs Your Support!

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From the Castro Community Benefit District:  We are at risk of losing our 2 critical grants that currently provide services to the Castro. Sign our petition asking Mayor Lurie to continue fully funding these two grants:

– Jane Warner Plaza grant:  funds the daily cleaning and table+chairs set-up in the plaza. Without it, Jane Warner Plaza will become a blight-ridden wasteland…just imagine!!  

– Castro Cares grant: funds four full-time Community Ambassadors, who help in resolving negative street behavior often caused by people with untreated substance use disorders and mental illness living on our sidewalks. The Ambassadors walk our district 7 days a week from 7 am to 7 pm. Without their presence and trained methods to de-escalate and engage, negative street behavior will grow dramatically. 

These grants are a critical piece of the puzzle in the Castro’s economic recovery. Please urge Mayor Lurie to keep these two grants funded, sign this petition and share the link with your friends.

Neighborhood Notification of Proposed Upzoning Required by Board of Supervisors

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On Tuesday, April 22 the Board of Supervisors approved legislation requiring direct notice to residents and businesses when their own property, or one within 300 feet of it, is proposed for upzoning.  Specifically, it requires a mailed notice of increases in height and/or density.  The measure passed with an 8–3 supermajority!  Our supervisor, Rafael Mandelman, voted for this notification.

What does this mean for Dolores Heights?  All of Dolores Heights is proposed for increased building heights (see article above for details.)  So SF Planning will mail all of us that postcard before the Board of Supervisors acts on the proposed upzoning legislation this fall.   

Meet your Neighbors – June 14 DHIC Summer Gathering

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School is out; Pride is coming!  Come to our summer in-person event to meet new neighbors and see old friends. It’s on Saturday, June 14 from 10am to 11:30pm at the top of the Sanchez stairs.  In Dolores Heights, we’re building community and fostering connections.  Drop by for coffee, beverages, and refreshments. 

For those wanting to know more about safety, greening, and housing, we’ll have tables with info.  We’ll have name tags so you can network to meet more neighbors and/or folks with similar interests.  If you just want to hang out, drink coffee and eat treats on Saturday morning, we want to meet you!  

Strong networks are the foundation of neighborhood community, health, and safety.  Come to talk with your neighbors and strengthen ties.  Be part of our community.  All are welcome.  

The Impact of Lurie’s “Family Zoning” Plan on Dolores Heights

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The City released a new proposed upzoning map on April 8.  Height limits in Dolores Heights would increase from 35 feet to 40 feet west of Sanchez, up to 50 feet in most of the area east of Sanchez, and up to 65 feet for properties along Church Street.  In addition, the proposal eliminates controls on density, or number of units per lot.  In other words, a project’s height and volume are regulated, but the number of units on a site is not limited to (for example) one or two units.

This interactive map provides details for Dolores Heights and for your own property.  Expand the map to zero in on your lot.  Click on the lot and a pop-out text box provides details.  Based on recent State and City changes to the rules, in most cases, you as an adjacent homeowner would have no input or no appeal rights on a proposed project. 

Specifically, Church Street can have multi-unit buildings up to 65 feet tall (current height limit: 40 feet.)   Between Church and Sanchez Streets, multi-unit buildings can be 50 feet high (current height limit: 35-40 feet.)  For the remainder of Dolores Heights, the allowed height would increase 40 feet. These changes will have a significant impact on public views and the view of Sanchez Hill from Dolores Park or from 24th Street.  This blog provides computer-generated models showing the impact of proposed height changes along Church Street.  While this program is being marketed as providing more affordable housing, during the past ten years in Dolores Heights, only luxury housing has been constructed.  This trend will continue owing to land prices.    

If you disagree with this blanket upzoning in our neighborhood and in most of the City, you can email the Mayor and our Supervisors by completing this email.  For more information, email info@doloresheights.org.  

Neighborhood Notification of Proposed Upzoning Required by Board of Supervisors

On Tuesday, April 22 the Board of Supervisors approved legislation requiring direct notice to residents and businesses when their own property, or one within 300 feet of it, is proposed for upzoning.  Specifically, it requires a mailed notice of increases in height and/or density.  The measure passed with an 8–3 supermajority!  

What does this mean for Dolores Heights?  All of Dolores Heights is proposed for increased building heights; so all of us will receive that postcard.   

Supervisor Chan (D1) sponsored this ordinance. These supervisors agreed with her that the public has a right to know of proposed changes that affect them: Sherrill (D2), Sauter (D3), Engardio (D4), Mandelman (D8), Fielder (D9), Walton (D10), and Chen (D11).

Join Our Neighborhood Safety Groups

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Please be careful and be on alert. These neighborhood safety groups provide ways to protect your property. The best defense are eyes on the streets. Join your block safety email lists and be alert and notify neighbors of suspicious activity. Always call 911 if you believe a crime is in progress – or if you see people “casing” a house, garage, or parked car on the street.

Connect with your neighbors via DHIC’s Block Safety Aliases. 

  • 19th Street from Church to Noe (including 700 block of Noe)
  • “Lower” 20th Street from Church to Sanchez (including 600 & 700 blocks of Sanchez)
  • “Upper” 20th Street from Sanchez (top of stairs) to Noe
  • Liberty Street Safety from Dolores to Noe
  •  21st Street Safety from Church to Noe

To join one of these block safety group emails, or if you have an alias that we haven’t listed or want to help, please email info@doloresheights.org

SF Safe is a citywide organization seeking to work with San Franciscans to build safer neighborhoods.  They offer safety checks and other services.

D8 Town Hall: Focus on Safety

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On Monday, January 13, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman hosted a District 8 (D8) Town Hall at the Noe Valley Ministry.  The topic was Public Safety and Street Conditions.  Appearing with him were  Brooke Jenkins, SF District Attorney; Liza Johansen, Captain of Mission Station; Amy Hurwitz, Captain of Ingleside Station; and Sam Dodge, Director of Healthy Streets Operations Center (HSOC.)

The SFPD Captains are focusing on top priority safety issues in their districts.  For Mission Station, that includes property crimes, violent crimes, and motor vehicle violations.  They stressed calling 911 if you see a crime in progress or see a possible crime or violence.  From mobile phones, call 415-553-8090 to avoid the call being routed to CHP.  If the call is non-emergency, dial 415-553-0123.  Captain Johansen holds a monthly Mission Station community meeting at 5pm on the last Tuesday of every month.  The next one is on February 25 at Mission Station.  It’s your opportunity to hear the Captain’s report and more importantly, raise concerns/questions with her about safety and criminal activity in our neighborhoods.   

During the Q&A session, Carolyn Kenady, chair of DHIC, urged neighbors to do our part by being aware and joining or starting block safety groups.  Both SFPD Captains underscored the importance of block safety groups.

Crime in Dolores Heights

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With the New Year, we’re hearing of more crime in Dolores Heights.  Be alert and review your property’s security.  Consider installing an alarm/security system and/or video cameras.  And be an active member of your block safety group. 

On January 6 at 4:10 am, two men attempted to break into a home on the 3600 block of 21st Street.  They entered the side door where Recology carts are kept and attempted to open the door to the garage but were thwarted by a 2×4 barricade on the garage side of the door.  Be on the lookout for people “casing” properties, trying to open doors, etc.  That same night burglars broke into the construction site on 21st Street.  

On Tuesday, January 14 at approximately 8:15 pm a neighbor walking his dog on the 400 block of Hill Street spotted a woman closing a garage door.  He smelled smoke and called 911.  SFFD and SFPD both responded to the call.  The fire was put out, and the woman was arrested.  According to SFPD, she appeared to be “out of it” and has an arrest record – so is currently in jail.  A big “thank you” to the alert resident who called 911.   

We are also hearing about thefts from neighbors’ home mail boxes. One mail-box thief also spent time with a flashlight looking inside a car parked on the north side of Liberty Street as well as the locked gate of a home on the north side of the street.

DHIC has block safety groups covering 19th Street to 21st Street and from Church to Castro Streets.  We urge all neighbors to join their block safety group.  To get connected, email info@doloresheights.org.  Be alert and call 911 if you see suspicious activity.  Let us know about safety issues via your block safety group alias and/or via info@doloresheights.org.