![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/329-Bryant--854x640.jpg\")
An areal rendering of the housing complex at 329 Bryant St. The project proposes a 36-story building in South Beach. Image courtesy of Stanton Architecture.<\/p>\nSan Francisco planning commissioners today\u00a0heard plans for a new 36-story tower in the city\u2019s South Beach neighborhood, which borders the bay and is home to the Giants\u2019 stadium.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The project would be 260 units of housing, 40 of them affordable. It would rise to 347 feet in a neighborhood that is markedly lower than nearby Rincon Hill or the rest of SoMa across the freeway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That has some neighbors worried. Sue Bushnell, a nearby resident and the president of the South Beach D6 Democratic Club, said the impact of such a project would be large, particularly on traffic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has come to the attention of the residents very quickly. There are many major concerns, but one of them is traffic\u201c said Bushnell. \u201cI would certainly think it is extremely important to evaluate the traffic that will be increased during the construction and just living in general.\u201d<\/p>\n
But planning commissioners reminded Bushnell and others that under SB 423, the approval of the project is not in commissioners\u2019 hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Planning Commission themselves, as we sit here, are not really approving or denying the project,\u201d said commissioner Kathrin Moore. Added Derek Braun: \u201cThe actual approvals process for this project doesn\u2019t ultimately fall to this commission. It\u2019s going to be a matter of whether or not the project complies with the applicable objective, existing, planning code requirements and local and state laws.\u201d<\/p>\n
The project at 329 Bryant St. would require the combining of four parcels and the demolition of an existing commercial space. Two other commercial structures would remain given their historical status.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The 356,000 square feet building would have 142 one-bedroom units (20 of them affordable), 88 two-bedroom units (including another 20 affordable) and 30 three-bedroom units. It would also have 139 parking spots and 313 spaces for bicycles.<\/p>\n
An areal rendering of the housing complex at 329 Bryant St. The project proposes a 36-story building in South Beach. Image courtesy of Stanton Architecture.<\/p>\n
Twenty of the affordable units would be offered to those making up to 50 percent of the area medium income<\/a> ($54,550 for a single person, or $77,950 for a family of four) and another 20 for those making up to 120 percent of the median income ($130,900 for a single person, or $187,000 for a family of four).\u00a0<\/p>\n The project would take advantage of SB 423 and SB 330 to help expedite the process as well as the state\u2019s density bonus law.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bushnell\u2019s concerns on traffic were echoed by fellow neighbor Marsha Geller. She said congestion is already an issue for the neighborhood given its proximity to the highway, the Ferry Building and sporting venues like Oracle Park and the Chase Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a busy neighborhood,\u201d said Geller. \u201cThere\u2019s no commercial level planned. There\u2019s no broccoli, no eggs, no milk, no dry cleaner. Everybody who\u2019s going to be occupying this building is going to be using those 139 extra cars and 313 extra bicycles to add to the traffic.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Though residents\u2019 concerns may not ultimately affect developers, whose representatives were present on Thursday, the discussion could sway them, Braun said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity for the sponsor to determine whether or not to adjust the project based on that,\u201d the commissioner said. \u201cI do hope that you\u2019ll continue to hone and refine the project based on the input you hear here.\u201d<\/p>\n Stephen Allen, the project architect, left the possibility open of adding or removing parking. He said concerns like noise would be taken into account, and that the project could modify the parking garage entrances to ease traffic.<\/p>\n Allen said that developers would also study a city program<\/a> aimed at reducing car miles traveled by new residents by providing on-site amenities, like ground-floor commercial space, restaurants or\u00a0daycare.\u00a0<\/p>\n