Leland Yee: Presidio Housing

Let me first state that I believe the Presidio Trust has come a long way in addressing the plethora of concerns raised by San Francisco residents and city Departments regarding its Presidio Trust Management Plan (PTMP).

The Presidio is an enormously valuable resource for San Francisco. It accounts for nearly one-fifth of the City's open space and its contribution to our history is unparalleled. Much of the evolution of the park is due to the caring and watchful eye of the U.S. military and the vision of the late Phillip Burton. Now, a quasi-government entity, The Presidio Trust, is assuming responsibility for this treasure. Given the nature of San Francisco, the decisions of the Trust will always be questioned.

Civic leaders share a responsibility with the Trust; however, to ensure those realistic and reasonable solutions for the evolution of the Presidio are given thorough review. To that end I am presenting some thoughts on the housing proposals raised in the Presidio Trust Management Plan.

The PTMP recognizes the value in reusing the Public Health Service Hospital, located just inside the Presidio at 15th Avenue and Lake Street, by "converting the historic hospital to residential use if feasible"

There are many examples in recent years of new, assisted living developments for seniors being approved and built in San Francisco. The Van Ness corridor is host to many of these large-scale buildings, with the new St. Mark's Tower proposal the most recent. As residents of the Richmond District, adjacent to the main entrance to the Public Health Hospital, look for an assisted care retirement opportunity in their neighborhood, the selection is virtually absent.

The "Little Sisters of the Poor" facility at Lake Street and Fourth Avenue is one of the only choices. It makes good sense to me to reuse the Public Health Service Hospital for senior housing.

The East Housing Area contains several sub-areas with a variety of housing opportunities. Sumner Avenue, Simons Loop, Leggett Avenue and Portola Street all offer significant opportunities for the reuse of historic buildings as residential housing. The Trust Management Plan states that it will, "Preserve and rehabilitate historic housing clusters." I too believe that this is a good suggestion.

Also included in the rehabilitation component of the East Housing Area are non-historic units along Quarry Road and Sanchez Street. These units offer additional long-term residential use and should be encouraged. I do, however, support the demolition of some non-historic residential buildings in the Tennessee Hollow area near El Polin Spring. This will allow the Tennessee Hollow creek system to reestablish as the headwater from El Polin Spring and watershed area to a creek flowing to the Crissy Field Marsh area. This is an integral component of a successful ecosystem restoration. It should be noted that the Trust is, "committed to ensuring the long-term ecological viability and health of Crissy Marsh."

The Trust agrees to work with the National Park Service and Golden Gate Parks Association studying "in a timely manner" the potential for expansion of the marsh in areas that were formerly tidal marsh as well as "examining options for ensuring the health of the marsh without expansion." It is incumbent to pursue the expansion of the Crissy Marsh to its originally intended 30 acres.

Main Post housing was located in primarily historic buildings along Montgomery Street and Funston Avenue and in barracks surrounding the parade grounds. Although the PTMP is vague about the continuation of "housing" as a use among these buildings, it does acknowledge that there are, "key historic building clusters, streetscapes and neighborhoods that define the Main Post."

Reuse of the housing units on Montgomery and Funston, as traditional neighborhood housing is not a good fit. Their proximity to the high traffic, high intensity use of the other Main Post buildings is not conducive. There is a short-term transient role that some of these buildings can fulfill. By contrast, the historic housing cluster at Infantry Terrace is most appropriately used as long-term rentals.

The Fort Scott Area offers one similar opportunity for the Main Post. The Pilots Row historic buildings are in a very dramatic setting overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and bay. These residential units could be offered as either long- or short-term rentals, depending on how Ft. Scott is reused.

I do not agree with the Trust in their suggestion that consideration should be given to, "increasing the density of, or replacing, non-historic housing in North Fort Scott behind Pilots Row." The long-term goal at this location should be reforestation. The remainder of Fort Scott's historic housing on Storey, Ruckman and Kobbe avenues should continue as long-term rental opportunities.

The South Hills, East and West Washington Street (non-historic) housing units are situated adjacent to the Historic Ridgetop Forest and were constructed in areas that were previously forested and open. The relatively sparse distribution of these units and the proximity to and need for additional green space in the park lends to consideration that these few units should be demolished.

The Wherry Housing (non-historic) near Baker Beach is the densest concentration of housing in the Presidio. The Trust is recommending to "remove non-historic Wherry Housing complex (Baker Beach Apartments) to restore native plant habitat and expand and enhance open space."

This is a bad idea. As I mentioned above, the expansion of the Ridgetop Forest and expansion of North Fort Scott open space will accomplish a significant increase in forest area and reduction in "built" space.

Wherry Housing is in relatively good shape and generates millions of dollars in revenue. Removing this positive revenue stream may require replacement housing elsewhere in the park. Wherry Housing is providing a necessary housing opportunity and should remain for another 30 to 50 years. The argument that it is necessary to remove this housing to expand a "natural area" is not good land-use policy.

These observations are offered and should be considered as suggestions for moving forward with the Management Plan. If the Trust moves forward without some modification to its current PTMP, I will look for ways to adjust the City's involvement, whether it's by reexamination of Muni involvement, Doyle Drive improvements, PUC water and sewer components, or other linkages that are necessary to create a successful program.

It is in everyone's best interest to reuse the Presidio in a manner that is sensitive to the needs of the City and its residents today and 50 years from today.

Leland Yee is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 4.