The project complies with city codes, and the San Francisco Planning Commission gave unanimous approval months ago; in many cities that would have been good enough for the remodel to move forward.
But in San Francisco, neighbors wield unusual power over next-door renovations and modest improvements and can appeal even the replacement of rotted front steps.
So on Tuesday, 11 members of San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors will serve as judges in home construction, hearing from Ms. Park and Mr. McDonald, their neighbors, lawyers, Planning Department experts and any members of the public who care to weigh in.
The feud between wealthy neighbors is emblematic of the city’s languor when it comes to building anything.
San Francisco has already drawn the ire of state housing officials, who have demanded that the city add 82,000 units in the next seven years, a goal that seems out of reach when many projects draw multiple rounds of challenges and years of delays.
Persons:
Julie Park, Tom McDonald, McDonald
Organizations:
San Francisco Planning, San, Supervisors, Planning Department
Locations:
Francisco’s, San Francisco, San Francisco’s