This Week's Top Stories

housing

Planners Clear Path for Marina Safeway Tower, Opponents Threaten Lawsuit

San Francisco's Planning Department has ruled the 848-unit Align Real Estate project eligible for state-mandated streamlined approval under AB 2011, marking a major turning point in the neighborhood battle over the 15 Marina Blvd. site.

San Francisco planners determined this week that the controversial housing tower proposed on the site of the Marina District Safeway meets the eligibility requirements of AB 2011, the 2022 California law that allows qualifying housing projects on commercially zoned sites to bypass much of the local discretionary review process. The decision, which came just before the statutory deadline last Thursday, puts the project on a state-mandated path toward accelerated approval and effectively closes off a central line of attack from neighbors who argued the site did not qualify.

Marina District

Marina West Harbor Dredging Complete, But Second Round Planned for Fall

After months of blocked access that stranded boaters and raised emergency-response concerns, the SF Recreation and Parks Department reports the spring dredging episode at the Marina's West Harbor entrance was completed on June 28, with a follow-up episode now planned for October.

The San Francisco Marina's West Harbor entrance, which had been severely obstructed for months by a sandbar that restricted access for boaters, businesses, nonprofits, and emergency responders, was cleared following a spring dredging campaign. According to the SF Marina Harbor Association, citing SF Recreation and Parks, the spring 2026 dredging episode at the entrance to West Harbor was completed on June 28, 2026, and will be followed by another episode in October.

Pacific Heights

SF History Association Returns to Pacific Heights for August Talk

The San Francisco History Association holds its monthly lecture series at Congregation Sherith Israel in Pacific Heights on Tuesday, August 25, open to the public for $10.

The San Francisco History Association will hold its monthly SF History Night lecture at Newman Hall inside Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California Street at Webster in Pacific Heights, on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the program begins at approximately 7:45 p.m. The monthly series features local history experts presenting themed talks, usually accompanied by a slide show and light refreshments. Past presentations have covered a wide range of San Francisco history topics, from the Fire Department to Victorian architecture to vintage stories from Playland-at-the-Beach.

Upcoming Events

Friday, August 21

Fort Mason Night Market

📍 Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture, 2 Marina Blvd, Marina District · 5:00 PM–10:00 PM

Saturday, August 22

BATS Improv: Cave Match — Battle for the Main Stage

📍 BATS Bayfront Theatre, Building B, Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd, Marina District · 8:00 PM

Tuesday, August 25

SF History Night — Pacific Heights

📍 Newman Hall, Congregation Sherith Israel, 2266 California St at Webster, Pacific Heights · 7:00 PM

Saturday, August 29

BATS Improv: Cave Match Maestro — The Improv Championship

📍 BATS Bayfront Theatre, Building B, Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd, Marina District · 8:00 PM

Ongoing

Walt Disney Family Museum — Open Thursdays Through Mondays

📍 Walt Disney Family Museum, 104 Montgomery St, Presidio · 10:00 AM–5:30 PM

More from the Neighborhood

Toxic Contamination Claims Add New Front to Marina Safeway Battle

Even as planners cleared the Align Real Estate project for streamlined review, a parallel fight over environmental safety has escalated.

Marina Harbor Faces Another Round of Dredging Infrastructure Questions

Following the spring 2026 dredging of the West Harbor entrance, harbor officials are planning a second dredging episode for October and have flagged additional infrastructure concerns.

Pacific Heights Condo Market Posts Strong July With Supply at Ten-Year Low

A new market report shows Pacific Heights condos had a notably active July 2026, with 16 closed sales and three-quarters of them closing above asking price.