Controversial 25-story Marina Safeway tower faces new obstacle

June 26, 2026 - 12:36

A state law designed to speed up the redevelopment of a Safeway grocery store in San Francisco's Marina district into a 25-story housing tower is now creating a new hurdle for the project. The law, intended to bypass local zoning rules and streamline approval for affordable housing, is being interpreted in a way that could actually delay the controversial development.

The project has faced fierce opposition from neighborhood groups who argue the tower is too tall and dense for the low-rise Marina neighborhood. Critics have raised concerns about shadows, traffic, and the displacement of the existing grocery store. Now, a technicality within the very statute meant to fast-track the project is giving opponents new leverage.

Legal experts and city planners are examining whether the law's specific requirements for "by-right" approval are being met. If the process is found to be out of compliance, the project could be forced back through the standard, lengthy permitting process. This would add months or even years to the timeline, giving opponents more time to organize and potentially kill the deal. The developer has not commented on the latest development, but the project's future now hangs in a delicate balance between state housing mandates and local resistance.