OCII conditionally approves conversion of 75 residential parking spaces at 185 Channel St., adds 20 below-market-rate spaces

The Commission on Community Investment and Infrastructure on Sept. 5 conditionally authorized a proposal from property owner UDR to convert 75 on-site residential parking spaces (and add five new valet spaces) at 185 Channel St. in Mission Bay South, creating short-term commercial and valet parking while reserving 20 spaces for residents of OCII-sponsored affordable housing.

Gretchen Heckman, a development specialist on the Mission Bay team, said the revised UDR proposal responds to commissioner feedback and increases the number of below-market-rate (BMR) residential parking spaces from 10 to 20, with an accessible space added to that category. "The 20 below market rate spaces in UDR's proposal represent a third of the 60 nonresidential spaces proposed for the parking garage," Heckman said.

Heckman described pricing and controls: short-term commercial meter pricing would be capped at the current SFMTA Moscone Center Garage hourly maximum, charged in 15-minute increments, and UDR proposes 30 minutes free to deter short errands from occupying stalls. Short-term spaces will use a pay-by-phone app and operational controls to prevent misuse during special events. The 30 valet spaces are planned to be leased initially to Luma Hotel.

Staff recommended conditional approval with requirements including policies preventing the use of metered spaces for special-event parking, controls around short-term pricing, an annual compliance statement, policies for BMR spaces, and approval of garage signage. Commissioners commended the increase in BMR spaces and deferred detailed hourly-rate setting to SFMTA, while seeking assurances that long-wait applicants would have priority; Pam Sims said existing wait-list applicants will be automatically added to the BMR lottery.

A motion to approve the conditional conversion passed on a roll-call vote of 3 ayes and 1 absence.