Market and Sanchez Shell Station to be Demolished

By Marta Lindsey

After nearly two years surrounded by a chain-link fence, “No Trespassing” signs and wind-blown trash, the empty Shell gasoline station at the corner of Market and Sanchez streets is being readied for demolition and redevelopment.

“Shell Oil Company is under a notice to provide a proposed final date for permanent closure,” said Paula Stewart, senior environmental health inspector for the SF Department of Public Health. Permanent closure will include the removal of underground gasoline tanks with the SF Fire Department on hand to oversee safety requirements and procedures.

The demolition of the station was approved by the SF Planning Department in January. Shell’s lease of the land from the owner, the Fong Family Trust, has expired. There are no specific plans for the land yet nor is there a fixed date for demolition.

“What would be great is if they continue doing what they’ve done with the rest of the neighborhood,” said Richard Gullo, a resident of the Upper Market area for 15 years. “Retail on the bottom and housing on the top. That would be ideal.”

Gullo’s wish is likely to come true.

According to Rick Crawford, a planner with the SF Planning Department, “The owners have not come in with any plans for anything new, but we did meet with them some time ago and at that time they indicated that they wanted to come in with a mixed use building – residential above commercial – that would comply with the Market and Octavia Plan that is under development by the Planning Department.”

Market and Octavia Plan
The Market and Octavia Neighborhood Plan is the general plan, planning code, and zoning map for how the Market and Octavia areas must address housing density, historic districts, height districts, affordable housing, parking, ensuring effective transit, and parcel specific adjustments.

The plan was adopted by the Planning Commission on April 5, 2007 and is pending adoption by the SF Board of Supervisors. It is the result of six years of work by the Planning Department and community members of the areas surrounding Market Street, between the Van Ness and Church Street Muni stations and along the new Octavia Boulevard on the former Central Freeway right-of-way.

How the plan will come to life at sites including the old Shell station will be the focus of the Upper Market Community Workshop Series and Design Plan that is anticipated to begin in June.

Several community workshops will be held where residents can provide input to determine how to incorporate the identity and character of the surrounding neighborhood into new developments at various sites along Market Street. The workshops hope to elicit recommendations on retail uses and housing types, needed community improvements and services, and design and development suggestions. These will be integrated into the Design Plan, which will likely include design guidelines for sites and frontage development along Market Street and specific recommendations for site development.

Other sites where new construction will likely occur that will be discussed at the workshops include: the 76 Station (Market and Duboce), Arco Station (Castro and 17th), Church site (Market and Noe), S & C Garage & Showroom (Market and Dolores), Sullivan Funeral Home (2250 Market St.), and Thai House (Market and Sanchez).

“Market Street has definitely improved since I’ve been here,” said Gullo. “When I first moved here, the median of Market Street consisted of a long chain link fence that filled with garbage. Now, there are palm trees.”

For residents who would like to be notified when the Upper Market Community Workshop Series begins, contact Sarah Dennis at the SF Planning Department at sarah.dennis@sfgov.org or (415) 558-6314.

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