Frequently Asked Questions
What is 950-974 Market?
950-974 Market is a mixed-use development located on the irregularly-shaped triangular property at the corner of Market and Turk Streets next to the historic Warfield Building. Presently, the site is comprised of a stretch of vacant or underused buildings on the 950 block of Market Street between 5th and 6th Streets.
Current plans call for approximately 242 residences and 232 hotel rooms. The street level will feature about 13,000 square feet of ground floor retail and a 2,000 square foot non-profit space at the corner of Turk and Taylor. In keeping with current zoning requirements, the building will be 120 feet tall and will feature ample street-level and rooftop open space.
WHY BOTH A HOTEL AND HOUSING?
The site is well-positioned in a transit-rich, walkable intersection of jobs, culture, and entertainment, making it a perfect spot for locals and visitors alike. The City is short on supply for both residential homes and tourist hotel rooms, and capitalizing on the site’s central location provides an opportunity to address both issues. A hotel also adds an element of 24/7 vibrancy that enhances neighborhood safety.
ARE YOU OFFERING AFFORDABLE HOUSING?
Group i is pursuing the development of off-site affordable housing in the neighborhood working in close coordination with the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD), the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC), and the Tenderloin Housing Clinic (THC) .
WHO IS YOUR HOTEL PARTNER? Will this be a union hotel?
We look forward to announcing our partnership with the hotel operator in the near future. Group i has reached an agreement with Unite HERE Local 2 stipulating that any future hotel operator complies with its card check neutrality clause.
WILL THE PROJECT BE ACCESSIBLE TO LOCAL RESIDENTS?
The publicly accessible open spaces on both Turk and Market streets were designed specifically with the local community in mind. Whether watching a performance in the Turk Street plaza, relaxing on new shaded benches along Turk Street, or grabbing a bite in the food and beverage garden on Market Street, there is ample space for both the local community and visitors alike to gather. The hotel lobby will serve as a mid-block connection between Market and Turk streets, and Magic Lab will provide programming for local youth and adults free of charge as well as the space to house a café dedicated to vendors who will provide goods and services affordable to Tenderloin residents.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE NOT TO PROCEED WITH THE 950 ART CENTER?
The decision to proceed without the arts center was not made lightly. Group i took on tremendous risk to push the project forward when no other developers would step up. Unfortunately, expectations and timing around the arts center changed and became unworkable and community support for a much taller development to support the arts concept did not materialize. As many in the local arts community will agree, supporting the long-term funding of the arts in San Francisco is not an obligation that any one developer can bear.
However, a dedication to the arts is still a strong component of the project. Magic Theatre, which cultivates bold new plays and playwrights, has been selected to occupy the approximately 2,000 square foot space at the corner of Turk and Taylor free of charge, a total value of almost $2M of rent donation over 10 years. The theater will host rehearsals, tuition-free youth and community-oriented educational programs, and theater productions – bringing renewed energy and activity to the community during daylight and evening hours. Group i will also contribute approximately 50% of the 1% Public Art Fee, a total amount of $540,000, for local community art programming that will support arts education, promote local artists, and activate the public realm.
HOW LONG WILL THE PROJECT TAKE?
The Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the project before the end of 2016. Construction will begin in 2017 and will take approximately two years.
DOES THE PROJECT PUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE TENDERLOIN AT RISK?
Group i is adding to the availability of affordable housing in the neighborhood through a partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development. We look forward to sharing more information about this proposal as it is available.
WHAT HAS THE COMMUNITY’S REACTION BEEN TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT?
Over the last several years, we have met with our neighbors, civic groups and elected officials to present our plan and we continue to take feedback. Overall reaction has been positive as people are anxious to replace the existing dilapidated buildings with an active use which energizes the block. Significant discussions have occurred to ensure that the project is providing benefits to the local community and strikes the balance between attracting new residents and visitors and enhancing the quality of life for those who have called the Tenderloin home for many years. Please see the Community Benefits overview for a more complete description.