Does a 25-story apartment building make sense on the Marina Safeway Site?

On December 4, 2025, just days after our Board of Supervisors voted for the first time as a whole to pass the Family Zoning Plan - Align Real Estate filed a defiant proposal to replace the Marina Safeway with a 25-story skyscraper.

This "beast" would tower over 15 Marina Blvd, standing six times higher than the 40-foot limit our neighborhood just passed to be codified into law.

By exploiting state-level loopholes like SB 330, the developer is attempting to bypass our local democracy. They are using "broad-brush" state laws to ignore the specific environmental and safety needs of the Marina - a district built on delicate landfill that was never intended for high-rise density.

Here is why we’re pushing back:

Geological Reality: The Marina is built on artificial fill. It is a high-hazard liquefaction zone. Putting a massive 25-story tower on this soil isn't just an eyesore; it’s a legitimate safety risk for the surrounding blocks.

Safety Over “Style”: State laws like SB 330 can bypass zoning, but they cannot bypass the California Building Code. We are demanding a full, independent seismic audit. If this "beast" can't prove it won't sink or destabilize the neighborhood in an earthquake, it doesn't get built.

While Align Real Estate has secured powerful special interests and labor unions to fast-track this project, they have forgotten the most important stakeholder: You.

We believe in growth and housing, but also responsibility and accountability. We call on City Hall to stop retreating and start defending the laws they purport to champion.

Send the email below to voice your concern and oppose the proposed 25-story apartment complex at 15 Marina Blvd, otherwise known as the Marina Safeway.

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Message to Mayor Lurie, Board of Supervisors, and Planning Commission*

Dear Mayor Lurie, Board of Supervisors, and the Planning Commission:&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;I urge you to exercise your full authority to reject the proposed 25-story tower at 15 Marina Blvd. This project is not merely an "outlier"; it is a direct assault on the integrity of San Francisco’s legislative process and the safety of its residents.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;The following reasons provide City Hall to strike down this proposal:&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;1. A Breach of Public Trust and Legislative Intent The developer recently stated they have been "working on this project for years." This admission confirms a deliberate attempt to circumvent the public process. While our community and this Board worked in good faith to attempt compromises within the Family Zoning Plan, the developer waited in the wings to subvert those 40-foot height limits just hours after the Board of Supervisors voted as a whole to pass the plan.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;2. Unresolved Public Safety Risks - The Marina district is a high-hazard liquefaction zone. Proposing a structure of this unprecedented scale on unstable landfill is a matter of public safety, not just "neighborhood character." We request an immediate, independent seismic and geotechnical audit to determine if this "beast" meets the strict Objective Safety Standards required by the state, which cannot be waived by SB 330. A 25-story scale creates a risk that no amount of engineering can fix, as it would interfere with emergency evacuation routes for the entire district during a disaster.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;3. Defense of Local Democracy - By allowing this project to move forward, the City is effectively rendering the Board’s recent vote on the Family Zoning Plan meaningless. We ask that the City Attorney review the vesting status of this application to ensure the developer is not illegally bypassing the local laws that were active at the time of their filing.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;We stand with Mayor Lurie and Supervisor Sherrill in their initial pushback. We now ask for that pushback to become a formal, legal stand. Do not let "streamlining" become a mandate for dangerous, undemocratic development.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Thank you.

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Is a 25-Story Building Safe on the Marina Safeway Site?