As the Treasure Island development plan continues to move forward, a new variation on the NIMBY has emerged. The Examiner's Ken Garcia gives us: NIMLOS. Unpacking that leads us to: "Not in My Line of Sight" - a handy new term to describe a telescopic version of the backyard classic. In this case, Garcia is prodding at the Telegraph Hill residents who don't want the proposed residential towers on Treasure Island to interrupt their pristine bay views, but it could also be used to describe the backroom moves put on by flip-flopping progressives who have alternatively supported and stalled the plan. Garcia elaborates: more ›

In an interview published in the Wall Street Journal this morning, SPUR's executive director Gabriel Metcalf goes on the record to describe the biggest issues he see facing development in the city. Metcalf covers the usual key topics: urban sprawl is inefficient, the planning process is a pain in the ass (paraphrasing), we need more housing density, etc. But what we found most frightening were his words of warning for those San Franciscans who resist physical changes to the city (occasionally referred to as "NIMBYs"). From the interview: more ›

In a lengthy meeting last night, the Planning Commission approved a $1.5 billion development plan for Treasure Island. The plan calls for 8,000 housing units, 140,000 square feet of commercial space, some 500 hotel rooms and 300 acres of public parks in addition to a new ferry terminal. The vote from the commission was a tight 4-3 after "a long line of public speakers" mostly spoke in favor of the new housing or against the number of parking spaces. The three nay votes, by the way, all came from commissioners appointed by the Board of Supes. The four mayor-appointed commissioners were all on board with the plan and the matter will now head over to the supes. Expect it the final vote to come up on the agenda early this summer. [SFEx] [Chron] more ›

SPUR came out with a report today outlining how S.F. can use the large influx of money that the upcoming America's Cup will undoubtedly generate as an impetus to make major, much needed investments to the city now. more ›

The Haight-Ashbury Neighborhood Council just gave the Whole Foods/(unaffordable) condo project - which would have nested at Haight and Stanyan streets, where the world's scariest Cala Foods used to reside - a thumbs down. Have the NIMBYs won? According to Curbed's Sarah Hromack, maybe so. No one, including the city as well as Supe Ross Mirkarimi, really got on-board with the idea. Oh noes! Read more about how you might not ever be able to savor 360 Organic products at 690 Stanyan here. more ›

We live just up the street from Haight and Stanyan, and the other day someone dropped off a flyer about how Whole Foods is eager to transform the former Cala Foods (now a vacant lot and boarded-up deathtrap) into a pleasant, overpriced gourmet food store with apartments on top. The design of the flyer reminded us of some incomprehensible posters that appeared briefly in the neighborhood two years ago -- could D.B.H. be back? (Hint: Probably not.) more ›