California Bill Aims to Revitalize Downtown San Francisco

The bill would allow exemptions to CEQA—a state law that requires an environmental impact assessment for new developments.
California Bill Aims to Revitalize Downtown San Francisco
A pedestrian walks by a store that is closing in San Francisco, Calif., on June 14, 2023. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Rudy Blalock
Updated:

A state Senate bill aims to create a revitalized downtown San Francisco with less empty space and more foot traffic by easing tax and regulatory burdens on developers.

Senate Bill 1227, authored by Sen. Scott Wiener, would target a specified area downtown “to speed the conversion and remodeling of outdated buildings into vibrant new uses,” according to a Feb. 16 press release by the San Francisco Democrat.