San Francisco officials want to close a chronic housing shortfall with a new rezoning plan designed to concentrate taller homes in neighborhoods that haven't had any major construction in decades.

Why it matters: San Francisco must change its zoning rules to comply with a California-set goal of building at least 82,000 new homes in the city by 2031.

State of play: The new proposal backed by Mayor Daniel Lurie, called the "family rezoning plan," could dramatically alter many parts of the city with new building heights and rules accommodating multi-dwellings on properties to help fill a 36,200 housing unit shortage.

What they're saying: "For too long, San Francisco has made it easier to block new homes than to build them," Lurie said in an emailed statement.

The big picture: The proposed changes are part of San Francisco's switch to form-based zoning, which prioritizes the physical elements of a building and its surroundings instead of solely regulating land use, said Rachael Tanner, San Francisco's director of citywide planning.

By the numbers: The rezoning is primarily targeted at areas that have been "historically exclusionary," representing just 10% of all new affordable and mixed-income housing construction since 2005 despite making up more than half of the city, according to the plan.

Friction point: Much of the new rezoning requirements are on the city's westside, which contain voting blocs that have historically been at odds with new development in neighborhoods primarily characterized by single-family homes.

• Many of these voters, who supported Lurie's campaign, are now feeling "sorely disappointed," said westside resident and Neighborhoods United SF member Katherine Petrin.
• Deidre Von Rock, who leads the West Portal Merchants Association, is also concerned that a "blanket approach" to zoning could hurt small businesses due to construction-related disruptions.

The other side: Jane Natoli, an organizing director at YIMBY Action, said the proposed rezoning is not about redeveloping or bulldozing down entire neighborhoods. Instead, the plan aims to give property owners more flexible options to create housing over time.

What's next

The San Francisco Giants were off to their best start in over two decades.

• Sadly, that streak is over.

Driving the news: Prior to their game against the Cincinnati Reds last night, the Giants hadn't started this hot since the early 2000s.

• They'd beaten the Seattle Mariners 5-4 Sunday at Oracle Park, marking a three-game sweep in their home opener weekend and clinching an 8-1 record.
• Fun fact: Mike Yastrzemski delivered a three-run homer that gave the Giants a boost over the Mariners. He later told reporters he had to follow through on his promise to his daughter, who had asked him for a home run.
• Hopes were high heading into their game against the Reds. They managed to hold out until the eighth inning and ended the game 0-2.

What to watch: The Giants face off against the Reds again tonight at 6:45 in Oracle Park.

Global fashion brand Zara is planning to open a four-story flagship store in Union Square next year.

Why it matters: The retail store previously announced the closure of its current Union Square location at 250 Post St. Turns out Zara never intended to leave.

Driving the news: The new flagship store at 400 Post St. will be 40,000 square feet and feature a range of its clothing collections, shoes and accessories, the company confirmed to Axios.

• It will be nearly twice the size of the current store, which is set to close in early 2026 once the lease expires.

Between the lines: Union Square was in the spotlight in the aftermath of the pandemic as several major retailers, including Uniqlo, H&M, North Face and Walgreens, exited the area.

• Zara's announcement, however, complicates the narrative.
• The company did not provide a reason for closing 250 Post St. when the plan was announced last year, but much of the speculation rested on prevailing economic, crime and safety concerns.
• In reality, it was seeking out an expansion for a long-term investment in the city.

The intrigue: Local economists have told Axios that San Francisco is recording an increase in office leasing activity as tenants whose leases are expiring pursue larger spaces.

The big picture

🔍 Law enforcement officers are investigating the cause of a fire that tore through a Nob Hill apartment building over the weekend. (ABC7 News)

⚖️ Spring Fertility, a venture capital-backed chain of clinics, is facing several lawsuits alleging negligence and privacy violations. (SF Standard)

👮‍♂️ San Francisco Police Department assistant chief David Lazar plans to retire at the end of May, ending speculation that he could one day succeed chief Bill Scott. (SF Chronicle)

🥳 The Tenderloin's first-ever Eid festival was a resounding success, featuring bounce houses, a variety of Arab dishes and thousands of attendees. (Mission Local)

San Francisco International Airport doesn't just display art. It is art.

Driving the news: James Reid, a 25-year-old software developer who lives southeast of England, turns flight tracking information into data visual displays of takeoffs and landings at major airports, including San Francisco's.

Zoom in: Reid showcases his work and process on Instagram and sells the renderings on Etsy.

What they're saying: "I love making things any which way I can, particularly on the computer and in the kitchen," Reid, who is an aviation buff and has a pilot's license, told Axios.

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