Planning Commission Capped Office Project at 536 Mission
The board approved a mixed-use version of the tower in September 2026, limiting office space to 643,500 square feet.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Commercial
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The San Francisco Planning Commission restricted the office square footage for the McCourt-Lincoln project at 536 Mission Street in September 2026. Officials authorized only the mixed-use plan, which includes 385 residential units alongside the office space.
Why it matters
The city maintains the Office Development Annual Limitation Program to prevent boom-and-bust cycles by controlling the pace of large-scale construction. This decision shapes the future of Downtown by balancing the need for commercial office space with the city's requirement to link new office allocations to affordable housing production.
The Planning Commission held 813,000 square feet in its development pool as of late June 2026, compared to an expected next annual allocation of 150,000 square feet. The site at 536 Mission Street was acquired for $31.6 million.
The players
San Francisco Planning Commission
The city body responsible for regulating land use and approving large development projects.
McCourt-Lincoln
The joint venture partnership that secured entitlements for the site at 536 Mission Street.
Lincoln Property Company
The firm that acquired the development site at 536 Mission Street for $31.6 million.
The details
The commission’s vote in September 2026 limited the project to 643,500 square feet of office space, significantly smaller than the originally proposed 1.4 million square-foot office tower. By approving only the mixed-use iteration, the city adheres to the 2020 amendment that ties office development rights to housing production. Developers are now expected to proceed under these conditions, with a wider wave of new construction anticipated across the city in 2027.
Timeline
1985: Voters approved the initial office limitation program.
2020: The program was amended to link office space to housing production.
Late June 2026: The Planning Commission held 813,000 square feet of available allocation.
September 2026: The Planning Commission meeting took place regarding the project.
2027: A wave of new construction is expected to occur.
Across the Bay
This decision follows the long-standing Office Development Annual Limitation Program established in 1985 to manage growth. It extends that precedent by enforcing the 2020 amendment that explicitly links large-scale office development to the production of new residential units.
Residents in the Downtown area should anticipate construction activity related to this mixed-use project beginning in 2027. This development replaces a single-use tower plan with a project that includes 385 residential units.
The takeaway
The city is prioritizing mixed-use developments that integrate housing to satisfy commercial square footage allocations. Watch for construction activity in 2027 as this project moves toward the building phase.
Further reading
For more on how the city manages commercial growth, visit San Francisco Commercial.
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