Project Page TGP
How can urban agriculture thrive in San Francisco?
Portola Farm
Established in 1922, the University Mound Nursery grew heirloom varietals of roses in 18 hothouses at 770 Woolsey Street for sale throughout San Francisco.
The “Rose Factory” as it was once known, is the last remaining of the original 19 blocks of family-owned nurseries in Portola, the “Garden District” of San Francisco. The historic site has been dormant since nursery operations ceased in the 1990s.
SITELAB working on behalf of local non-profit, The Greenhouse Project (TGP), developed a feasibility study to revive the 2.2-acre parcel into Portola Farm—a community-led urban agriculture center. TGP envisions 770 Woolsey as a neighborhood activator that, through thriving commercial farming activity and inclusive public programming, supports sustainability, health, innovation, and community-centered growth.
Location / Date:
San Francisco, CA / 2016-2022
Status:
Completed
Site area:
2.2 acres
Program:
1 acre farm
30k sf greenhouses
5k gsf community space
20k sf open space
Client:
The Greenhouse Project, Friends of 770 Woolsey
Design Collaborators:
Plant Co.
In the News:
Tug over key site ends after developer rejects a deal with nonprofit
The Greenhouse Project: Bringing forgotten flower farm back to life
Historic Portola greenhouses could be saved - but there’s a catch
SITELAB prepared multiple development scenarios coordinating programming, design vision, construction costs, and financing strategies to provide a series of phased options for implementation. The program responds to extensive research on urban agriculture models that demonstrate an economically-sustainable operating model based on strategic land allocation for different production methods combined with community programming and event rental space.
Phasing Plans
A developer purchased the site in 2017 from its longtime owner. We continue to work with TGP and Portola Neighborhood Association to envision a partial site vision as a portion of the proposed development as well as a full site vision should the developer sell the property.
Community Engagement
