By Tes Welborn, HANC President

Some of you may have participated in a survey, open house, or meetings over the past six to nine months about the future of UCSF at Parnassus. Those participating found that the University was planning to increase Parnassus square footage by some 30% over the 1970's Space Ceiling. The Space Ceiling was a neighborhood effort to limit Parnassus within boundaries, set a maximum average daily number of people on the campus, and stopped UCSF from gobbling up adjacent housing. With the help of Phil Burton, this became UC policy.

Many neighbors thought that the vast Mission Bay expansion would lower pressure to expand at Parnassus, but now we are finding out, this is not so. Researchers, clinicians, and faculty at UCSF's four schools [dentistry, nursing, medicine and pharmacy] are envious of the new buildings and modern equipment at Mission Bay. They are finding it harder to recruit top talent to study and work at Parnassus. This professional population at Parnassus initiated a new round of six months' of community engagement meetings and open houses. The goal is to get community agreement with an increase of some 40% in square footage within the Parnassus boundaries.

There are many reasons for the expansion. These included: the state-required new hospital, aging buildings [averaging 50 years], and need for modern and future technology, in addition to recruiting.

UCSF has divided the next planning period into near term – 2030 and long term – 2060??  In the next ten years, they want to complete the new hospital, replace UC Hall, add more housing at Aldea, up in Sutro Forest near Clarendon, and improve both Parnassus and Irving entrances to campus. Future projects need community review, financing, and much more. Future projects could include modification or rebuilding the Millberry Student Union, Nursing, Medical Science buildings, and Dental Clinics. There is also consideration of building more housing on the southwest corner of campus, and reopening 4th Avenue.

An Advisory Committee of neighbors and professionals has been assembled. HANC is represented on it by Calvin Welch and Tes Welborn. Tes is also a member of the UCSF Community Advisory Group.

Members of the public are welcome to attend Advisory Committee meetings, typically on the last Tuesday of the month through 2019, then changing to the first Tuesday in 2020. The public portion is from 7-8:30pm at Millberry Union. For more information, contact Lily Wong, Community and Governmental Relations, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (415) 476 – 8318. We urge you to attend meetings and open houses, and to share your thoughts, concerns and hopes.