1101 Illinois St. (Humboldt to 22nd St).

Site: 1101 Illinois St. (between Humboldt and 22nd St.). BUF permit 800193
 

Reason(s) for Tree Removal: 

Removal of thirteen (13) street trees with replacement with fifteen (15) street trees on site and an additional 94 replacement trees in the same development area as part of the Illinois St. improvements to The Potrero Power Station Mixed-Use Project.

The Potrero Power Station Mixed-Use Project will open a large portion of the City’s Central Waterfront to the public for the first time in 150 years. It will be the location of new homes, office uses, laboratory uses, retail, PDR (light industrial/arts) uses, community facilities, and nearly 7 acres of open space. The Project Master Plan and Development Agreement were approved in April 2020 and became effective on May 25, 2020.

Reasons for removal:

The existing street trees have roots causing severe sidewalk uplift in several locations creating a hazardous sidewalk condition. This proposed removal is part of a construction project to remedy the streetscape including replacing the defective asphalt sidewalk with new concrete and enhanced planter areas (including wider planter zones, irrigation, structural soil, and root barriers). Extensive root pruning will be required to return the sidewalk to grade which is expected to cause tree decline, and if the trees can survive, will continue to damage the sidewalk. 8 of the 13 tree are specifically considered fair to poor suitability for retention. All thirteen (13) street trees are species not in compliance with PG&E specifications for being located under overhead transmission lines and several conflict with underground utilities without proper protections. A full replacement with crushed rock, structural soil, and root barriers provides the best long-term solution for a thriving tree canopy.  

Arborist report is also included and a list of the replacement trees by species and replacement size.
 

Note: notices and website were updated on 7/31/2025 to reflect a total of 13 trees proposed for removal, not 11. 

Additional information about this Potrero Power Station Project can be found here:

https://sfplanning.org/potrero-power-station

Documents:

• 1101 Illinois St. arborist report with application

Street Improvement Permit (SIP) Street Trees:

Illinois Street Replacement Trees:

• (13) ‘Little Gem’ Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’
  • 48” Box, estimated 3” dbh
    • 45” combined dbh

Additional street trees to be planted, as part of overall development plan:

• (25) Autumn Blaze Freeman Maple Acer x freemanii ‘Jeffsred’
  • 48” Box, 3” dbh
    • 75” combined dbh
• (26) African Fern Pine Afrocarpus gracilior
  • 36-48” Box, 3.5” dbh average
    • 91” combined dbh
• (17) Maidenhair Tree Gingko biloba
  • 48” Box, 3” dbh
    • 51” combined dbh
• (3) Brisbane Box Lophostemon confertus
  • 48” Box, 3.5” dbh
    • 10.5” combined dbh
• (23) Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora ‘D.D. Blanchard’
  • 48” Box, estimated 3” dbh
    • 69” combined dbh
       

Posting Period: 7/28/2025 - 8/27/25