Illegally converted into a cannabis grow house early last year, with unpermitted electrical work and construction, a formal request “to convert” the former Bay Area Ironworks Suppliers building at 1440 Egbert Avenue, across from Laughing Monk Brewing in Bayview, into a “cannabis cultivation and packaging facility” have been drafted and submitted to the City.

And in addition to seeking a legalization of the unpermitted work, to “create a nursery, four cultivations rooms, a drying and trimming room, and a packaging room,” the application seeks the approval of a Conditional Use Authorization facility, which is required to (legally) operate but wasn’t previously requested nor approved, as well.

11 thoughts on “Seeking Forgiveness for an Illegal Grow House Conversion”
  1. Way back in the 1980’s I got a cold call for my services as an Architect from someone who wanted to add a rental unit in the “basement” of their house in Bernal Heights. I went to check it out and found a house built on a steep slope with an underfloor area that started with a barely 6 foot clear height at the street end but grew to at least a 20 foot ceiling height at the bottom of the slope. This area was completely full of mature marijuana plants. I didn’t want to mess with my almost new California Architect License and politely demurred, but for ever after that was a graphic demonstration of SF real estate values. Building out an ADL was worth more than a marijuana farm.

  2. The state should shift policy to encourage more outdoor agriculture instead of energy thirsty indoor operations like this. We have a surplus of sun, use it.

    1. There’s an ocean of outdoor cannabis grown in California – and an ocean of indoor – and an ocean of greenhouse light Dep…. etc etc. when a product sells for $1600 or more/pound …. it’s grown wherever.

        1. Legal weed is expensive because state and local governments all see (Cannabis Industry) as a GoldenGoose – and they tax the S**t out of it and impose permits and fees galore. Legal operators are stuck paying this while back marketers don’t pay anything …… There arr over 60,000 cannabis farms in california. Less than 10% are legal. Any questions…?

  3. SFGov only bothers with agenda items that are not revenue neutral. Pot is seen as a revenue source so I predict some pretzel work to get it a go-ahead. A run of the mill project elsewhere with no tax and fee benefits for the city? Don’t hold your breath while inhaling.

  4. One reason this type of grow is challenged is because of the strong odor these create for the neighbors. The same reason I don’t want to live next door to that cookie factory on Folsom St. in San Francisco.

    1. You beat me to saying this. And of course, the proprietors have already placed this facility in the Bayview, where they think they can steamroll over the concerns of the neighbors. They wouldn’t even attempt to get away with this in other areas of The City where the majority of residents aren’t underprivileged.

    2. It is all light industrial in this area, so it won’t be residents who would complain. But I do agree that grow operations don’t belong in a city.

      1. LOL – “Grow Operations don’t belong in a city” – LOL. Tell that to the tax collectors….

        they love it

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