(Editor’s note: This letter was sent from Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association President Bob Harrer, who has been on a working group to address a proposed affordable housing project for Broadway and Front streets.)
Dear Members of the Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association and their neighbors:
We want to update you on the affordable housing project proposed in our area. We are also asking for your help in expressing your views on the project. Information for contacts is included in this message.
As you have heard, the City is moving to develop an affordable housing project of 114 units on an existing parking lot at Broadway and Front streets. The Mayorâs Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) is managing the project, which would be for low-income households.  There will also be a requirement that at least 20% of the units be set aside for formerly homeless families and other special situations.Â
We have tried to represent the neighborhood and address this proposal in a constructive way. You may recall we first brought this project to your attention in November, 2013 at a public meeting we co-sponsored. Since then there have been numerous discussions with the Port, MOHCD, and elected officials where we have presented our views and concerns.  We presented testimony last March at the Port Commission hearing authorizing the MOHCDâs involvement.  From the beginning neighborhood representatives have consistently urged the Port and MOHCD to build affordable housing that includes  moderate-income households. By last June we were joined by seven other community groups supporting that position in writing. In summary, we seek a healthy economically-diverse community, not one limited to just the ârich and poor.â
MOHCD has said it will cost the City $12.5 million dollars more to build moderate-income housing due to the lack of federal subsidies. Over the last six months we have brought up any number of ideas to look for other sources of funding. For example, an affordable-housing bond planned for the ballot this fall could provide the extra funding. However, the MOHCD has consistently refused to look for additional funding or consider any alternative to its standard approach with low-income housing.
In a series of meetings with the Port and the MOHCD, BCNA and other community organizations have focused on two key messages:
- Build housing that includes  moderate-income households, which still qualifies as affordable housing.
- Dedicate the ground floor of the project to vibrant retail-commercial-community purposes that will serve to activate the neighborhood. The objective is to avoid having a âdead zoneâ caused by blank walls enclosing a garage such as exists at Maritime Plaza.
It is difficult to fathom why MOHCD will not consider an alternative approach.  The middle class is shrinking dramatically in the City. The greatest shortfall in new housing in the City is for moderate-income households. Two other affordable-housing developments nearby on Broadway already serve low-income households. Unfortunately, the MOHCDâs position against any moderate-income housing at SWL 322-1 appears in sharp contrast to the messages emanating from other city officials expressing strong support for new housing for the middle class.
It is important that the surrounding community be heard on this issue, whatever the outcome.  For that reason, we strongly encourage you to state your views and express support for a bond issue on the fall ballot that includes some funding for moderate-income housing at SWL 322-1. Please send your input on the proposed project in an email to the following people:
Mr. Olson Lee, Director of MOHCD (email: olson.m.lee@sfgov.org)
Ms. Monique Moyer, Executive Director of Port of San Francisco (email: monique.moyer@sfport.com)
Supervisor Julie Christensen, SF District 3 (email: Julie.Christensen@sfgov.org)
Please copy us on any email you send using the following email address:Â BCNA322@gmail.com
At present, two critical public events are scheduled:
- Public Meeting on March 4: This will be a public review of the project and the proposed RFP to be sent to prospective developers. Meeting will be Pier 1, Bayside Conference Room at 5PM.
- Port Commission Hearing, scheduled for March 24: This involves the presentation of the draft RFP to Port Commission for approval. It will be part of the Portâs normally scheduled business meeting, which will start at 3:15 PM in the Port Commission Hearing Room, Second Floor, in the Ferry Building. This decision is hugely important as the RFP will specify and fix the housing income criteria for potential residents. We are seeking to defer this presentation and will advise you of any change in the schedule.
In addition to sending an email, we also strongly encourage you to attend those meetings and voice your views. They are public meetings and audience comments are welcome. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors, Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association
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