Category Archives: BCNA News

On December 11, 2017, BCNA met with Supervisor Aaron Peskin and was assured that the proposed Navigation Center sites at 88 Broadway and Pier 23 will not be developed. Supervisor Peskin apologized for “getting ahead of the process” by not involving us in vetting possible locations for a Navigation Center in District 3. There are problems with both sites, and Supervisor Peskin acknowledged our concerns in assuring us that the sites are no longer viable options. Due to the recent wildfires, there is an urgent need for the mobile houses used for Navigation Centers, and thus, it is currently not feasible to set up a Navigation Center in either the 88 Broadway or Pier 23 locations.

We were insistent that a District-wide approach be used In evaluating any subsequent Navigation Center locations. Supervisor Peskin intends to create a working group of neighborhood organizations to come up with ideas and locations for transitional/supportive housing for the chronically homeless in District 3. While our area may not have homeless encampments or the most homeless people, reports show that District 3 has had the largest increase in numbers of people living on our streets.

The BCNA will continue to monitor the situation and keep members informed.

The San Francisco Port’s Waterfront Design Advisory Committee is meeting on Monday, December 11 to review the proposed affordable housing development at 88 Broadway, which is part of Seawall Lot 322-1, located on the east side of Front Street between Broadway and Vallejo Streets. BCNA has participated in the planning for the 88 Broadway development and helped ensure that the project includes a mix of low and middle income units and integrates with the surrounding neighborhood.

BCNA opposes the proposal to locate a temporary homeless Navigation Center at 88 Broadway, which is likely to slow down or interfere with the affordable housing development project.

While the Navigation Center proposal is not on the Advisory Committee’s agenda, members of the public may address the Advisory Committee on items of interest to the public that are relevant to the Advisory Committee’s role in reviewing the design of Port development projects during the “Public Comments” portion of the meeting. BCNA members are encouraged to attend the meeting and share their thoughts and concerns.

Date: Monday, December 11, 2017
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Port of San Francisco – Bayside Room
Pier 1 (Embarcadero @ Washington) San Francisco, CA 94111

The Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association is working on behalf of the neighborhood to represent the following principles for the proposal to locate a homeless navigation center in District 3.

• BCNA supports the concept of a navigation center in District 3. There is little doubt that the problem of homeless people in our area seems to be growing more serious – and something more needs to be done.  Whatever is done needs to be both humane and effective.
• BCNA supports the completion of the 88 Broadway housing development as rapidly as possible because it will provide a permanent housing solution for a number of formerly homeless people. BCNA worked for over 2 years to help shape the proposed affordable housing development at 88 Broadway (and the associated senior development). That project is steadily moving forward. The Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) advises that groundbreaking will occur in the fall of 2018. Twenty percent of the units in the project are reserved for formerly homeless people.
• BCNA opposes the two proposed sites: 88 Broadway and Pier 23. A major reason for opposing the 88 Broadway site is that building a navigation center in that location would delay the affordable housing project. Besides needing approval from the Port Commission, it will be costly and take at least 6 months to bring in plumbing, power, temporary housing, etc. for the center. Once established, navigation centers typically operate for years, not months. That schedule will clearly result in significant delays that could jeopardize the 88 Broadway project. It makes no sense to jeopardize a project offering a permanent solution with a temporary approach. As for Pier 23, establishing a navigation center there is impractical. First, it appears the Fire Department won’t authorize a center there because it lacks fire exits and sprinklers. Second, it is totally inconsistent with the character of the neighborhood to place a center next to the cruise terminal in an area with many restaurants that is heavily trafficked by families, tourists, and other visitors strolling along the Embarcadero.
• BCNA is committed to working with District 3 community and governmental organizations to identify other appropriate candidate sites for a navigation center. BCNA is ready and willing to work in a constructive fashion to identify appropriate sites.