Neighbors have been meeting to discuss a proposed affordable housing development on Seawall Lot 322-1—the third within two-and-a-half blocks on Broadway Street—for nearly a year in ongoing working groups.
They've urged the Port of San Francisco and Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOH) to hear them out on a number of things they'd like to see, including moderate-income rentals in addition to low-income apartments and storefronts instead of a parking garage on the street level. They also have concerns about the scale and height of the building planned for Broadway and Front streets.
Yesterday, District 3 Supervisor Julie Christensen said she asked the Port and MOH to hold off on issuing a request for proposals (RFP) for a few months (the request was originally due out in April) and take a "fresh look at what we can accomplish" on the site. She said she had a "planning session" with the Port and MOH yesterday to start working out the scope of work for three public meetings planned to look at all the different aspects of the project.
The Port and MOH gave their full cooperation, she said.
SWL 322-1 at Broadway and Front streets. Photo: Geri Koeppel/Hoodline
The three meetings will be scheduled within the next four to six months, Christensen said, and will be rolled out at the next working group on May 6th.
When asked if the issue of moderate-income versus only lower-income housing was part of the process, she said the discussion will be two-fold: Both what the building will look like, and who will live in it.
The question of moderate-income units is "not off the table," Christensen said. "It's financially challenging; it's administratively challenging; but we're looking into whether there's something we can do."
She added, "I asked them to convene a pre-RFP study group to look at the mass and scaling and vocabulary, not only of 322, but other sites. We all agree we don't want 8 Washington again," she said, referring to the controversial luxury condo project that voters shot down in November 2013.
"So my question is, how can we do a better job?," Christensen continued. "One is to engage the community in a discussion and the other is to make sure city departments are moving in the same direction."
Photo: Julie Christensen/Facebook
Community members have indeed been discussing the project—the working group has met 11 times since last spring. But they've made it clear in the media and at public meetings that they don't think their voice is being heard.
Christensen wants to create a "cooperative joint venture," and "bring constituents on board," she said. She also said trying to get more middle-income and senior housing in the area is "a major goal of mine."
Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association President Bob Harrer, who has been involved in the working groups and is an advocate of building more moderate-income housing in the city, said, "I welcome Supervisor Christensen's involvement and I believe that she brings a constructive viewpoint to this project. I think her involvement is great."
