Don't let the tiny exterior fool you. 308 Turk, in the heart of the Tenderloin, is much bigger on the inside than it appears on the outside. The entrance into the modest two-story apartment building leads to a long hallway, with apartments on both sides. A sunny outdoor courtyard gives tenants a space to relax or hold a barbecue; it's also a safe space for kids in the building to play. The building is spotlessly clean, the apartments freshly renovated.
This wasn't always the case. Tracy Parent, executive director of the Community Land Trust, told Hoodline that not so very long ago, residents at 308 Turk were dealing with more than 200 housing code violations, thanks to a former owner who allowed the property to fall into a severe state of disrepair.
Some of the violations posed a serious health hazard to building residents, such as mold and mildew. As a result, "the tenants evicted their landlord," Parent said. "200 complaints were filed and the city filed suit. The bank foreclosed."
These days, 308 Turk is free of the health hazards that once plagued it. Apartments now feature newly installed kitchens and bathrooms. 12 long-term, lower-income tenants, some with families, were allowed to keep their rent-controlled units, with most paying under $900 per month. Land Trust Board president Shalaco Sching said that these residents are primarily Latino, and might not otherwise not have been able to stay in San Francisco.
"Sustaining existing affordable housing in San Francisco is one of the best ways to preserve the diversity of residents that weave the thick cultural fabric of the city," Sching said. "Through the acquisition of 308 Turk, the Community Land Trust is able to offer 20 additional permanently affordable units for people with low to moderate incomes in the heart of San Francisco." Eight units in the building are now vacant and available for rent, with studios starting at $1,695—a considerably lower price than the current citywide median, a whopping $3,200.
Parent said that the Land Trust paid $3.7 million to a local developer, who bought the building and fixed it up. Funding came from the city's Small Site Acquisition Program, which the Mayor's office is now closing. "We need to preserve existing housing," Parent said. "It's critical that the city pay attention to data and not take the easy way out."
For over 20 years, the Community Land Trust has been a membership-based organization that acquires lower-income residential buildings in which residents are in danger of displacement. The buildings become co-ops in which the tenants share ownership, while the Land Trust retains ownership of the land.
"Tenants at 308 Turk can now vote on Land Trust issues," Parent said. "They can run for the Board and call meetings."
