The San Francisco Board of Supervisors today unanimously rejected an appeal of the first stage of the “Marvel in the Mission,” the planned 100-percent-affordable housing development at 16th and Mission streets.
Since permanent supportive housing projects are shielded at the state level by SB 2162, neighbors instead undertook the arcane maneuver of appealing the Department of Public Works’ approval of subdividing the project into three separate lots.
The neighbors objected to the placement of a 136-unit, nine-story building intended for people currently or formerly struggling with addiction in close proximity to Marshall Elementary School.
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“As Marshall Elementary community members, we seek to amplify the voices of Marshall families who are unable to attend this hearing because of the summer vacation,” said Capp Street resident Ali Gilmore at today’s hearing.
Following the nearly three-hour hearing, the supervisors, however, rejected the appeal and said the concerns raised by the neighbors regarding supportive housing near a school cannot be addressed by appealing Public Works’ subdivision process.
Earlier in the meeting, representatives for both Public Works and the Planning Department said the developer’s applications were in compliance with city codes.
Aaron Starr, principal planner at the city’s Planning Department, said that while he understood the issues and concerns raised by the neighbors, those are not relevant to an appeal regarding subdivisions of a construction project.
“The issues raised in the appeal focused on the broader development, not on the tentative map,” he said. “We respectfully recommend upholding the Planning Department and DPW decision.”
The appeal was supported by some half a dozen neighbors who live nearby on Capp Street; Marshall’s principal also spoke in favor of the appeal.
The supporters of the appeal claimed that said that siting permanent supportive housing for current or former drug-users in proximity to an overt drug scene at 16th and Mission, and close to an elementary school, was a disaster in the making.
Perhaps three times as many people showed up to speak against the appeal and in favor of constructing the housing.
Sam Moss, the executive director of Mission Housing, which is developing the site, said that permanent supportive housing is necessary to help homeless San Franciscans move toward recovery. The building is set to have mental health services sited on the ground floor, as well as space for a nonprofit.
“I would ask what else you would have us do than house homeless people?” asked Moss. “I stand by the decades, and thousands of people from the Mission, who have called for these buildings at these income levels.”
Neighbors said they don’t oppose either affordable housing nor permanent supportive housing, but they believe the area is already oversaturated with services.
The Mission, along with SoMa, Bayview-Hunters Point and the Tenderloin, hosts most of the behavioral facilities and shelters in the city. Instead, they want developers to turn the permanent supportive housing into family housing.
Despite their votes, some supervisors showed sympathy for the appellants’ case.
Board President Rafael Mandelman said he understood neighbors not buying the city’s rationale that additional homeless services in their district would improve street conditions.
“Often they don’t,” said Mandelman, while Moss stood in front of him at the presenter’s podium. “Why should these people believe that this will be one of those cases where things don’t get worse?”
Moss’ response came quickly.
“We’re also open to any support from the city of San Francisco, Public Works, the police department and the Board of Supervisors to address the current state of the streets because that’s not permanent supportive housing’s fault.”
Following today’s unanimous rejection by the Board of Supervisors, it is unclear what next steps, if any, are next for the appellants.
District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder, in whose district the proposed building is situated, said street conditions at 16th and Mission streets are a top priority for her office. She called for the mayor’s office to invest in community ambassadors and engagement specialists, instead of unquestioned additional funding in police overtime.
Fielder explained her vote, telling the audience that appealing the project through a challenge to the subdivision map is not “the proper venue.”
“I envision a 16th Street corridor where children can walk safely with their families, to Marshall, to the Youth Art Exchange, to the park and to home,” said Fielder.
“I believe in a 16th Street … where we have transit oriented affordable housing, where BART and Muni riders feel safe and, dare I say, pleased to take public transit and where small businesses thrive,” she said.
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OSCAR PALMA
Oscar is a reporter with interest in environmental and community journalism, and how these may intersect. Some of his personal interests are bicycles, film, and both Latin American literature and punk. Oscar’s work has previously appeared in KQED, The Frisc, El Tecolote, and Golden Gate Xpress.More by Oscar Palma
