SAN FRANCISCO—On Tuesday, November 15, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted against a major housing development in the Mission District of San Francisco.
A 6-story, 157-unit housing development located at 1515 South Van Ness has been under construction by the Lennar Corporation for 2 years. The Planning Commission approved the building in August 2016. Opponents like the Housing Rights Commission and the Tenants Union have fought against the South Van Ness development during every phase of its construction.
Activist and concerned residents went to San Francisco City Hall and voiced their disapproval on the development of the condos. Latino Cultural District Council Member, Scott Weaver, pressed the Board of Supervisors to conduct a study analyzing how the new development would speed up gentrification. Other attendees expressed possible financial burdens gentrification may cause in the Mission District area.
During a protest in October 2016, The Director of HOMEY, a youth outreach group, Roberto Alfaro said, “I was born right down the street at St Luke’s Hospital. We’re not going to let them come in here and build luxury housing without talking to us. We’re not going to let them tell us who gets to live here.”
During the meeting Peter Schellinger, Vice President of Lennar Multifamily, reminded the Board of Supervisors the company raised the building’s affordable housing to 25 percent. Originally, 12 percent of the living units would be priced below market rate.
Before casting votes Supervisor Eric Mar said, “It’s not necessarily about this project, but about the bigger political context.” While Supervisor David Campos expected to vote in favor of the South Van Ness housing development, the Board of Supervisors voted 9-0 against the housing development, placing construction on hold.
The Lennar Corporation must submit an Environmental Impact Report focusing on the effects the new building will have on the neighborhood.
