Board approves bonds and HUD commitments for Alice Griffith public‑housing revitalization

The board unanimously approved two companion resolutions on Dec. 16 authorizing multifamily housing revenue bonds to support the Alice Griffith public housing revitalization.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin and Supervisor Jane Kim (remarks at committee) and Supervisor Cohen described non‑substantive technical amendments to clarify which city offices are authorized to execute bond documentation and indemnities. Supervisor Cohen said the financing package includes more than $30 million in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant funding and developer commitments and will allow construction to begin on the site early next year.

Officials said the revitalization will rebuild existing public housing, construct new affordable units and proceed without relocating current residents from the site. Supervisor Cohen said the plan would “rebuild the existing public housing units and build new affordable housing on this particular site without moving or displacing any of the existing residents.”

Why it matters: The Alice Griffith site is a major public‑housing redevelopment project intended to preserve and expand deeply affordable housing on a public land site owned by the Housing Authority. Public financing and HUD grants are central to the plan.

What’s next: Supervisors adopted the technical amendments and the underlying bond authorizations were approved unanimously. City staff indicated that closing steps and ground‑breaking activities would proceed next year as the financing, HUD grants and developer commitments are finalized.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the Board of Supervisors meeting on Dec. 16, 2014.