Board authorizes emergency repairs for Midtown Park Apartments, allows mayor's housing office to use federal housing funds

The Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution authorizing the Director of the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development to take all necessary steps to protect residents of Midtown Park Apartments, a low-income complex in the Western Addition, including emergency roof repair and mold remediation.

Supervisor London Breed told colleagues the roofs at Midtown are beyond patching and that recent rains caused flooding and extensive unit leaks that led to mold and mildew. She said the estimated cost for temporary roof repairs and temporary relocation is about $750,000 and that the mayor's office is authorized to expend federal housing funds to address the emergency.

Breed told the board the problems reflect years of neglect and that residents must be provided safe housing. The resolution directs the mayor's housing office to move forward with emergency work, including replacing roofs and removing hazardous mold, and to use available federal housing dollars to fund the immediate repairs and temporary re-housing where required.

The sponsor said the measure is a short-term intervention and that Midtown will need a longer-term maintenance plan to prevent repeat emergencies. Breed said, "This $750,000 will only provide a temporary roof repair, and the needs at Midtown will continue. We need a more consistent structure to maintain the units before these problems become emergencies."

The Board adopted the resolution without objection.

Ending: The mayor's housing office may begin emergency repairs and use federal housing funds; supervisors said they expect continued engagement to pursue longer-term solutions for ongoing maintenance and capital needs at Midtown Park Apartments.