Commission approves services contract and $2.6 million capital grant for Plaza East

The San Francisco Housing Authority Commission on Jan. 23 approved a one-year services agreement and a capital grant tied to Plaza East Apartments, moves staff said are intended to support on-site services, repairs and capital improvements while larger redevelopment plans remain on hold.

Mamoudouning, the authority’s chief financial officer, presented the two items together and described the awards as part of a broader effort to coordinate services and repairs at Plaza East. The commission approved a services contract with FRH Consulting and a capital grant to Plaza East Associates LP for work not to exceed amounts listed in the staff report.

The services contract (agenda item 10b) authorizes the chief executive officer to enter into a one-year contract with FRH Consulting to provide services at Plaza East; the staff memo lists a total not to exceed amount of $4,000. The capital grant (agenda item 10c) authorizes a capital grant not to exceed $2,600,000 to Plaza East Associates LP to fund repairs and capital improvements on-site. Commissioners voted by roll call to approve both items. Commissioner Mary Anne Pikes voted aye, Commissioner Luana Kim voted yes, Commissioner Leroy Lindo voted yes, and President Joaquin Torres voted aye for each item.

Commissioners stressed that resident concerns and coordination should inform final contract negotiation. Commissioner Luana Kim asked staff to ensure that resident feedback is incorporated into the final negotiated services contract; staff said the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, FRH, and the tenant association have already held meetings and would continue to coordinate. Mamoudouning said two competitive invitations for bids (IFBs) — one for vacant units and one for occupied units — had been issued and that the grant would supplement the IFBs and annual HUD capital funding for 2024 and anticipated 2025 funding.

FRH Consulting representatives described December services at Plaza East, including weekly hot meals, a community closet, technology-support sessions and connections to benefits; FRH said its December work connected roughly 62 residents to casework, food or other referrals.

Staff said they would return next month with the IFB scoring and the recommended contractor for construction work on vacant units. The commission’s approvals authorize staff to proceed with contract execution and grant disbursement subject to the terms in the staff reports.

Ending: Commissioners said they expect staff to report back on how resident input shaped final contract terms and to present the IFB award recommendation at the next commission meeting.