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Planning Commission backs proposal to give nonprofits first opportunity to buy small multifamily buildings
Summary
The commission voted to recommend Supervisor Sandra Fewer's Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPPA) to the full Board of Supervisors, with a request staff pursue incentives such as transfer-tax adjustments; the measure would give qualified nonprofits a first-offer and right-of-refusal to preserve rent-controlled units.
The Planning Commission on Feb. 14 voted to recommend approval of the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPPA), a proposed administrative-code change that would give qualified nonprofit affordable-housing developers a right of first offer and a right of first refusal on certain multifamily properties.
Ian Frigozzi of Supervisor Sandra Fewer's office introduced the legislation, saying COPPA is intended "to stabilize diverse communities in San Francisco by preventing displacement and preserving affordable housing." He described the two-step right (first-offer, then first-refusal) and said properties acquired under the program would be subject to affordability rules similar to the city's small sites program.
Why it matters: Supporters say the tool helps nonprofits compete with speculative buyers and preserve rent-controlled housing that otherwise can be lost to condo conversion or evictions. Opponents and some commissioners pressed for funding and incentives to make acquisitions feasible.
Amy Chan of the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development said the office supports a right of first offer/refusal as a complement to the city's small sites acquisition work and will help shape eligibility and implementation.
The public record included dozens of supportive speakers representing community land trusts, tenant organizers, neighborhood groups and nonprofit housing developers, who cited displacement in SoMa, the Mission and Tenderloin and urged the commission to advance the proposal. Speakers stressed that COPPA does not itself create a funding stream; supporters pointed to recent ERAF funding and urged more capital be identified.
Commissioners debated whether the program should be incentive-based or mandatory. The supervising motion that passed directed the Board of Supervisors to consider COPPA and asked the sponsor's office to pursue incentives (for example, partial transfer-tax exemptions) to encourage owners to participate. The commission vote to recommend approval was unanimous with the addition that staff and the sponsor pursue incentives.
Quote: "COPPA will provide affordable housing nonprofits with a critical tool to stop the bleeding by purchasing multifamily buildings from landlords looking to sell and preserving them as permanently affordable housing," Ian Frigozzi said in presenting the measure.
Outcome: Planning Commission adopted a resolution recommending approval to the Board of Supervisors and asked the sponsor to pursue incentives to facilitate acquisitions.
