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Planning commission continues Tenderloin group-housing proposal after residents raise affordability and health concerns
Summary
After extensive public comment from Tenderloin residents and service providers about outreach, potential displacement and construction dust, the planning commission voted unanimously to continue the Forge Land Company group-housing matter to July 9 to allow more community meetings and packet revisions.
The San Francisco Planning Commission on June 17 voted unanimously to continue consideration of a proposed Tenderloin-area group-housing development, citing unresolved community concerns about affordability, setbacks and potential construction impacts.
Public testimony at the hearing was sharply divided. Theresa Dela Cruz, who identified herself as a shelter worker, said the project as proposed does not meet neighborhood needs: “I work in a shelter, and I’m watching them coming in…they’re really sick…we really need affordable housing,” she told the commission (Theresa Dela Cruz). Opponents also raised health and safety concerns: one speaker asked the commission to delay action until inclusionary legislation is finalized and warned that demolition dust could cause respiratory problems for local children.
Supporters urged the commission not to delay housing production. Annie Fryman, an architect and affordable-housing advocate with Grow San Francisco, said the sponsor’s commitment to use fast, lower-cost construction methods and to comply with forthcoming BMR rules made the project worth supporting. “Contingent on their public commitment to comply with the BMR housing requirement, when it passes, Grow San Francisco endorses the project,” Fryman said.
Commissioners focused their questions on setbacks and affordability. Commissioner Antonini pressed the sponsor about the requested setbacks near 351 Turk and the Leavenworth property; the sponsor said they had revised setbacks from the original 12½ feet to 7½ feet in one location and 11 feet in others. The sponsor also said they were willing to work with the city and the Mayor’s Office of Housing to produce additional affordability and would follow whatever the Avalos legislation requires if it is adopted.
Commissioner Johnson moved to continue the item to July 9 to allow the sponsor, TNDC and neighborhood tenants to meet and to provide commissioners with a fuller packet. The motion, seconded by Commissioner Hillis, passed 7–0.
Next steps: the matter is scheduled for July 9, when commissioners asked staff and the sponsor to return with revised drawings, clearer setback diagrams, and documentation of tenant and community outreach.
