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Committee backs New Asia Special Use District to build about 175 affordable senior units in Chinatown
Summary
The committee recommended creating a Special Use District at 758 and 772 Pacific Ave to enable a 15-story New Asia senior housing project (about 174–175 units) that would restore the New Asia Banquet Hall; MOHCD committed $4.1M in predevelopment and $3M to purchase adjacent property and the item was forwarded to the full Board.
The Land Use and Transportation Committee on Oct. 28 recommended the Board of Supervisors approve a Special Use District (SUD) to enable the New Asia senior housing project in Chinatown, a proposal that proponents say would deliver roughly 174–175 affordable units targeted to extremely low-income seniors and restore the New Asia Banquet Hall.
President Aaron Peskin led the presentation, describing the SUD at 758 and 772 Pacific Avenue as the first new affordable senior development in Chinatown in decades and saying it would allow seniors to age in place while preserving an important community cultural space. The Planning Commission previously recommended approval unanimously.
Sheila Nicholas of the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) said the project is proposed as a 15-story building with studios and one-bedroom units, and that MOHCD has committed $4,100,000 for predevelopment and $3,000,000 to acquire the neighboring building. Nicholas said construction could begin in three to five years and that the project will seek additional funding because it is not eligible for some state funding under current criteria.
Speakers from Chinatown and community organizations expressed strong support. Alan Lowe, counsel for the Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC), called the project "the most important project in Chinatown for over 40 years" and said the development would prioritize extremely low-income seniors, including households below 40% AMI. Malcolm Young, executive director of CCDC, and leaders of neighborhood resident associations also urged approval, citing cultural and economic benefits and the need for senior housing in a neighborhood with high poverty rates and a large senior population.
President Peskin moved to forward the SUD with recommendation as a committee report to the full Board for a hearing Oct. 29; Vice Chair Dean Preston added himself as a cosponsor. The committee recorded three ayes (Preston, Peskin and Melgar) and the item will proceed to the Board as scheduled.
Planning staff noted the SUD would raise the height limit and grant flexibility to enable the proposed affordable project and preserve community space; MOHCD and CCDC will continue working on funding and predevelopment details during the coming months.
