Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cultural Heritage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances "SoMa Filipinas" Cultural Heritage District after broad community testimony
Summary
The Land Use and Transportation Committee voted unanimously to forward Supervisor Jane Kim's resolution to establish the SoMa Filipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District, after extensive public testimony describing historic institutions, displacement pressures and a planned strategic implementation process.
Supervisor Jane Kim introduced a resolution to establish "SoMa Filipinas," a Filipino Cultural Heritage District in the South of Market neighborhood. Kim described the community's century-long presence in the area and said the district would recognize and help preserve Filipino cultural institutions, stabilize residents and promote an implementation plan to support businesses, historic sites and community-serving organizations.
Dozens of residents and organizational leaders spoke in support. Public commenters identified local assets such as Bessie Carmichael Elementary School, the Bayanihan Community Center, the Veterans Equity Center, the PISTAHAN festival and long-standing neighborhood businesses. Speakers recounted histories of displacement (including the International Hotel/I-Hotel) and urged the city to pair recognition with resources: legacy-business nominations, landmark nominations, place-making funding, community land trust options and anti-displacement protections.
Deputy City Attorney John Givner and Supervisor Kim discussed amendments to the resolution's resolved clauses: the language was revised to designate the Planning Department to develop a strategic plan in consultation with community stakeholders and to require the Planning Department to submit that plan to the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors. Kim said the change preserves community involvement while clarifying the department's role in producing a plan that will be publicly reviewed.
After public comment the committee accepted the record amendments and voted unanimously to forward the resolution to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation.
What's next: The Planning Department is expected to convene the working group and prepare a strategic and implementation plan for SoMa Filipinas; the Board will consider the resolution and the planning timeline.
