Board of Supervisors Preview: JFK Meets its Fate, Plus Affordable Housing and Permit Appeals

The Board of Supervisors are set to meet on Tuesday afternoon, but the topic of the day will be the outcome of another meeting: a joint session of the Board of Supervisors and the San Francisco County Transportation Authority that will consider a car-free future for JFK Drive, a proposal that’s launched heated debate and high-dollar lobbying.

During its regular session, the board will consider the purchase of a 200-unit building for use as permanent supportive housing under Project Homekey, a state program funding long-term housing for those experiencing homelessness. They’re also expected to clear new affordable housing on Treasure Island, and extend time for considering a new law that will enable more people to appeal permits. 

More Project Homekey Deals

The board is expected to approve another property purchase to add to the city’s portfolio of permanent supportive housing. The proposed site at 333 12th Street would be the second project local developer Panoramic Interests has sold to the city under Project Homekey, which reimburses local governments for the purchase of residential hotels and apartment buildings for use as long-term housing for homeless individuals.  

• 333 12th St, also known as “City Gardens,” would also be one of the largest properties purchased by the city so far. The Granada Hotel, one of the first properties bought under Homekey, has more units, but City Gardens has larger multi-room units and is a larger property overall.

• The city has already purchased seven properties under the program, ranging from the Granada to smaller properties in the Mission. Following its purchase by Episcopal Community Services under the state program, longtime residents at the Granada Hotel raised alarms about safety and oversight at the property.

• The conversion of another Panoramic property at 1321 Mission, a 160-unit “microunit” project, had generated some neighborhood opposition. 

Affordable Housing on Treasure Island

The Board will also likely approve development and loan agreements for a 138-unit affordable housing project on Treasure Island. 

• It’s the second affordable project approved for the man-made island, which is undergoing a comprehensive redevelopment to include 8,000 new homes, over 2,000 of which are planned to be affordable. 

• The development follows a 104-unit affordable project dedicated to housing formerly homeless veterans being developed by Chinatown Community Development Center and Swords to Plowshares, which broke ground last year.

• The new project, helmed by Mercy Housing and Catholic Charities, will include units of varying size up to four bedrooms. 

• Some units will be reserved for current residents of interim supportive housing on the island, which would be replaced by this and other developments.  

• The loan agreement with Mercy Housing, for around $33.5 million, will have a minimum term of 57 years. 

Democratizing Permit Appeals

Another housing-related milestone on the board’s agenda is legislation from District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar. The legislation would make commercial and residential leaseholders eligible signatories to appeal conditional use permits. 

• Currently, only property owners can sign on to appeals. If passed, the ordinance would increase tenant representation on the city’s zoning issues, which many say is sorely lacking. 

• In addition to the restriction on conditional use appeals, time and financial considerations often prevent tenant representation on responsive bodies such as the Planning Commission and Board of Permit Appeals. 

• Last week, Melgar introduced a resolution that would extend for 90 days the time the city’s Planning Commission can consider her proposed ordinance before making any recommendations to the board.

• According to sources, the Planning Department needs more time to look at the issue due to staffing issues. 

• Once it returns to the board, the legislation, which is co-sponsored by Supervisors Aaron Peskin, Dean Preston, Hillary Ronen and Board President Shamann Walton, is expected to pass easily.