Community Demands 100 Percent Affordable
Affordable Housing A Priority Of Plaza 16 Coalition
Dyan Ruiz, Joseph Smooke | 03/06/2015
Organizer with the Mission SRO Collaborative, Chirag Bhakta, and community members demand 100 percent affordable housing.
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On March 4, 2015, proposed developers of market rate condos at 16th and Mission, Maximus Real Estate Partners, called a meeting to discuss the "community benefits" they intend to provide as part of the development. Hundreds of members of the Plaza 16 Coalition,* a group of community organizations, merchants and neighbors, showed up to voice their concerns.
This was the first time the community heard the proposals from the developers, although it was leaked to mainstream media the day before. While Maximus announced a mix of on-site and off-site units that are below market rate, a percentage they say totals 31 percent of their project, community members are outraged. Existing City coding does not comply with their proposal and there's no guarantee the affordable housing would be in the neighborhood. Residents want 100 percent affordable housing on this site as skyrocketing rents, mass evictions, and buyouts are forcing out longtime residents.
For more stories on community resistance to the proposed development, see:
Teacher Mic Checks Condo Developer
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