Increasing Affordable Housing Requirement Sparks Debate in San Francisco

Planners in San Francisco are battling with city supervisors over plans to increase the affordable housing requirements for a new development -- a proposal that some planners say might scare off developers.

1 minute read

February 12, 2008, 1:00 PM PST

By Nate Berg


"A San Francisco Board of Supervisors committee debated two measures Monday aimed at squeezing more low- and moderate-income housing out of development projects at Treasure Island and in an upper Market Street area near Octavia Boulevard."

"[One] plan would lead to 6,000 new homes, hotels, shops, 300 acres of open space and a new ferry terminal. It also would require that 1,800 of the homes be within reach of households earning at or below the median income for San Francisco - which for a three-person household is approximately $82,000 a year."

"The plan came as part of a years-long process that included community meetings, input from state and local regulators and hearings at the Board of Supervisors."

"Those who led the planning effort for the city said Daly's proposal would sink the plan because no developer would be able to create that much affordable housing and still make a reasonable profit. They also said that Daly's resolution undermined the planning process that included the board's review and approval."

Tuesday, February 12, 2008 in The San Francisco Chronicle

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