Redevelopment Agency Commission sends thumbs-up recommendation to 'Supes on Bayview/Hunters Point
I listened to the Redevelopment Agency Commission on KPOO Radio today for much of the nearly four hours of live coverage. There was significant public input, as well as significant explanation of the plan.
The agenda from today’s meeting can be found here.
After the public comment period, and despite many requests from residents of the Bayview/Hunters Point to leave their neighborhood alone, it seems evident that there is a majority sentiment to move forward on the redevelopment. As one of the commissioners said, “This plan is not perfect, but it is more perfect than any plan we’ve had before. And without a plan, the people perish.”
I learned that this process has been going on for nine years now, and those involved from the community have made a significant contribution to the plan, and they currently support it. It seems to me, after listening to the broadcast today, that the fear comes from people that were not aware of the background of public involvement that has taken place (like myself, honestly).
I also understand that there are controls in place to prohibit certain aggregation of multiple plots of land, and that there are significant plans in place for affordable, low-income, and very-low-income housing.
In the end, the commissioners spoke and all were in favor of the project. They applauded the members of the community for speaking up (even if they felt that many were under-informed prior to today’s meeting).
The vote to send this project (items (d) thru (h) on the agenda) up to the Board of Supervisors was unanimous among the commissioners. I do not have any information on when the ‘Supes will be voting on this issue. I will be very curious to hear if, after tonight’s meeting, the community is still against this project.
Now, it appears, the biggest consideration is how to spend the $190,000,000 that is going to be put into the community, and how to prepare the residents to properly utilize this opportunity.
As a related side note, Mary Rogers passed away last Friday. She was someone who was instrumental in the community when the Western Addition was redeveloped, and she was duly honored during today’s SFRA meeting. There will be a memorial service for her on Saturday morning, March 11th at the church on Pierce & McAllister.
