With Rebuild Approved, Trinity Plaza Tenants Look to Future

As readers remember, in March 2006 Newsom vetoed the Anti-Demolition Ordinance that was aimed at preserving Trinity Plaza and other rent-controlled buildings. The Board of Supervisors was unable to override the Mayor’s veto when Sup. Bevan Dufty switched his vote. However, Newsom is expected to sign his approval of the project soon.

To celebrate the hard-fought victory of the struggle that lasted four years, TPTA held a lobby party Wednesday night (April 18), with Supervisor Chris Daly in attendance, to inform other tenants how the project is going to proceed. Walt Schmidt of Trinity Properties also attended and fielded questions from tenants. The meeting part of the party was facilitated by TPTA member Luisa Balatbat and SOMCAN’s Angelica Cabande.

One of the roadblocks to the project was the use of condo mapping that landlord/developer Angelo Sangiacomo insisted using in order to obtain financing for the construction. However, tenants and community activists focused on concern for tenants rights and reasoned that tenants could potentially be displaced if the 360 rent-controlled replacement units would be condo mapped, and Supervisor Daly insisted during the negotiations with Mr. Sangiacomo’s representatives that the replacement units could not be condo mapped. Supervisor Daly was successful, and now the first tower (that will house the original Trinity Plaza tenants) will not be condo mapped.

A few concerns from tenants included the timetable of construction and whether or not tenants could move during construction, as well as the seniority of choosing new apartments in the replacement residence.

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