4/21: Rincon Hill Development to be Contested at Public Hearing

Media Advisory



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2005

Contact: April Veneracion, Director of South of Market Community Action
Network

(415) 225-1481 cell phone

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Rincon Hill Development to be Contested at Public Hearing

South of Market Residents and Advocates say High-Rises must not obscure
Community Needs on the Ground



[San Francisco, CA, Thursday April 21] - The SoMa Coalition of
residents, advocates and businesses, is coming out on Thursday to express
their opposition to the Rincon Hill Plan because it does not address
neighborhood concerns. The Rincon Hill Plan would rezone the waterfront side
of the South of Market to allow developers to construct a forest of
500-foot condominium towers. Each condominium within the towers has a
beginning price of 1 million to 1.5 million a piece. If approved, the whole
northeast end of SoMa could be transformed within a few years, becoming
the tallest and most exclusive residential skyscrapers west of the
Mississippi – exclusive of the existing community in the South of Market.



WHAT: A public hearing at City Hall to vote on the Rincon Hill Plan.
This vote comes at the urgency of the MayorÂ’s office. The public hearing
at City Hall will highlight testimony from seniors, families and
low-wage workers on the need for affordable housing, jobs and social services
in the South of Market.



WHEN: 7pm, Thursday, April 21, 2005



WHERE: City Hall, 4th Floor, Room 400



WHO: SoMa families and workers that would be affected by this plan,
community groups and advocates, representatives of the SoMa Coalition and
SOMCAN.



WHY: “Rincon Hill is an opportunity for the Board of Supervisors to
require that development truly benefits the South of Market Community,”
said April Veneracion, MCP, Director of the South of Market Community
Action Network. “Will this neighborhood be exclusively for dog runs
and childless individuals? Or will this neighborhood contribute to the
existing SoMa community of seniors, workers and families? Instead of
fast-tracking a decision on this plan, concerned residents, community
groups and businesses are urging Supervisors to ensure that The Rincon Hill
Development includes affordable housing and a clear benefits plan for
the rest of the neighborhood.”





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