Supes Support Alice Griffith Tenants – But Endorse Lennar

But like the feeble efforts by Democrats in Congress to stop George Bush’s escalation, the Board resolution is “non-binding,” as it merely encourages Lennar and the Redevelopment Agency to protect affordable housing. Alice Griffith tenants were happy with Maxwell’s amended changes, but remain skeptical that they will truly be spared from displacement -- as past promises of “one-for-one replacement” have proven elusive at other housing projects. Meanwhile, housing advocates are frustrated that the Board introduced the resolution without any input from tenants, and whose language of “replacement” would alarm any casual reader about the future of Hunters Point.

Even with this resolution, there are no current plans to “demolish” the Alice Griffith Housing Project. While replacing these units in the future with new housing is a distinct possibility, it won’t happen until the Housing Authority has the money. If and when that day comes (i.e., voters pass a housing bond), the City will have to find a private developer willing to carry it out. And with Lennar already having real estate interests in the neighborhood, the Board effectively endorsed them as being that developer.

Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers have threatened to move to Santa Clara – and local politicians want to show that they’ll do what they can to stop that. The Board resolution endorses efforts by Lennar to work with the 49ers to build a “state-of-the-art stadium and associated parking,” along with a master-plan revitalization of the whole neighborhood. If you read Mayor Newsom’s letter to 49ers owner John York (which was attached with the Board resolution), it is clear that politicians will bend over backwards to yield to the team’s demands. The 49ers want a new parking lot, and the Alice Griffith Homes happen to be right in the way.

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