THC opposes San Francisco City College’s proposed demolition of a Chinatown buidling, citing red flags in an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
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Tenderloin Housing Clinic
Main Office: 126 Hyde Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 771-9850
Fax (415) 771-1287
Randall M. Shaw
Stephen L. Collier
Timothy J. Lee
Raquel Fox
May 15, 1998
Via Fax
Office of the Board of Trustees
City College of San Francisco
50 Phelan Avenue Box E200 , San Francisco, California 94112
Fax 239-3918
RE: Draft EIR, Chinatown/North Beach Campus
Dear Board Members:
I urge you to reconsider plans to demolish 21 residential housing units and displace 50 residents from the Fong Building at 55 Columbus Avenue.
As the Draft EIR concedes (page 50), demolition of the Fong Building would have a significant environmental impact and is inconsistent with the San Francisco Planning Code. Demolition without replacement housing also violates the city’s Residence Element of the Master Plan, Proposition M, and virtually every other written housing policy in the city.
The Draft EIR acknowledges that City College’s participation in the Treasure Island Consortium does not address the significant impact caused by the demolition of the 21 affordable housing units. In truth, the District’s participation in the Treasure Island Consortium has nothing to do with the elimination of 21 units in Chinatown. Your involvement in securing housing for your faculty and students on Treasure Island does not mitigate the loss of these units.
Having worked to preserve affordable housing in San Francisco since 1980, I am familiar with the myriad justifications advanced for displacing tenants and demolishing their homes.To allow such displacement within the shadow of the former International Hotel would prove that we learned nothing from that tragedy.
City College should either acquire a different site or replace the units with new construction somewhere else in Chinatown. In the latter case, the District must provide the displaced tenants with rent subsidies so that their housing costs are not increased pending the completion of their new homes.
If our office can be of any assistance in resolving this issue, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Randy Shaw Executive Director
