The City of San Francisco has submitted a plan to purchase 42 Otis Street in San Francisco’s planned neighborhood, the Hub. The plan will transfer ownership to the city’s Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. The plan will convert all 24 studio units to permanent supportive housing for young adults.
42 Otis Street interiors, rendering via Vanguard Properties
The Department has shared that the property will have 24-hour desk coverage, property management, and support services provided by a non-profit provider. The plan will require approval from the Board of Supervisors, which is expected this September. A provider will be selected this Autumn. The process of community engagement has already started, with one public meeting scheduled for tonight, July 12th, starting at 5:30 PM. For more information, visit the public notice here.
ELEVATIONarchitects is responsible for the design. The most identifiable characteristic of the project is the use of boxy protruding white frames for alternating windows, in contrast to the flat dark-grey brick veneer. The ground level is covered with nearly floor-to-ceiling windows and cast-in-place concrete and a thin awning over the entry.
42 Otis Street, image via Vanguard Properties
City records show the property last sold in 2016 for $3.6 million. Construction was finished between 2021 and 2022 for the site, located right next to 30 Otis Street. Construction nearby is progressing for the foundation of the city’s current tallest project, Hayes Point by Lendlease. Plans to turn the site into inclusionary housing first appeared in the planning department in May last year. No work is proposed for the interior.
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How could buying a two year old building possibly be the best use of our tax dollars? There are so many dilapidated hotels that the city could buy and renovate for much cheaper. Incredible that the city is so comfortable with profligate spending that it would propose this without even providing an estimate of the price tag.
Joey, Joey, Joey…
Obviously, you have no idea of what’s involved to bring a “dilapidated” hotel up to current (minimal) standards. Add the inflated purchase price demanded by the absentee/slumlord/speculator building owner and you have the perfect recipe for citizen complaints of profligate spending.
Do you really think that the owners of this new building will not inflate the purchase price? There are multiple occupants of this building who will need to be bought out and compensated for the trouble of moving.
In either case, converting an old hotel into housing actually expands and modernizes the city’s housing stock. Buying 24 existing units at an inflated price and giving them away is a ridiculously expensive handout that doesn’t help the housing crisis and makes only marginal progress towards helping the 8000+ homeless. This plan does not even come close to being an efficient use of tax dollars and makes no sense given the impending $700 million city budget deficit.
Joey
You are 100%right! and why is everything in SoMa? I am appalled by this. It’s a reckless decision that will jeopardize the safety, property values, and well-being of our community. This project will attract crime, drug-related activities, and put our families at risk. Our hard-earned investments will suffer as property values decline. The lack of infrastructure and resources is already strained, and this initiative will overwhelm our community.