Supervisor Mandelman is introducing two proposed housing ordinances. Although the two ordinances share some of the same DNA, they are separate and distinct in their intent, content and timelines.  Neither bill directly changes the Dolores Heights Special Use District (SUD). Both bills would lead to process and zoning changes in the neighborhood.  DHIC has not yet taken a position on either bill. 

1. Monster Home” Ordinance: This ordinance has already been introduced at the Board of Supervisors and will be heard at the Planning Commission in April. The ordinance is, in part, a response to the onslaught of very large home developments in Dolores Heights.

The purpose of the ordinance is to make it more difficult to build a very large single family home, unless the project provides additional, and more equitably sized, units. The ordinance would require Conditional Use approval for a new home larger than 2,500 square feet, or any construction that expands an existing home by more than 50%, or beyond 2,500 square feet in size, unless the project increases the number of units on the lot.

2. Supervisor Mandelman is also drafting an additional ordinance that would allow for up to four units on corner lots, and on lots within a half-mile of a major rail station (i.e. Muni Metro underground or BART stations – stations with a turnstile). Per the chart below, some Dolores Heights properties are in a half-mile of the Castro Muni-Metro stop  and will be covered by this upzoning.

The DHIC Green Garden Group hopes to be able to resume their monthly work bees on Saturday mornings as soon as City Health Orders permit. Fingers crossed for April! Keep your eye here on the DHIC Website and our Facebook page.

DHIC Supports “A Place for All” City Legislation

“A Place for All“, sponsored by our supervisor, Rafael Mandelman, provides a platform for ending street sleeping.

Our neighbors live with the effects of street homelessness. Street sleeping is not safe, not healthy, and not compassionate. A Place for All proposes a policy that the City provide shelter to all who will accept it. It also requires a City implementation plan to replace street sleeping with safe and healthy off-street interim shelter.

Sanctioned safe sleeping sites benefit both our unhoused and housed residents. They keep our unhoused residents safe from violence, crime, and the coronavirus. They also bring welcome relief to the City’s housed residents. Unsanctioned encampments in neighborhoods have produced blocked sidewalks, litter, open drug use, and crime. A January 2020 poll found that 71% of San Francisco voters identified homelessness and street conditions as the City’s top issue.

While the solution for homelessness is housing, the waiting line cannot be on our streets. SIP hotel occupants have priority for housing, and those on our streets slide further into chronic homelessness with over a majority suffering from behavioral health/substance abuse.

Safe sleeping sites operating for nearly one year are a proven model that now host approximately 300 people. Guests have safety, stability, and support services – a key first step on their path out of homelessness. The sites can be cost-effective when they shelter 100 guests as the legislation proposes.

A Place for All will have a public hearing in April. More details to follow. Email info@doloresheights.org with questions, ideas, or help.

A Place for All:  shelter for all who want to get off the streets 

WHAT IT DOES:

• Enacts a SF policy to provide shelter for unhoused seeking a safe place to sleep
• Mandates a detailed plan: potential locations, estimated individual places needed, phased timeline, and estimated costs
• Provides that the plan be reviewed in public hearings and approved by the Supervisors — before implementation

WHAT IT DOES NOT DO:

• Allocate any budget funds: the legislation contains no funding. Funding requires a separate vote by the Board of Supervisor after they review the proposed plan and cost estimates
• Increase the 2020-2022 budget: to fund this program, Supervisors must vote to reallocate existing budget dollars.  They cannot increase the existing City budget
• Not build to shelter the total street population: the plan has a phased timeline to create only enough placements for those who accept off-street shelter

TO LEARN MORE VISIT:

• Fact Sheet
• Current version of A Place for All legislation

Due to increased crime and vandalism, the Castro/UpperMarket Community Benefit District is considering installing a public safety camera program, on private property, at the major intersections in the Castro and Upper Market.

The camera program would have strict privacy controls and only be used for evidentiary purposes. The cameras would only watch the sidewalk and street/intersections.

The Castro CBD is looking for the input from neighbors who live, work or shop in the Castro. 

Please consider taking their short and anonymous survey.