Some 200 people came together on June 15 to support the Plaza 16 Coalition in its campaign against the development of high-end property around the 16th Street corridor that, if built, would likely severely add to the ongoing gentrification crisis facing San Francisco.
During the 16th Plaza Fiesta, concerned residents, activists, non-profit representatives and onlookers gathered at both 16th Street plazas on a sunny afternoon in a spirited mood. Part of the festivities included a protest march.
The Coalition’s chief concern centered on the proposed 10-story apartment building on 1979 Mission Street. Maximus Real Estate Partners is spearheading the project that would lead to the demolition of the Walgreens at Mission and 16th streets. When constructed, the new apartments would rent for $5,000 per month, according to members of the Coalition.
“Not only would it block the sun that the Mission is known for, but it would cast a shadow on the school for five months while they take down Walgreens,” said Nayanci Lopez of Marshall Elementary. “This would be the largest market-rate development in the history of the Mission District.”
The Plaza 16 Coalition is demanding that the project be completely halted. They are asking the San Francisco Planning Department’s Planning Commission to reject this and all other projects in the Mission District. Protesters against the market-rate development say that there is no place for this kind of high-end apartment building at the location. They say the building would be very “high-class” and they’re worried that the likely tenants might contribute to the changing of the community.
“There is a huge lack of consideration for the San Francisco native,” said Anna Slavicek of Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE). “They give us dirty looks and treat us as if we’re invading their space, when it’s exactly the opposite. They just take what they can use and discard the rest.”
Slavicek isn’t alone in that opinion.
“We want more community-owned places,” said Oscar Grande of People Organizing to Demand Environmental & Economic Rights (PODER).
Rick Gerharter, a representative of the Red Store Labor Association, said his organization would be directly impacted given the fact that they are right next door to the proposed development.
“It would make us feel extremely out of place,” he said. “I’m sure pressure would be put on us along with many others to leave next.”
Among the 50 organizations that participated were Causa Justa, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Club (LBGT), Democratic Club, Our Mission No Eviction. Participating businesses included Puerto Allegre, Tio Chilos and Casa Sanchez.
For more information about the Plaza 16 Coalition or to learn more about anti-gentrification issues, contact plaza16.org or join their Facebook page: Plaza16Coalition. Ongoing meetings and events addressing the community‘s housing issues are planned.