S.F. moves to accelerate stalled housing at Tenderloin food hall site

"Following Mission Local reporting on a long-delayed affordable housing project in the Tenderloin, the San Francisco mayor's office of housing has changed course and committed to seek developers for the site within the next two years. That would mean a fully affordable housing project, which was promised at the site as far back as 2015, could begin construction soon after."

"District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood said Mission Local 's reporting inspired him to push for a change to the city's agreement with La Cocina, the popular incubator kitchen that first opened in 2021. He said he refused to support extending La Cocina's lease unless the city took steps toward building housing. 'We do respect and appreciate the temporary activation but it's time to start moving forward"

"The city acquired a vacant post office at 101 Hyde St. in 2016 for a proposed affordable housing building, but citing a lack of immediate funding brought in La Cocina to temporarily use the site for a public food hall. La Cocina closed its marketplace in 2023 after only two years, citing low foot traffic and poor sales. In its place, the nonprofit began operating its commissary kitchen for its program participants, disappointing some in the neighborhood who wanted a public space for the community."

The San Francisco Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development committed to seek developers within two years to build fully affordable housing at the 101 Hyde Street site in the Tenderloin. District 5 Supervisor Bilal Mahmood pressured the city by withholding support for extending La Cocina's lease unless concrete steps toward housing were taken. The Board of Supervisors approved an amended lease that includes a provision to solicit developer proposals. The city purchased the former post office in 2016 for an affordable housing project but had used the site for temporary activation by La Cocina due to limited funding. La Cocina closed its marketplace in 2023 and shifted to operating a commissary kitchen.

Read at Mission Local