Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2009. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bay Area Reporter - January 1, 2008
Matthew S. Bajko, m.bajko@ebar.com
They are also hopeful federal funding can be secured as part of President-elect Barack Obama's stimulus plan to jumpstart the economy. Obama has pledged to funnel money to various construction projects as a way to put people to work.
And as several new residential projects set for the upper Market area move forward, the AIDS housing proponents are in talks about how their project can benefit from the city's requirement that market-rate projects include affordable units. If they are not built on site, the units must be built in the nearby vicinity.
The AIDS Housing Alliance, which first proposed using the parking lots for housing, has now teamed up with the Chinatown Community Development Corporation to be its "big sister for our various plans for housing development, which include potentially developing those two parking lots in the Castro," said Brian Basinger, the director and founder of the alliance.
"Our goal is to own and operate the housing on those parcels as a joint venture with the Chinatown agency," said Basinger. "There are a couple of different ways that could happen. Nothing has been determined as of now."
Whitney Jones, director of housing development at the Chinatown agency, confirmed that he has met with Basinger several times about the proposal. He termed the discussions "very preliminary" and said the feasibility of the project is being discussed.
"We're always interested in working with other groups to develop affordable housing," Jones said, "and working in neighborhoods where we have a strong local partner, especially a nonprofit local partner."
Basinger said there is hope among AIDS leaders that Obama's administration will pump more money into affordable housing projects for people living with HIV and AIDS. Any such move could, in turn, help pay for the Castro projects.
"We have been, at least, getting those projects on the radar screen for any potential affordable rental housing monies that is in the economic stimulus package federally," said Basinger. "There is a lot of work still to be done to make anything happen."
Drawings for the 65 units of housing over parking proposed for the L-shaped lot behind Walgreens at the corner of 18th and Castro streets depict four floors built over the existing parking spaces. The rooftop units would be set back with outdoor balconies overlooking the street, according to the preliminary drawings.
Adjacent to the driveway would be a retail space on the left side and the entrance to the apartments above on the right side. The retail space could provide jobs for people on limited incomes, said Basinger.
From the drawing, it appears the plan is dependent upon acquiring the building now housing Magnet. The gay men's health center has been looking to move to a larger space in the Castro, and in an e-mail, Basinger stressed that the drawings are "very preliminary" and dependent on Magnet's plans.
"These things have many iterations and I'm sure will take many twists and turns," he wrote. "The best possible project û but not the only possible project û will come from acquiring the adjacent building, which is what you see in the drawing."
Another 35 units of housing above parking are proposed at the L-shaped parking lot on Castro Street next door to the Castro Theatre. The preliminary plans for the site also call for acquiring the building that now houses an ice cream shop.
"The final funding is going to determine a lot of things, then we can go to neighborhood groups" with design plans, said Basinger. "We have been having casual conversations with leaders in the community. There seems to be general support for the concept."
Basinger said he has spoken to the Prado Group, developers of an 80-unit building over a Whole Foods at the corner of Market and Dolores streets, about their potentially helping to finance the project.
The developers told Castro merchants at their meeting in December that they were looking for an "off-site opportunity" to meet the city's affordable housing requirements for their project.
"Nothing has been determined," said Basinger. "As for working with the developer, if it fits into the vision and direction we have, then I am open to working with the Prado Group. Or we might work with a variety of developers who have one or two units that we could assemble."
090101
BR0101
Copyright © 2009 - The Bay Area Reporter. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the The Bay Area Reporter.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2009. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2009. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .