Supervisors reject challenge to supportive housing at 16th and Mission

The Facts

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously rejected a challenge to the “Marvel in the Mission” development at 16th and Mission, according to Oscar Palma at Mission Local. The Marvel will be "one of the largest 100% affordable housing projects in San Francisco," according to the developers, MEDA and Mission Housing.

The neighbors argued that locating supportive housing near Marshall Elementary and an active open-air drug market posed risks, but the Supervisors agreed that the procedural tactic—a subdivision map appeal—was not the proper venue to address those concerns. Additionally, the project complies with all relevant zoning and public works regulations.

The Context

The site at 16th and Mission has been vacant for more than a decade. Originally, the Walgreens was slated to be replaced with a mixed-use development featuring retail and housing, along with at least 20% of the homes subsidized for low-income residents. But opposition from NIMBY groups killed the project.

The groups who opposed the original project, MEDA, and Mission Housing, won the contract to develop the Marvel project.

The GrowSF Take

Homes should have been built here long ago. Loud neighborhood groups should not be able to block homebuilding.