Golden Hill residents organize to fight two housing projects
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Neighbors gather in a Golden Hill meeting space to oppose two housing projects. Photo: Andrew Keatts/Axios
Golden Hill residents are organizing to oppose housing projects in the neighborhood.
Why it matters: Neighborhood groups that have fought city attempts to boost homebuilding have strung together wins in the last two years, and recently announced a coalition to unify their efforts.
State of play: Over 100 residents gathered Monday night to strategize opposition to a proposed 180-unit project on A Street, and a five-unit townhouse complex in the canyon near the dog park on Grape Street.
- The group was organized by John McNab, who has led the fight since 2021 against the city's attempt to raise the height limit for new buildings near the coast with the group Save Our Access.
Driving the news: The new group sought to raise $4,000 to hire lawyer Everett DeLano, who regularly represents neighborhood groups, to begin challenging the A Street project.
- A board member for the volunteer group Dog Owners of Grape Street said the nonprofit could donate $1,400.
- The group also decided to reactivate the Golden Hill Neighborhood Association, a dormant 501(c)3, for ongoing fundraising efforts.
Zoom in: The A Street project uses the Complete Communities program, which allows developers to exceed density and height restrictions if they reserve some units for low-income and middle-income residents.
- The developer purchased three single-family homes west of 30th Street and would demolish them for the proposed eight-story complex.
Inside the room: The Monday meeting took place a block from last week's ICE raid at Buona Forchetta, an incident that was repeatedly referenced as television crews swarmed the block outside.
- Dave Wylie, who moved to the neighborhood from Chicago in 1991, told the crowd that defeating the project would come down to winning public opinion.
- "South Park is in the microscope right now. We can leverage that," he said.
What's next: CEDARst, the developer of the canyon townhouse project, is holding an information meeting on June 10 at 6pm.
- It will be at the project site, the extension of 28th Street into the canyon.