April 20, 2007 | Posted by concerned Mission residents

Help Save the North Mission from Being Devoured by Condos

Open letter to North Mission residents, businesses, non-profits and artists from Kim Malcheski, Attorney at Law:

Private developers are going to build three separate five-story condo buildings on the 700 block of Valencia between 18th and 19th Streets. The Planning Department has approved building permits for two of those five-story condos at 700 and 736 Valencia with no affordable units or elevators. The five-story condos will block the eastern view of the Rigoberta Menchu mural on the Women's Building.

The Planning Dept. has also proposed increasing the present 50 feet building limit on Valencia to 55 feet, which will allow private developers to build even bigger and more expensive condos. The condoization of Valencia will have a ripple effect on the neighborhood by raising commercial and residential rents, which could displace local businesses and tenants.

Local neighbors and the Mission Anti-Displacement Coalition have come together to oppose the building of these luxury condos because we support more affordable housing for the working people of the Mission.

What you can do to stop the condoization of Valencia:

Call the City Planner at (415) 575-6891, or email him at Mathew.Snyder@sfgov.org and tell him that you oppose building the condos at 700 Valencia.

For more information, email Julie at jujulead@hotmail.com or call Kim at (415) 647-2797.