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Potrero Terrace and Potrero Annex


For our Potrero Hill Readers and other interested folk:

Public and subsidized housing is a very heated issue in San Francisco. There are several low-income, subsidized developments throughout the city, but for Potrero Hill residents, none hit closer to home than the Potrero Terrace and Potrero Annex. Though many of you may not have walked or driven through these housing projects, you all know they are sitting on prime San Francisco real estate. The views are incredible and the location is in Potrero Hill’s hip back yard.

There has been plenty of speculation as to what is going to happen to these barrack-style buildings over the next few years and at the moment, all we can do is speculate, as there seems to be very little set in stone at the Board of Supervisors office.

Some developers want that land to place high-end housing, open space and retail. Others want to build a more comfortable subsidized environment like the Haight projects and some would even like to see an integrated living space that can take advantage of the perfect location, yet create some below market rate housing and some high-end development.

In 2003, San Francisco city government officially invited developers to come up with plans to rebuild 18 of the city’s most dilapidated public housing projects. There were no developers that were interested in the Potrero housing projects because they knew that homeowners’ associations on the the hill are zealous anti-development advocates. Almost all developement on the ‘Hill is greatly researched and scrutinized, but this particular project gets full attention from the Potrero Hill residents as everybody is concerned for their safty, their investment and their overall wellbeing.

What could be put there to best utilize the space without completely displacing those that cannot afford sky high SF real estate? Do you think the area should stay 100% low income but with a much more friendly set up (open space, modern units, etc.)? Potrero Hill residents and Boosters have a very strong voice, when the time comes, what would you like to see there?

Filed under: Ggold, Potrero Hill ,

4 Responses

  1. Wai Yip Tung says:

    Everytime I see those renewed housing projects like those in North Beach I can’t help admire how much better they have became. It looks so good that I want to get in line to move in. The Potrero project in contrast, is a place where nobody want to walk through. Why does it has to be the way it is when other places can improve so much? I can’t believe nobody want change. It is just not possible to get any worse than it is with any kind of new development.

    It should be obvious to everyone that having a 100% low-income ghetto is bad for the entire neighborhood. Is losing easy parking the worst thing? How can someone choose to live in San Francisco and yet putting parking as their highest priority? For me nothing pain me more than seeing parents leaving and schools closing.

  2. Garrett Goldman says:

    thanks for the comment and you bring up a great point. my understanding is that they will be changing the landscape of that housing project over the next few years. as residents leave that particular development, they city has not been letting new residents move in. i’m going to assume (and this is pure assumption) that the city will end up building a development much like the other newer low income projects, but only time will tell.

  3. Anonymous says:

    I live in Potrero Hill and I must say that all this negative talk about how I can’t even walk though Potrero Hill is like what the hell are you talking about!

    I have walked from home to the bus stop, I have walked home to the GYM from the GYM to the coner store, I have walked home to the school to pick up my little sisters and brothers for the pass 21 years and there is nothing wrong with that!

    Their is nothing wrong with walking though Potrero Hill Projects!

    I must say that every one that talks a whole lot of shit about Potrero Hill realy needs to live there, cause if you dont then your missing out on a whole lot!
    Yes Potrero hill does need improvment but it is the building and the streets that needs improvment, not the pepole in the buildings or the kids on the streets!

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