T
he City of San Francisco is undergoing a major redevelopment project called Hope SF, which aims to replace World War II-era housing at four public housing developments, including Alice Griffith, Hunter’s View, Sunnydale, and Potrero Terrace & Annex. As part of this project, several dozen tenants at Potrero Terrace & Annex are being evicted due to corruption involving a former apartment manager who charged them rent for apartments slated for demolition. Eugene Burger Property Management, based in Reno, has been hired by the San Francisco Housing Authority to manage the 600-unit Potrero Terrace & Annex, but the company has been accused of not ensuring squatters didn't move into vacant units.

    The eviction of these tenants has been challenged in court by a coalition of nonprofits representing tenant rights. They are demanding that the San Francisco Housing Authority stop the evictions, dismiss pending lawsuits against the tenants, vacate any judgments already entered against them, and meet with each household to help them find other subsidized apartments.

    The flurry of evictions comes as San Francisco continues to implement its Hope SF program, which aims to replace World War II-era housing at four public housing developments. When completed, Hope SF will replace 1,900 public housing units with 5,300 apartments, some of which are proposed to be market-rate. At Potrero, locally based Bridge Housing has completed a 72-unit apartment building, and a 157-unit complex is expected to be completed next spring. However, none of the old structures have been razed yet, as demolition is expected to start next year according to the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development.