SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — In San Francisco, the homeowners of a well-liked Burmese restaurant say they’re feeling trapped after town purchased the constructing the place they lease to show the upstairs into housing for previously homeless people.
With over 100 Google evaluations raving about their meals, you could assume Bay of Burma has been round for ages. Properly, no – they opened in 2023 after a yr of renovating and getting permits.
“We did not have any clue what is occurring on the constructing,” stated Kay Zin, co-owner of Bay of Burma.
The Burmese restaurant is positioned on the bottom ground of 1174 Folsom St. In San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood.
On the primary day they opened, Kay Zin stated a neighbor broke the information to them. The town had bought the constructing and the tenants above them had been transferring out – to make means for a brand new challenge
“At first they had been supposed for a protected injection middle,” stated Kay Zin.
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Kay and Ryan co-own the restaurant and have invested over $300,000. For over a yr, they’ve been speaking with town’s homelessness and supportive housing division looking for options.
“I used to be merely asking for them to reimburse for the development value as a result of that’s all of our financial savings. I simply wished to relocate to a safer place,” stated Kay Zin.
In 2024, town modified plans and stated a unique challenge would go in.
The brand new plan is to show it into supportive housing for homeless youth.
Bay of Burma homeowners Kay and Ryan Zin stated their enterprise has been robbed twice at gunpoint and so they have seen crime spike within the space, which is house to different city-run assist facilities like an dependancy therapy middle, a sobering middle and a homeless shelter.
They’re afraid the brand new challenge will add to that.
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“We’re asking for extra security,” stated Ryan Zin, co-owner of Bay of Burma.
In an announcement, HSH stated they’ve been working with this group for over a yr and described the housing advanced as:
“A essential and far wanted step in the direction of options for younger folks struggling to exit homelessness and acquire stability.”
Supervisor Matt Dorsey stated security will probably be key.
“Twenty-four-seven ambassador providers outdoors within the adjoining neighborhood which is the 1100 block of Folsom Avenue. There may be additionally going to be onsite safety throughout particular key in a single day hours,” stated Sup. Dorsey.
The town is designating this website a drug-free group.
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Sup. Dorsey: ‘If anyone is utilizing unlawful medication on website, will probably be grounds for eviction.”
Luz Pena: “Will the tenants get drug examined?”
Sup. Dorsey: “No, there is no such thing as a testing.”
Supervisor Dorsey stated his workplace will assist the enterprise homeowners if the result will not be constructive.
“They did not join this. They need out. I am glad to have that dialog and convey my workplace in negotiating that. I do not need to do something that can damage a small enterprise,” stated Sup. Dorsey.
The housing advanced is ready to open in April.
“We’re the tenants, too. If you need the entire constructing, take it. We’ll go someplace else. We do not need to take care of all the pieces that we do not need to as a result of we need to concentrate on our enterprise, however our fingers are tied,” stated Ryan Zin.
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Full HSH Assertion:
“The everlasting supportive housing at 1174 Folsom supporting younger adults is a essential and far wanted step in the direction of options for younger folks struggling to exit homelessness and acquire stability. The Division of Homelessness and Supportive Housing is contracting with Abode Property Administration to function the positioning and Lyric to supply the onsite social providers. Abode has additionally entered right into a long-term lease with the Metropolis and is the grasp tenant on the website.
The Division of Homelessness and Supportive Housing has been working with the 1174 Folsom group, together with the Bay of Burma proprietors, for over a yr, conducting an intensive, sturdy and inclusive stakeholders course of earlier than transferring ahead with the challenge.
HSH has labored carefully with the SOMA West Group, the Mayor’s Workplace and Supervisor Dorsey to make sure that this system at 1174 Folsom is usually a constructive addition to the West SOMA Group. Our group commitments embrace:
- Safety: Non-public safety is in place 8 hours a day and can proceed throughout operations
- Security and Cleanliness: HSH and DPH are funding an growth of the SOMA West Group Advantages District’s ambassador program to supply 24/7 public security assist within the space
- Together with devoted ambassadors on Russ Avenue to assist a protected passageway for youth and households within the neighborhood.
Now that Abode is the grasp tenant on the website the Bay of Burma proprietors have been instructed to barter their lease with Abode Property Administration, and we’re encouraging each events to work collectively to develop a lease settlement that helps our native small companies and encourages a collaborative relationship at 1174 Folsom. “
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