At Richmond upzoning town hall, crowd is tough and Mayor Lurie is feisty

Mayor Daniel Lurie faced a challenging crowd at his first town hall meeting regarding his upzoning plan for the Richmond District. Residents voiced strong concerns about the potential loss of rent-controlled housing, questioning how the plan would protect tenants from displacement. Lurie reassured attendees that existing rent-control protections would remain and noted that demolitions had been rare in areas already upzoned. He warned that failing to proceed with the plan could prompt state intervention, stripping the city of its ability to manage housing development. The plan has received initial amendments, including an exemption for buildings with three or more rent-controlled units, and aims to add approximately 14,600 housing units over the next 20 years.

Lurie emphasized that the upzoning primarily affects commercial streets and transit corridors, limiting height increases. As frustrations grew, he reiterated that community feedback had shaped the plan, countering claims that his office had ignored residents. The full Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on the plan in December.