Mission residents face a question More affordable housing or sunlight for kids?

Mission District residents confronted a significant choice about the future of an affordable housing project, weighing the elimination of 10 units against the potential impact on sunlight for children at Marshall Elementary School. Developers from Mission Housing and the Mission Economic Development Agency presented a revised plan that would cut three stories from the proposed 388-unit “La Maravilla” complex to reduce shadowing on the playground. A recent shadow analysis revealed that the original design would block 95 percent of sunlight during winter recess, raising concerns among parents. Community leaders noted the difficulty of balancing the urgent need for affordable housing with the developmental needs of children. The community will vote on this issue over three meetings, with the first meeting having drawn about 120 attendees.

Developers are also pursuing $30 million in tax credits to finance the first phase of the project, which includes 136 supportive housing units. The next meetings are scheduled for May 16 and June 5, allowing for further discussion and input from parents and community members. Attendees expressed diverse opinions, highlighting the complexity of the decision at hand.