Chinatown Senior Housing Advances as Committee Weighs Nitrous Oxide Ban, Federal Funding Risks

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors' Budget & Finance Committee moved unanimously through more than a dozen items on July 22, headlined by a $100M-plus affordable housing project in Chinatown that required the city to forgive $1.2M in unpaid restaurant rent — and a contested nitrous oxide retail ban that drew sharp pushback over its $600K annual enforcement price tag. The committee also authorized the city to compete for $56M in federal homelessness funds under dramatically tougher rules.

• 175-unit Chinatown senior housing project advances with $2.2M city property acquisition and $1.2M rent forgiveness for New Asia Restaurant; five community groups testify in support
• Nitrous oxide retail ban amended and continued to September after the Public Defender's Office and community members challenge $600K enforcement cost and absence of local data
• San Francisco faces tougher federal competition for $56M in annual homelessness funds as HUD slashes protected funding tier from 95% to 60%
• Youth navigation center at 888 Post Street expands with $1M in private philanthropy for a wellness center serving transitional-age youth
• Be The Jury program accepts $250K grant but warns juror stipend must drop from $100 to $75 without new public funding
• Emergency dredging at Marina Yacht Harbor completed for $1.8M — $700K under estimate — after the city fired its original contractor

The committee advanced two companion resolutions clearing the way for a 175-unit affordable senior housing project at 758-772 Pacific Avenue in the heart of Chinatown, approving the city's $2.2M acquisition of 758 Pacific, a $13.7M pre-development loan, and $1.2M in rent forgiveness for the New Asia Restaurant tenant.