03 September 2024
San Francisco landlord leads eco-friendly renovation while safeguarding tenants
A San Francisco landlord is testing how green retrofits can enhance comfort without displacing low-income tenants, amid concerns that citywide efforts could raise rents and push out residents.
Audrey Mei Yi Brown reports for San Francisco Public Press.
In short:
- Amparo Vigil, a landlord in the Mission District, is retrofitting her building with eco-friendly upgrades to manage rising temperatures.
- Tenant advocates fear such renovations could lead to higher rents or evictions if landlords pass retrofit costs to tenants.
- The city is exploring safeguards to prevent displacement as it pursues its net-zero emissions goal by 2040.
Key quote:
“Low-income tenants are in a precarious position, and we don’t want upgrades to lead to ‘reno-victions.’”
— Antonio Díaz, organizational director, PODER
Why this matters:
As San Francisco pushes for greener buildings, protecting low-income tenants from rent hikes and evictions becomes crucial to prevent exacerbating the city’s housing crisis.
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