The Rules Committee voted Jan. 27 to forward to the full Board of Supervisors an ordinance to exempt Midtown Park Apartments, a 140-unit city-owned family housing development at 1415 Scott Street, from certain contracting requirements in Administrative Code Chapter 6 while preserving prevailing-wage and apprenticeship obligations under Administrative Code Section 23.61. The committee recorded the motion and passed it without objection; President Mandelmann was absent for the vote.

Sheila Nicholas, director of policy at the Mayor’s Office of Community Development (MOCD), told the committee Midtown Park was built in 1964, consists of six separate buildings, and is one of the few affordable developments directly owned by the city rather than held by nonprofit developers. Nicholas said the building has had no major repairs since construction and listed urgent capital needs including replacement of boilers and plumbing, a new roof, life-safety work such as a fire-sprinkler system, window replacement to stop water intrusion, and seismic “soft-story” improvements. She said boilers are being replaced every three to five years because corroded 1964-era plumbing shortens their useful life.

Nicholas said 34 units remain vacant to allow on-site tenant relocations during repairs. She said the 2022–23 budget included funds and that certificates of participation bonds have been issued to finance work. Because Midtown is city-owned, MOCD requested the Chapter 6 exemption so the city can contract directly with vendors experienced in tenant-occupied rehabilitation and deploy a broader scope of repairs more quickly than under the Chapter 6 framework. She told the committee that prevailing-wage requirements and licensed construction management will apply and that the city will continue to use RFQs/RFPs and meet SBE contracting rules to provide opportunities for local contractors.

There was no public comment on the item. Chair Walton moved to forward the item to the full board with a committee recommendation; the committee vote recorded two yeas and one absence and the motion passed.

Next steps: the ordinance will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda for Feb. 4, 2025, unless otherwise changed.