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S.F. Bay Area Renters Group May Sue City for Plan to Build Homes09-17-15 | News

S.F. Bay Area Renters Group May Sue City for Plan to Build Homes
Sue City for Plan to Build Homes?

O'Brien Homes and KTGY Group architects are working with the city of Lafayette, Calif. and the community to build a neighborhood of 44 homes called Deer Hill. The home designs feature "secluded courtyards, large front porches, attached two-car garages and first-level bedroom suites."

A group called SFBARF (San Francisco Bay Area Renters' Federation) is seeking to drum up interest to sue the San Francisco East Bay city of Lafayette for approving a plan in August to build 44 single-family homes priced at $1.2 million (Homes at Deer Hill). Developer O'Brien Homes had originally sought to build 315 apartments at the same location, but dropped the apartment complex proposal in 2011 because of community opposition. The 1- 3 bedroom apartments would have ranged in cost from $1,500 to $2,500 a month.

Lafayette, Calif. (24,285), 12 miles northeast of Berkeley, and just west of Walnut Creek, is part of the greater San Francisco Bay area.

An organizer with SFBARF has initiated a website Sue the Suburbs to gather plaintiffs in a novel effort to sue Lafayette for more affordable housing.

San Francisco Magazine first reported the potential lawsuit. SFBARF has only 90 days to file suit.