Committee recommends ban on removing community kitchens from group housing

The Land Use and Transportation Committee unanimously voted on April 26 to recommend a housing-code amendment that would prohibit removing existing community kitchens in group housing while allowing renovation or replacement.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin introduced the ordinance, which would amend section 507 of the housing code to eliminate a loophole that had allowed kitchens to be removed. John Murray of the Department of Building Inspection said the change simply closes that loophole and preserves a code allowance that requires minimum kitchen size but did not previously prohibit removal.

Anastasia Yovanopoulos of the San Francisco Tenants Union spoke during public comment in support, saying community kitchens are important for residents who live in very small rooms and rely on shared facilities.

The committee voted to forward the ordinance to the Board of Supervisors as a committee report with unanimous support.

Next steps: the item will appear on the full Board agenda with a committee recommendation.