GRAN ORIENTE

On Thursday, September 27, 2018 Mission Housing Development Corporation celebrated the preservation of the historic Gran Oriente Filipino Hotel with a community block party.  The single room occupancy hotel (SRO), located at 106 South Park Street [MAP] was added to Mission Housing’s portfolio in June, and will be preserved as 100% affordable housing, and as an important touchstone in the Filipino Heritage District.

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Historic Property Flooded with Community Support

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Built in 1907, the property became one of the earliest Filipino-owned buildings in the South of Market Area when it was purchased in the 1920s by members of The Gran Oriente Filipino Masonic fraternity.

When Filipino community leaders such as SOMCAN, SOMA Pilipinas, and The Filipino Community Development Corporation learned of a potential sale, they reached out to San Francisco District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim to facilitate a solution in keeping ownership of the property in community hands, so its affordability would be positioned to survive for future generations. She connected the organizers with Mission Housing — a nonprofit, community-based affordable housing organization already operating in South Park.

To support the purchase, Mission Housing received a $5 million loan from the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development Small Sites Program.

“As Mayor, I am committed to making sure our Small Sites Program is funded to acquire and preserve affordable housing,” stated Mayor London Breed. “Preserving The Gran Oriente as a valuable resource for the Filipino Community fulfils our goals of keeping our neighborhoods strong.”

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Rehabilitation Ahead

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Mission Housing will work with community members on all stages of rehabilitating the 106 South Park site, ensuring that all existing tenants remain and that The Gran Oriente continues as a hub for future community activism and support. Construction should start in late 2019 and complete in April 2021.

“Our Resident Services team has already engaged with our tenants at the Gran Oriente, to learn their needs, so we can make informed decisions about which services will help their quality of life. Our priority is to incorporate them as part of our Mission Housing community and have each one of them feel welcome,” said Márcia Contreras, Deputy Executive Director of Mission Housing.

Following the completion of the full rehab at the historic SRO at 106 South Park, Mission Housing will work with SOMCAN, SoMa Pilipinas, and South Of Market CAC to have The Gran Oriente designated a historic site.

“Mission Housing is proud to partner with the Filipino community to ensure that the Gran Oriente Hotel remains in community hands,” said Sam Moss, Executive Director of Mission Housing. “We will be working with the community to provide tenant education, organizing, and programming of the Gran Oriente as a historic and cultural asset.”

“The Gran Oriente Hotel is one of the most important historic sites for the Filipino community in SOMA and San Francisco.  We are very excited to work with Mission Housing, the City, and all community stakeholders to preserve the Gran Oriente as permanent affordable housing, designate the site as a historical landmark, and restore the legacy of the Gran Oriente as one the first Filipino-owned properties in the South of Market.” said Raquel Redondiez, SOMA Pilipinas Director.

Read more here: Mission Housing Acquires Historic South Park Property The Gran Oriente Hotel