Breaking Ground on La Maravilla:
Remarks by Jose Garcia, MEDA Chief Real Estate Officer
¡Buenas tardes!
I would like to begin by acknowledging our CEO, Luis Granados, who is unable to join us today as he fulfills another important commitment for the Mission community.
I also want to thank my predecessor, Karoleen Feng, whose leadership profoundly shaped the vision of La Maravilla.
Today is about more than just a building; it is about what this structure represents to the Mission and every individual and family fighting to stay here.
La Maravilla is a declaration that affordable housing belongs on 16th Street and that economic mobility starts with a stable home. This development begins with Permanent Supportive Housing because transformation must start with the neighbors who have been left behind the longest.
None of this would be possible without the support of every single community organization and mission resident who was part of the fight against the monster.
You didn’t just oppose displacement; you built a movement and turned this corner of the neighborhood into a vision. ¡Gracias!
To our co-developers at Mission Housing – thank you for a truly historic partnership. Two long-standing Mission organizations coming together to build for a community we love and care for.
To MOHCD — thank you for continuing to believe in place-based community developers, and for recognizing that the people closest to the challenges are the closest to the solutions.
And thank you to Mayor Lurie for your ongoing support of 100% affordable housing. We’re excited to keep building together and look forward to advancing Phases 2 and 3 of family housing to help transform this corridor for the Mission community.
To Merritt Community Capital Corporation, Western Alliance Bank, and Five Star Bank — thank you for your partnership and for believing in this neighborhood’s vision when it mattered most.
To our architect, HCLA — thank you for designing a building worthy of this community. To our general contractors, Cahill and Guzman Construction Group — thank your craftsmanship, dedication, and safety that will bring 136 homes to the Mission.
I want to recognize District 9 Supervisor Jackie Fielder for her genuine and close involvement in this project. I also want to thank former Supervisor Hillary Ronen, whose early support was instrumental. And Ana Herrera for being with us the entire way.
I want to thank the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone for being here with us today — their presence honors this land and the people who have long cared for it.
Thanks to these strong partnerships – Phase One starts today. Phases Two and Three will provide the family-sized units the Mission desperately needs, fulfilling our collective commitment to ensuring our families can stay, grow, and thrive—aquí en la Misión.
Finally, to MEDA’s board of directors — thank you for your guidance and support. To Elaine Yee, MEDA’s VP of Community Real Estate — thank you for your leadership.
And I want to name the Project Managers –past and present– who are bringing this project to life through their day-to-day work. On MEDA’s end — Myrna Ortiz, Laura Daza, and Victoria Vera. From our partners at Mission Housing — Carlos Melgoza, John Lovell, and Elizabeth Madrigal. And MOHCD – Jenny Collins and William Wilcox.
And to the entire MEDA Community Real Estate team — you approach every milestone without ever losing sight of who we’re building for.
Una comunidad, infinitas posibilidades. One community, countless possibilities.
And since Mayor Lurie could not be here — Vamos San Francisco!
!Gracias!
