Quote:
Originally Posted by MrKSig
Are there any Fraternities or Sororities from San Francisco that have a house? I'm a part of a new Chapter and one of our goals is to get some kind of housing (whether its a floor on our School's dorms or an actual place). However I've heard mishmash details about San Francisco and housing laws that I can't seem to find at all on the City website. The only thing that repeatedly shows up in Google searches as well is "Big Gay Fraternity House" which obviously isn't relavent.
Supposedly you are not allowed to have more than 6 men or women in one house? Is this true (I can't find evidence of this)? How do apartments get by that?
Any info or a point in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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San Francisco has more than one code related to what you're asking. The Planning and Zoning code mentions different kinds of housing, and there is a mention of fraternity and sorority houses. Pretty much it is six or more people living together for more than a week, with or without meals cooked for them. Only certain zones allow certain kinds of housing based on type of dwelling. Secondly is the Housing section of the Building Code that defines what the minimum requirements are for housing, including when multiple people are there.
These two websites have a way to search the Code and you can also find people to contact. They aren't at City Hall, they are on Mission Street just south of South Van Ness.
http://www.sf-planning.org and
http://www.sfdbi.org/
I'm not sure how you'd set up housing with your school since they separate freshman, under 21, and over 21 students. I ran the numbers for living a full calendar, not academic year, on campus to compare to getting a place off campus with your brothers. I selected all of the least expensive options (four people sharing a studio or a shared dorm), included the meal plan and the fee from the deposit to be replenished every semester, as well as summer and intersession housing. That amount is over $16,000 and doesn't include food for breaks and summer. I'd suggest moving off campus regardless to save money, and you wouldn't be sharing a studio or a dorm room and can cook your own meals. Even with a muni fast pass (excuse me, clipper card, WTF!) running over $800 a year for the one that also lets you ride BART in San Francisco, and paying utilities, I think moving off campus with your brothers or friends is a wise fiscal decision, especially if you or anyone else has student loans. With what anyone is paying campus housing y'all could find a flat in the city and still save money. There was an article about the housing a few years ago, if you're interested
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...carollloyd.DTL
Your best bets are likely The Mission, though the hipsters are trying to ruin it, Bernal Heights, parts of The Sunset (so many flats and illegal basement apartments, but you're competing with UC and SF State students for housing), outer Richmond, the Excelsior, Balboa Park, Silver Terrace, the Ingleside, and yes, even Bayview. If you go outside the City I'd suggest sticking near Caltrain and BART stations so no one has to drive. As long as you can get a street car or a bus to Montgomery station you can catch the student shuttle, right? Also if people go away for the summer you could sublet a room to another student as it would be cheaper than campus living.
Something like these is what I'm getting at:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/2350464006.html (rent is just over $600 a month per person)
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/2354214314.html (rent is $533 per person)
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/2354190981.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/2349634491.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/2347097452.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/2347089974.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/apa/2349086577.html
Oh and if you and brothers do decide to rent together, you may not want to mention that fact because some landlords may have an issue for no reason.
And a final thought, what is going on with the Beta Xi house at Cal? I know Phi Kappa Psi is currently living there but if/when Kappa Sigma returns to Cal a good way to pay rent would be your chapter BARTing it across the bay. Allegedly they may be moving to Channing so definitely talk to someone about that house.