SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Residents of an exclusive San Francisco neighborhood who failed to pay taxes on their private, gated street for two decades got the street back this week after supervisors voted to rescind the sale of the tax-defaulted property.
The board of supervisors split 7-4 on the move, with those in favor saying residents of Presidio Terrace had not received enough notice before their sidewalks, street and common areas were sold at auction in 2015.
Supervisor Mark Farrell, who represents the district, said it was not good policy to allow out-of-town land “speculators” to swoop in on law-abiding property owners who simply did not know they owed tax on their street.
He agreed the homeowners’ due process rights were violated when the tax collector sent tax bills to an outdated address. The association had failed to update its mailing address.
The oval-shaped street in upscale Presidio Heights is lined with leafy palms, lush landscaping and multimillion-dollar mansions.
Previous residents of the gated neighborhood include U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who wrote a letter that accused the city of bureaucratic bungling.
