Christmas came just about a week early for tenants of 3235 16th St., a five-unit apartment building two blocks from Dolores Park: The San Francisco Community Land Trust officially acquired their building last week, retaining rent-controlled units and dissipating tenants’ fears of displacement.

“It’s really a relief, the stability and the security. Over the years we always thought ‘What if somebody sells our building?’” said Alana Herron, a high school teacher in the Excelsior who has lived in the building for 24 years. “This really means a lot.”

About a dozen tenants live in the building, and many have for decades. Conversations between the San Francisco Community Land Trust, which buys mid-sized buildings and has 17 in its portfolio, and the prior owner, Deborah V. Vanpatten, started this summer. The discussions began after the owner notified the nonprofit that the building would be sold. 

Under the city’s Community Opportunity to Purchase Act, owners of buildings with three or more residential units, or land that can accommodate such numbers, are required to inform qualified nonprofits of their intentions to sell. That guarantees the organizations the right of first refusal on the properties. 

“This has been a lot of work, and it’s been great to see it culminate in knowing that these long-term residents will be able to stay in their home,” said Kyle Smeallie, the policy director for the land trust. 

The building, which dates to 1905, has five residential units and one ground-floor commercial space, the home of Barnets Salon. Smeallie said the residential tenants worried a new owner could find ways to displace them.

“For them to have the feeling that they don’t have to worry about that anymore … that’s a sense of relief that is really palpable,” said Smeallie.

The San Francisco Community Land Trust purchased the building for $1.55 million with loans from the city’s Small Sites Program, which helps nonprofits buy smaller buildings for affordable housing, and the Preservation and Seismic Safety Program, which has money for the same.

The land trust has been growing and, two years ago, received a $20 million gift from MacKenzie Scott, the billionaire ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. It said at the time it would use the gift to expand as part of a $60 million capital campaign.

“Everyone feels like this was a really fortunate thing that happened,” said another resident, who has lived in the building for over 30 years. The purchase, she said, gave a sense of relief, particularly for the artists and teachers who live alongside her.

“When you talk about preserving teachers and artists we’re kind of a living proof of that,” she said. “That’s who lives here.”

While there has not been an official celebration yet, Herron said she and her husband took it upon themselves to toast the purchase by going out to dinner.

“We’re really grateful,” said Herron. “It is really a gift and we know that.”

Denver set a record-high temperature on Christmas Day, breaking the all-time mark, set in 2005.

High temperatures on Thursday reached 70 degrees at Denver International Airport, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder. That bested the 69-degree record set 20 years ago.

The Mile High City has been shattering temperature records this winter amid unseasonably warm conditions.

With the Seattle Seahawks all alone in first place in the NFC West and atop the NFC standings, all eyes have understandably been fixed upon their Week 18 regular season finale against the San Francisco 49ers as the likely place where the division and No. 1 seed will be settled.

Where Seahawks’ No. 1 seed odds stand after Week 16

But there is a highly unlikely but still possible scenario that has gone under the radar where Seattle (12-3) could find itself on Monday already crowned the division champ and given a bye straight to the second round of the playoffs.

It’s a pretty simple one, though it has three components to it. Here’s what would need to happen for the Seahawks to clinch the NFC West and NFC’s No. 1 seed before Week 18:

• 1. The Seahawks win on the road in their 10 a.m. Sunday game against the Carolina Panthers.

• 2. The San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears tie on Sunday night.

• 3. The Los Angeles Rams lose on Monday night in Atlanta against the Falcons.

To take a line from the great Lloyd Christmas on the holiday that he shares a name with, we’re telling you there’s a chance. Not a good one, at least when it comes to wrapping everything up this week, but still a chance.

The tough part of this scenario is that both No. 2 and No. 3 are longshots.

NFL standings

Ties are rare in the NFL, with only one having occurred in the last three seasons combined. The Bears and 49ers are evenly matched with identical 11-4 records, though, which plays into why the Seahawks would need the tie to clinch before Week 18.

As for the Rams losing to the Falcons, that seems maybe even more far fetched than a tie happening. The Rams are also 11-4 and will probably be looking to take out some aggression after losing 38-37 in overtime to the Seahawks last week in the biggest game of the season for both teams.

While the Falcons are coming off surprising back-to-back wins, that’s a surprise for a reason. Atlanta is 6-9 this year and is down several players on injured reserve, including starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

So yeah, don’t count on it happening. But if the Seahawks find the unexpected gift of clinching by Monday night, it probably starts building a case of them being a team of destiny this season.

More on the Seattle Seahawks

• Schlereth believes Seahawks have two strong candidates for big awards
• Panthers CB has choice words about his trade from Seahawks
• Seahawks star WR JSN says any limitation put on him ‘is not true’
• Lefko: A bold offseason has Seahawks on brink of history
• Six Seattle Seahawks secure Pro Bowl selections

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