In a city known for a shortage of affordable housing opportunities, San Francisco has a surprising number of these projects currently under construction. In fact, many such projects are on the San Francisco Business Times’ current list of the 80 largest Bay Area construction projects, ranked by cost.
This is pleasantly surprising to me because there’s never enough workforce and affordable housing available in the city. I mean, developers are keen to build $4M condos in Noe Valley, but that doesn’t help the middle- or lower-income buyers aiming to live in San Francisco, whether they be for sale or rent.
Here’s a look at the largest housing projects in the city, with data courtesy of the San Francisco Business Times. These projects cumulatively represent half a billion dollars in construction cost, and will add 850 units of affordable housing in the city:
Transbay 2 East Family Building (230 Folsom / Beale & Main, photo above)
and West Senior Building (272 Folsom)
Neighborhood: South Beach
Project Snapshot: East Family Building: 184 affordable housing units, includes a childcare center, community rooms, and retail. West Senior Building: 151 studios and one bedrooms
Construction Cost: $152.7 million
Start/End Dates: June 2024/June 2026
Owner/Developer: Mercy Housing
Contractor: Swinerton
My Take: These parcels are on the site of the temporary bus hub that morphed into a public park for a time, adjacent to the Lumina condo building. I think it’s a great addition to the neighborhood, which could use affordable and senior housing among its luxury residential and commercial buildings. New residents can enjoy proximity to the Embarcadero and transit.
2550 Irving / 25th & 26th Aves
Neighborhood: Central Sunset
Project Snapshot: 7-story mixed-use affordable housing with 90 units, ground-floor retail, car and bike parking
Construction Cost: $65.56 million
Start/End Dates: June 2024/Jan 2026
Owner/Developer: East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation
Contractor: Cahill Contractors
My Take: Who says the west side isn’t doing its share to create housing? This is exactly the type of retail-corridor housing we need, steps from Golden Gate Park and plenty of transit.
850 Turk / Gough & Franklin
Neighborhood: Van Ness corridor/Western Addition
Project Snapshot: 8-story building with 92 affordable units, 30-car garage and bike storage
Construction Cost: $61 million
Start/End Dates: April 2025/Feb 2027
Owner/Developer: MidPen Housing, Tishman Speyer
Contractor: Cahill Contractors
My Take: 850 Turk is located in the heart of it all near Civic Center, Hayes Valley and Market Street transit. There’s a unit configuration for everyone—studios, one-, two- and three bedrooms.
750 Golden Gate / Gough & Franklin
Neighborhood: Van Ness corridor/Western Addition
Project Snapshot: 75 rental units across 8 stories with a preference for SF Unified School District and San Francisco Community College District educators/employees. Community room, staff offices, a landscaped courtyard with play area, secured bike parking, and laundry facilities.
Construction Cost: $56.84 million
Start/End Dates: Jan 2025/Sept 2026
Owner/Developer: MidPen Housing, Tishman Speyer
Contractor: Cahill Contractors
My Take: This sister building to 850 Turk (above) is one of the rare projects geared toward teachers and school employees. We need more of this housing, especially when it’s located in a transit-rich, central neighborhood like this one.
1633 Valencia / Cesar Chavez
Neighborhood: Mission/Bernal Heights
Project Snapshot: 145 supportive housing studio units for seniors 55 and older experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness; includes community hub, wellness clinic and resident services
Construction Cost: $54.8 million
Start/End Dates: May 2024/Jan 2026
Owner/Developer: Mercy Housing
Contractor: Cahill Contractors
My Take: I’ve been watching this building rise at the corner of Valencia and Cesar Chavez for many months. Formerly a parking lot, 1633 Valencia will offer residents services in a transit-rich location near Mission and Bernal retail.
The Sophie Maxwell Building / 1212 Maryland
Neighborhood: Dogpatch
Project Snapshot: 105 workforce rental units (studios, one- and two bedrooms) and retail
Construction Cost: $50 million
Start/End Dates: Oct 2023/Oct 2025
Owner/Developer: California Barrel Company
Contractor: Swinerton
Situated in the growing Power Station complex along the Dogpatch waterfront, The Sophie Maxwell Building will feature co-working areas, a rooftop deck with panoramic city and water views. Leasing applications opened in September and move-ins are expected in November.
78 Haight / Octavia & Gough
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Project Snapshot: 63 affordable housing units with childcare space and services
Construction Cost: $41.28 million
Start/End Dates: March 2024/Sept 2025
Owner/Developer: Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation
Contractor: Guzman Construction Group
My Take: Featuring 58 studios and five one bedrooms, 78 Haight sets aside 32 homes for youth ages 18-24 who are transitioning out of foster care, 27 homes for adults earning 65% area median income (AMI) or less, and four homes for adults earning 50% AMI or less.
3300 Mission / 29th Street
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights
Project Snapshot: 35 affordable units with community space
Construction Cost: $25 million
Start/End Dates: Feb 2025/March 2026
Owner/Developer: Bernal Heights Housing Corp., Tabernacle Community Development Corp., Mitchelville Real Estate Group
Contractor: Guzman Construction Group
My Take: You may recognize this site as the former apartment building and home to the 3300 Club bar that burned down back in 2016. 3300 Mission will offer studio units (each a minimum of 225 square feet) with private bathrooms and food prep area.
[Photo of Transbay 2 East Family Building, above, courtesy Swinerton]