HOUSING POLICY
A Plan to Build 10,000 New Homes in District 8
Decades of underbuilding have made San Francisco one of the most expensive cities on Earth.
The competition for housing is fierce, and the people losing that competition are not the wealthy or the well connected. They are teachers, firefighters, working families, artists, drag performers, and baristas.
If we do nothing, San Francisco stops being San Francisco. We lose our soul. We become a city only for the lucky ones who arrived decades ago or the lucky ones who can afford the San Francisco of today.
We need a lot more housing. Of all kinds. In all places. For all people. And we needed it yesterday.
We need a bold and outcomes-focused plan measured by what it actually delivers.
Our Goal: 10,000 new homes in District 8 in 8 years.
This is how we get there:
GOAL #1
Create a Market Street Housing Priority District
6,000 Homes
The stretch of Market Street from the Castro to Octavia is transit-rich, culturally significant, and underbuilt. Much of it is only two-story buildings. As the heart of San Francisco's queer community, it should be a place of welcome and belonging, and that starts with building many more homes here.
Create a housing priority district on Market Street from Castro to Octavia.
Dedicate half of the property tax revenue generated by new construction in the district towards building affordable housing within District 8.
Temporarily remove all barriers to building housing for eight years within this district, including impact fees, taxes, height limits, unit mix and inclusionary zoning requirements, and any onerous mandates that hold back development.
Remove and streamline building and planning code requirements that add unnecessary complexity and expense to projects.
Assign a dedicated strike team made up of personnel in the building, planning, fire and public works departments, public utilities, MTA, and the mayor’s office to facilitate speedy permitting within the housing priority district.
Create a six-month building permitting “shot clock” for all proposed developments within the district.
Remove barriers to demolitions and lot mergers within the district while protecting the city’s rent-controlled housing stock and ensuring that no tenant is involuntarily displaced.
Example Sites
We’ve identified 20 locations in the Housing Priority District that are currently in development or occupied by vacant buildings, surface parking, or single-story commercial uses. These lots are ripe for dense, transit-adjacent housing and when combined could add more than 6,000 new homes to District 8.
These are just preliminary examples of the opportunities available along Market Street to make thousands of new homes. With this policy, the reality may be more or in slightly different locations, but the potential is here if we have the will.
1930 Market St.
243 Homes
Currently a 2-story building of medical offices on a 10,415 sqft lot. This lot could accommodate
243 homes.1939 Market St.
187 Homes
This 11,861 sqft lot is already in development to provide 185 units of affordable housing for seniors.1965 Market St.
201 Homes
This 18,862 sqft lot is already in development to provide 201 homes, 28 of which will be affordable housing.1975 Market St.
403 Homes
Currently the site of the single-story Petfood Express with a small surface parking lot, this 15,934 sqft lot could accommodate 403 homes.2000-2086 Market St.
2,458 Homes
Currently the site of a single-story Safeway with a large surface parking lot, this nearly four-acre lot could accommodate 2,458 homes.100 Church St.
75 Homes
Currently the site of a 2-story CorePower Yoga, this 9,997 sqft lot could accommodate 75 homes.160 Church St.
284 Homes
Currently the site of a single story Flagship Gym, this 13,121 sqft lot could accommodate 284 homes.55-69 Belcher St.
127 Homes
Currently the site of a large warehouse and a surface parking lot, this 19,500 sqft lot could accommodate 127 homes.2140 Market St.
300 Homes
This 11,296 sqft lot is already in development to provide 91 new homes, but could accommodate as many as 300 new homes.2135-2145 Market St.
414 Homes
Currently the site of a long-vacant building and a Walgreens, this 17,917 sqft lot could accommodate 414 homes.
2112 15th St.
207 Homes
Currently the site of a Chase Bank and a surface parking lot, this 13,650 sqft lot could accommodate 207 homes.2201 Market St.
20 Homes
This 4,082 sqft parcel is already in development to provide 20 homes, 2 of which will be affordable housing.2222 Market St.
427 Homes
Currently the site of Beck’s Motor Lodge, this 18,457 sqft lot could accommodate 427 homes.2285-2295 Market St.
34 Homes
Currently the site of Bar49 and a vacant retail space, this 4,268 ft. parcel could accommodate 34 homes.2317-2335 Market St.
24 Homes
This 13,934 sqft parcel is already in development to provide 24 homes, 2 of which will be affordable housing.2357 Market St.
216 Homes
Currently the site of a One Medical office, this 10,800 sqft lot could accommodate 216 homes.2390 Market St.
142 Homes
Currently the site of a vacant retail space that most recently was a Pottery Barn, this 7,087 sqft lot could accommodate 142 homes.2399 Market St.
147 Homes
Currently the site of a Chevron gas station, this 7,335 sqft lot could accommodate 147 homes.2400 Market St.
195 Homes
Currently the site of the Castro Gas & Food Mart, this 9,748 sqft lot could accommodate 195 homes.443-455 Castro St.
79 Homes
Currently the site of a US Bank, CVS Pharmacy, and surface parking, this 12,203 sqft lot could provide up to 79 homes.
GOAL #2
Identify and Develop High Opportunity Housing Sites
3,000 Homes
Across District 8, there are select sites (underused lots, city-owned land, etc.) that can absorb significant new housing while reinvigorating neighborhoods. By proactively developing these locations, we can build thousands of homes and preserve what makes San Francisco a city of distinct, walkable villages.
Identify a set of special potential development sites within the district that are large and underutilized.
Survey city-owned properties for development potential.
Use development agreements for each site that follow the same rubric as the housing priority district with an eye towards maximizing housing construction.
Similar to the housing priority district, have a six-month "shot clock" set for each site to get the permits necessary to begin construction.
Proactively engage developers, the local community, and necessary City departments to start construction on these sites as opposed to passively hoping they get built.
Dedicate half of the new property tax revenue generated by construction of these sites toward building affordable housing within District 8.
Example Sites
Looking around the district, we’ve identified 10 large sites that have underutilized potential. We’ll make it a priority to connect these sites with developers who can turn them into as many homes as possible, as quickly as possible.
930 Cole St.
72 Homes
Currently the site of a GoHealth Urgent Care, this 9,631 sqft lot could accommodate up to 72 homes.199 Parnassus Ave.
75 Homes
Currently the site of a Walgreens and surface parking, this 9,997 sqft lot could accommodate up to 75 homes.3950 24th St.
210 Homes
Currently the site of a Whole Foods, this 33,545 sqft lot could accommodate 210 new homes.1500 Valencia St.
400 Homes
Currently the site of the Salvation Army Donation Center and across the street from the new CPMC St. Luke’s campus, this 72,732 sqft lot could accommodate 400 new homes.555 Portola Dr.
2,000 Homes
Currently the site of the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts’ McAteer campus, this massive 27 acre lot could accommodate 2,000 homes. Being on publicly-owned land means a significant share could be permanently affordable—including housing for SFUSD educators.
A New SOTA Campus
A brand-new purpose-built arts campus could either be built as part of the development or moved downtown to the SF Centre Mall site which is also SFUSD-owned land.
350 Amber Dr.
342 Homes
Currently the site of the SFPD Academy and a surface parking lot, this 195,113 sqft lot could accommodate 342 new homes, and being on publicly-owned land could make those 100% affordable.5214-5298
375 Homes
Diamond Heights Blvd. Currently the site of a shopping center with a Safeway, Walgreens, and a large surface parking lot, this 225,247 sqft lot could accommodate 375 new homes.101-199 Kern St.
78 Homes
Currently the site of a surface parking lot, this 6,337 sqft lot could accommodate 78 new homes.586-598 Bosworth St.
581 Homes
Currently the site of a BART surface parking lot, this 38,299 sqft lot could accommodate 581 new homes.2901 Diamond St.
407 Homes
Currently the site of the Glen Park BART station, this 81,575 sqft lot could accommodate 407 new homes.
GOAL #3
Incentivize Turning Backyards and Garages into Homes
1,000 Homes
Garages and backyards represent some of the more underused housing potential in the district. Converting them into homes can support multigenerational families by creating a place for your children or parents to live, give retirees a source of income, and add new homes without changing the character of our neighborhoods.
Trial a new grant program for homeowners to fund garage conversions and backyard homes and explore tax relief of credits for anyone who takes advantage of the program.
Waive all permitting fees for garage conversions and backyard homes (ADUs) for eight years.
Ensure garage units do not trigger any code compliance issues for the rest of the home.
Identify barriers to garage conversions and backyard homes (ADUs) and work with the building, planning, and fire departments to conform to California state standards for eight years.
Stop increasing property taxes on homeowners for adding more units of housing.
Create and publicize a guide to help homeowners who need support building these homes.
What do you think?
This is a campaign built on listening and action. Let us know what you think of the plan.