California Construction News staff writer
A new nine-story, 38,500-sq. ft. affordable housing development, has been completed in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. The project, which includes 70 new, permanently affordable homes, will provide housing for low-income residents, including 35 units designated for previously unhoused adults.
The building, constructed on a formerly vacant lot, was designed by San Francisco-based Van Meter Williams Pollack LLP and built by Cahill Contractors Inc. Local partners, including Waypoint Consulting, California Housing Partnership, and Gubb & Barshay, also contributed to the project.
The opening of 180 Jones St. is a key part of Mayor London Breed’s efforts to increase affordable housing in San Francisco, particularly in the Tenderloin, which has seen significant housing development in recent years. The project adds to the city’s ambitious goal of constructing 82,000 new homes as part of the State-mandated Housing Element. “Over the last several years, we have taken decisive steps to make the Tenderloin a safer, cleaner, and more inviting neighborhood,” Mayor Breed said. “But we’re also creating opportunities for residents to thrive, including by building more affordable housing.”
Half of the units at 180 Jones St. are reserved for individuals experiencing homelessness. These 35 units were filled through the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing’s (HSH) Coordinated Entry process, which connects unhoused individuals with permanent housing options. “By providing safe and stable homes, we empower our most vulnerable community members to reclaim their lives and build a pathway toward lasting stability,” said Shireen McSpadden, executive director of HSH.
The building offers a range of amenities to support residents, including a ground-floor community room, on-site social workers, bike parking, and a landscaped courtyard. It also provides free high-speed internet through the city’s Fiber to Housing program. The development achieved LEED Gold certification for sustainable construction and is powered by 100% renewable energy through CleanPowerSF.
The project was financed with funding from the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), along with federal funds from the American Rescue Plan.
]“We are proud that HCD’s Housing Accelerator and Multifamily Housing Programs have paired to bring critical housing online faster for city residents most in need of housing stability,” said Gustavo Velasquez, director of HCD.
180 Jones St. is the latest completed project under San Francisco’s Housing for All strategy, a comprehensive plan to streamline the development of affordable housing citywide, including the largest expansion of permanent supportive housing in 20 years.
“TNDC remains dedicated to creating homes that offer stability and opportunity for all San Franciscans,” said Katie Lamont, interim co-CEO of Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC), which developed and will manage the property.
