California Construction News staff writer
Construction is underway on two affordable housing developments in San Francisco’s Fillmore District that will transform former state-owned parking lots into 167 homes for low- to extremely-low-income residents.
Cahill Contractors is serving as the general contractor for both projects, which are being developed by MidPen Housing Corporation. The work is part of California’s Excess Sites program, created under a 2019 executive order by Governor Gavin Newsom to repurpose surplus state-owned land for affordable housing.
“These projects are the latest testament to the innovative work happening across the state to make housing more affordable,” Governor Gavin Newsom said at the groundbreaking. “The sites announced today help put a roof over people’s heads and place them in a stronger position for opportunities to uplift themselves, their families, and their community.”
At 750 Golden Gate Avenue, an existing surface parking lot will be replaced with 75 affordable rental units reserved for employees of the San Francisco Unified School District and the San Francisco Community College District. A second phase on an adjacent parcel will add another 96 affordable homes. The development marks the second educator-focused affordable housing project to break ground in San Francisco.
The second site, at 850 Turk Street, will redevelop a former Employment Development Department parking garage into a 92-unit multifamily affordable housing complex. The project will feature a private courtyard, rooftop terrace, barbecue area, indoor and outdoor common spaces, office space, and residential service areas.
The Excess Sites program is managed by the California Department of General Services (DGS) and the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), which maintain an inventory of eligible properties and review development proposals on a rolling basis.
“Thanks to the Excess Sites program, the state has successfully converted underutilized state properties into community assets for current and future generations of Californians,” said Tomiquia Moss, secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.
Since the program’s launch, similar projects have been developed or are underway in Sacramento, Riverside, Truckee, Reedley, and the Tahoe region.
“Strong, healthy communities need teachers, firefighters, nurses, and others who have too often been priced out of living in the neighborhoods they serve,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “We are honored to help implement the Governor’s vision to transform underutilized state land to meet this critical need.
