On Eve of Housing Element Vote, Preston Releases Call to Action for Affordable Housing

SAN FRANCISCO — Amid questions on the city’s seriousness about reaching new affordable housing goals, District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston released a report (PDF) today detailing opportunity sites in his district, calling on the city to dramatically step up affordable housing production.

“The city is taking on dramatically increased targets for affordable housing, a challenge that I welcome with open arms,” Supervisor Preston said. “My hope is that by laying out a road map for major opportunity sites in District 5, this report will serve as a catalyst for making good on our affordable housing commitments.”

The City will vote this week on adopting a new Housing Element, which sets a benchmark for new housing production for the next eight years. These new targets – to create 46,500 new affordable homes for working San Franciscans by 2031 – are significantly higher than any previous goal set by the city. In the most recent cycle, the city had a mandate to create 16,333 new affordable homes, but only delivered on approximately half of that goal.

Preston’s call to action identifies six opportunity sites in District 5 that can make meaningful progress on the new affordable goals in the near term, including:

DMV Field Office and Parking Lot (1377 Fell Street)

• Potential Units: 368

• Northern Police Station and Parking Lot (1125 Fillmore Street)

  • Potential Units: 297

• Former Touchless Car Wash (400 Divisadero Street)

  • Potential Units: 186

• 600 Van Ness

  • Potential Units: 168

• Former McDonald’s Site and Parking Lot (730 Stanyan Street)

  • Potential Units: 160

• Proxy & Biergarten Sites (Parcels K & L, at Hayes and Octavia Streets)

  • Potential Units: 74

“No more excuses or petty politics,” Preston said. “It’s time to take action to meet our ambitious affordable housing goals.”

To read the full report, visit tinyurl.com/D5affordablehousingreport

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