The official groundbreaking ceremony was held yesterday morning by MidPen Housing to celebrate the construction of 167 units of affordable housing at 750 Golden Gate Avenue and 850 Turk Street in San Francisco’s Fillmore District. The ceremony was held at 750 Golden Gate Avenue, where the first floor of concrete is already complete. One block away, demolition work is nearly complete at 850 Turk Street.
MidPen Housing is the lead developer, working with consulting developer Tishman Speyer. The project will provide 75 units for San Francisco educators at 750 Golden Gate Avenue, and 92 units for families and individuals at 850 Turk Street. Both buildings will include on-site amenities and supportive services. Cahill Contractor is responsible for construction.
750 Golden Gate Avenue construction underway, image by author
750 Golden Gate Avenue groundbreaking ceremony, image by author
The ceremony was attended by the project team, Mayor Daniel Lurie, and California’s Secretary of Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, Secretary Tomiquia Moss, representing the project’s unique collaboration between the non-profit developer, the city, and the state. The project was made possible by the California Department of General Services and the California Employment Development Department as part of the state’s Excess Sites Program.
Speaking at the ceremony, MidPen Housing President and CEO Matthew Franklin said, “we applaud the state of California for its visionary Excess Sites Program, the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, and all of our partners for teaming up to create 167 affordable apartments in the heart of San Francisco—we can’t wait to welcome residents home.”
750 Golden Gate Avenue outside view, design by David Baker Architects and Min Design Studio
750 Golden Gate Avenue groundbreaking ceremony attended by Mayor Daniel Lurie, image by author
750 Golden Gate is the first new affordable housing in San Francisco utilizing the California Surplus Land Act to break ground. David Baker Architects and Min Design are jointly responding for the design of the eight-story complex, which will feature an off-white facade accented by attractive yellow and orange tiling along the ground level. The First Citizens Bank, National Equity Fund, and MidPen Housing Corporation provided financing for the project.
850 Turk Street demolition almost entirely complete, image by author
850 Turk Street establishing view, rendering by David Baker Architects
850 Turk Street upper courtyard, rendering by David Baker Architects
Meanwhile, 850 Turk Street was designed exclusively by David Baker Architects, featuring a four-story entry portal that will increase airflow to the central courtyard and open-air balconies. Financing was provided by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, Bank of America, and the California Community Reinvestment Corporation. The on-site garage will provide replacement parking for the Employment Development Department.
The neighboring communities are positioned between Gough Street and Franklin Street, about a block away from Jefferson Square Park and a few blocks from City Hall.
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That is awesome! A perfect location for more density.
NIMBYs will say that it is ‘ugly’ (their standard response when they can’t think of any valid objections to density). But remember, nothing is uglier than a NIMBY’s soul.
I’m not a YIMBY nor a NIMBY, more of a MAYBE, but this all looks good to me. Let’s just get things built.
Does needed housing really have to be this ugly? The same “density” could have been a lot more attractive. There’s a big difference between wanting the built environment to be pleasant to look at and not wanting it built so I call nonsense on the comment above that equates the issues.
I think David Bakers buildings tend to come out pretty cool looking. It’s certainly better looking that the run down surface parking lot.