Endorsement Guidelines | Endorsement Review Process | SFHAC Action on Reviewed Projects | Requesting a Project Review | Project Endorsement Form | Endorsed Projects
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ENDORSEMENT PROGRAM
The SFHAC’s Endorsement Program brings a city-wide consciousness for more housing through broad-based support of development on a site-by-site basis. You can read our Housing Development Endorsement Guidelines below, or you may download them here (PDF). This document can be viewed with the free Adobe Reader, available from Adobe.
ENDORSEMENT GUIDELINES
Adopted March 2006
The SFHAC will consider endorsing housing developments and mixed-use projects with a housing component. The following guidelines will be used to evaluate the project:
Land Use: Housing should be an appropriate use of the site given the context of the surrounding neighborhood and should enhance neighborhood livability.
Project Size: The project should have at least 10 housing units. Depending on our review capacity, smaller projects may occasionally be considered.
Affordability: The SFHAC recognizes that the need for affordable housing in San Francisco is a critical problem and gives preference to projects that propose creative ways to improve unit affordability. Projects that include below market rate units above the legally mandated minimums will receive special support.
Density: The project should have the maximum housing unit density allowable under current zoning for the project site. Extra support may be given to projects that further propose increased density above the base zoning, particularly in areas that are transit accessible.
Transit Orientation and Parking: In districts where the minimum parking requirement is one parking space per residential unit (1:1) or more, the SFHAC will not, except in extraordinary circumstances, support a project with parking in excess of 1:1. In districts where the minimum parking requirement is less than 1:1, SFHAC will only support additional parking up to 1:1 if the need for additional is clearly established.The SFHAC prefers creative strategies to reduce the need for parking, such as transit linkages, provision of space for car-share vehicles on-site or nearby, and un-bundling parking cost from residential unit cost.
Preservation: If there are structures of significant historic or cultural merit on the site, their retention and/ or incorporation into the project is encouraged. If such structures are to be demolished, there should be compelling reasons for doing so.
Design: The project should promote principles of good urban design: pedestrian, bicycle and transit friendly site planning; contextual design such as compatibility of style, scale and facades with existing neighborhood character where appropriate; increased density while maintaining compatibility with streetscape and neighborhood scale. We expect design treatments to protect the pedestrian realm, with curb cuts minimized and active ground floor uses provided.
Greening and Energy Efficiency: Extra consideration will be given to projects that incorporate energy efficient materials and green building principles.
Community Input: Projects for which the developer has made a good faith effort to communicate to the community and to address legitimate neighborhood concerns, without sacrificing SFHAC’s objectives, will receive more SFHAC support.
ENDORSEMENT REVIEW PROCESS
The endorsement process is simple. Download a Project Endorsement Form here and sumbit it to the Housing Action Coalition. After receiving information about the project, a member of the Endorsements Committee will review the project according to our criteria and prepare a brief report and recommendation. The Endorsement Committee, made up of representatives from environmental and community-based groups and design and planning organizations, then makes a decision whether or not to endorse. In rare cases the Committee may elect to refer the final decision to SFHAC’s full Steering Committee. Typically a project review can be completed in one month, in some cases more quickly. Developers are encouraged to request SFHAC’’s review early in the project planning process.
Outline of key steps:
1. Developer submits project profile and request for endorsement review
2. Reviewer looks at plans, makes site visit, talks with case planner at Dept. of City Planning or SF Redevelopment Agency, talks with project proponent, talks with any known opponents
3. Committee may request presentation by project developer/architect and/or organized opposition
4. Reviewer prepares and sends brief report and recommendation to Endorsements Committee
5. Committee makes decision on endorsement
6. Letter sent to developer
7. Further public support needs determined
Developers are encouraged to request SFHAC involvement in the early conceptual and design stages of projects. The SFHAC’s final endorsement, however, will consider the community input process.
HOUSING COALITION ACTION ON REVIEWED PROJECTS
Depending on how closely the project meets the endorsement criteria, SFHAC can offer a range of support, including some or all of the following:
1. An official letter of endorsement that can be used to publicly promote the project
2. Media/press announcement highlighting the benefits of the project and the Coalition's endorsement
3. Public testimony at hearings
4. Attendance and promotion at neighborhood meetings
5. Attending meetings with public officials
6. Publication of the endorsement on the SFHAC website.
HOW TO REQUEST A PROJECT REVIEW
Please include the following materials and information about the project:
1. Project name:
Developer, Address, Phone, Fax #, email, etc.
2. Description of Project:
Project location, existing zoning and General Plan designation (specify density, height, parking allowances), and applicable city policies
- Size of site, number and type of units
- Proposed price of units and number of units at each price level
- Anticipated occupancy. If families, indicate family oriented project features
- Number of vehicular, car-share and bicycle parking spaces, design of parking facilities
- Pedestrian amenities
- Access to local public transit, including intermodal accommodations
- Site plans, sections and elevations of buildings
- Green building amenities, including LEED rating goals
3. Environmental Clearance
Indicate status of environmental review
4. Description of Surrounding Neighborhood:
- Zoning and general plan designations for surrounding properties
- Description of uses of surrounding area including approximate residential densities
- Location of nearest transit services
5. Guideline Compliance:
Using the Guideline headings, briefly state how the project relates to each guideline
6. Public Hearing Process:
If known, provide public hearing timetable. Please include a list of interested parties, both of supporters and any known opponents
7. Public Outreach Process:
Key issues based on any meetings or other communications with neighborhood organizations
8. Planning Department or Redevelopment Agency Staff Contact:
Provide name and phone number of planning staff assigned to review the proposal
For more information, contact:
Tim Colen, Executive Director
995 Market Street, Suite 1525
San Francisco, CA 94103
415/601-1709 mobile
415/541-9001
415/431-2468 fax
info@sfhac.org
ENDORSED PROJECTS
Approved
Project Name | Units | Affordable Units | SFHAC Endorsed | Approved | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Marks (See Picture) | 240 | 48 | Feb-01 | Dec-01 | |
| 2 | Park Dolores | 44 | 6 | Mar-01 | Jun-01 | |
| 3 | 2516 Mission | 21 | 3 | May-01 | Jun-01 | |
| 4 | 1800 San Jose (See Picture) | 18 | 2 | Jul-01 | Nov-01 | |
| 5 | Symphony Towers (724 Van Ness) (See Picture) | 130 | 16 | Oct-01 | Jun-02 | |
| 6 | 650 Eddy (See Picture) | 83 | 83 | Dec-01 | Nov-02 | |
| 7 | Broadway Family Apts. (at Battery) (See Picture) | 85 | 85 | Feb-02 | May-03 | |
| 8 | 601 King St (at 7th) (See Picture) | 224 | 170 | Mar-02 | Mar-03 | |
| 9 | 1005 Market | 43 | 43 | Mar-02 | May-02 | |
| 10 | Curran House (145 Taylor) (See Picture) | 67 | 67 | Mar-02 | Jun-02 | |
| 11 | 3130-54 Noriega (at 39th) | 9 | 1 | Jun-02 | Jul-02 | |
| 12 | Glen Park Marketplace (See Picture) | 15 | 2 | Jul-02 | Feb-03 | |
| 13 | Folsom & Dore (See Picture) | 98 | 98 | Oct-02 | Nov-02 | |
| 14 | 1168 Folsom (See Picture) | 20 | 2 | Oct-02 | Apr-03 | |
| 15 | 23rd & Harrison (See Picture) | 54 | 7 | Nov-02 | Jun-03 | |
| 16 | 40-50 Lansing (See Picture) | 82 | 10 | Jan-03 | Apr-03 | |
| 17 | 699 Second St. (See Picture) | 112 | 13 | Mar-03 | Apr-03 | |
| 18 | Faletti Plaza (1275 Fell) (See Picture) | 119 | 14 | Apr-03 | Jul-03 | |
| 19 | 450 Rhode Island | 168 | 20 | Jul-03 | Aug-03 | |
| 20 | Mill Building (See Picture) | 76 | 9 | Jul-03 | Sep-03 | |
| 21 | 690/942 Market (See Picture) | 84 | 13 | Jul-03 | Jun-04 | |
| 22 | Bryant Seawall (See Picture) | 138 | 16 | Aug-03 | Sep-03 | |
| 23 | Agesong Senior Home (See Picture) | 56 | 11 | Nov-03 | Dec-03 | |
| 24 | 833-999 Jamestown (See Picture) | 198 | 24 | Jan-04 | May-04 | |
| 25 | 800 Brotherhood Way (See Picture) | 182 | 22 | Jun-04 | May-05 | |
| 26 | 1905 Mission (See Picture) | 24 | 3 | Jul-04 | Jul-04 | |
| 27 | 83 McAllister (See Picture) | 60 | 6 | Aug-04 | Aug-04 | |
| 28 | 77 Bluxome (See Picture) | 108 | 11 | Aug-04 | Aug-04 | |
| 29 | 10th & Market | 550 | 250 | Oct-04 | Nov-04 | |
| 30 | 18th St. & Alabama St. (See Picture) | 151 | 151 | Oct-04 | Jun-05 | |
| 31 | One Rincon Hill (See Picture) | 709 | 121 | Jan-05 | Aug-05 | |
| 32 | 1234 Howard (See Picture) | 18 | 2 | Feb-05 | May-05 | |
| 33 | The Call Building (74 New Montgomery) (See Picture) | 120 | 11 | Mar-05 | May-05 | |
| 34 | Armstrong Place (5600 Third) (See Picture) | 260 | 260 | May-05 | Jun-05 | |
| 35 | 535 Mission | 273 | 46 | Aug-05 | Sept-05 | |
| 36 | Mission Gardens (1880 Mission) (See Picture) | 194 | 39 | Feb-05 | Oct-05 | |
| 37 | 5800 Third | 341 | 41 | Sept-05 | Sept-05 | |
| 38 | 3400 Cesar Chavez | 60 | 9 | Aug-06 | April-07 | |
| 39 | 10th & Mission Family Housing | 137 | 137 | Feb-06 | April-06 | |
| 40 | 9th & Jessie Senior Housing | 107 | 107 | Feb-06 | April-06 | |
| 41 | 25 Lusk Street | 26 | 3 | Oct-06 | Jan-07 | |
| 42 | The Cooperage (900 Minnesota) (See Picture) | 142 | 17 | May-05 | Jan-06 | |
| 43 | Tenth & Market Mixed-Use | 719 | 86 | July-06 | Aug-07 | |
| 44 | Institute on Aging (at Geary) | 150 | 150 | Mar-04 | May-06 | |
| Total Units Approved: | 6515 | 2235 | ||||
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Coming Up
Project Name | Units | Affordable Units | SFHAC Endorsed | Approved | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington & Drumm (See Picture) | 120 | 14 | Nov-02 | ||
| 2 | 580 Hayes Senior Housing | 83 | 2 | Jul-05 | ||
| 3 | 300 Grant Street | 56 | 8 | Oct-06 | ||
| 4 | 2235 Third Street | 183 | 22 | Jan-07 | ||
| 5 | 2800 Sloat Avenue | 56 | 8 | May-07 | ||
| 6 | 178 Townsend Street | 83 | 10 | Jul-07 | ||
| 7 | SFSU Master Plan | 600+ | 600+ | Aug-07 | ||
| 8 | Octavia Gateway | 52 | 7 | Sept-07 | ||
| 9 | 19th & Valencia | 17 | 2 | Nov-07 | ||
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SFHAC Reviewed Projects in the Pipeline
Project Name | Units | Affordable Units | SFHAC Reviewed | Approved | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 Washington | 120 | 14 | Nov-02 | ||
| 2 | Pine & Franklin | 282 | Undetermined | July-07 | ||
| 3 | Ardenwood | 150-160 | Undetermined | July-07 | ||
| 4 | Pacific Terrace | 38 | 0 | Sept-07 | ||
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If you have any questions about these projects, please contact tim@sfhac.org.