A Bold Groundbreaking in Fillmore

San Francisco just took a tangible step toward housing equity, Affordable Homes for San Francisco’s Educators. Governor Gavin Newsom joined Mayor Daniel Lurie to break ground on two affordable housing communities in the Fillmore District. The state repurposes two surface parking sites into 167 new homes tailored for educators and low-income families. The first site at 750 Golden Gate Avenue offers 75 rental units reserved for San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and City College District staff. Adjacent to it, a second phase adds 96 more units. A separate project at 850 Turk Street transforms a former EDD parking podium into 92 multifamily homes.

Affordable Homes for San Francisco’s Educators Why This Investment Matters Now

California’s Excess Sites Program, born from Executive Order N-06-19 in 2019, identifies underused state land, especially near transit and public amenities, and transforms it into affordable housing. With 167 planned units in this wave alone, the Fillmore developments reflect a commitment to housing public servants within reach of the communities they serve.

Mayor Lurie framed the developments as more than brick and mortar, they symbolically represent a city where teachers, staff, and local families can stay rooted instead of drifting out due to skyrocketing housing costs.  MidPen Housing Corporation will manage both developments, providing onsite services like workforce development, community programs, and health resources.

Features That Serve Educators and Families

These Affordable Homes for San Francisco’s Educators projects stand out for amenities that foster community and quality of life:

• 750 Golden Gate includes secure bike parking, landscaped courtyards, and shared indoor spaces.
• 850 Turk adds a rooftop terrace, private courtyard, office space, and comfortable resident services.

MidPen extends support beyond just housing. Their services include workforce training and youth programs, reflecting a holistic approach to resident support.

From State Land to Life-Changing Homes

Both sites started life as state-owned parking facilities. The state’s Department of General Services (DGS) and Housing and Community Development (HCD) partner to scan and convert these “excess sites” into community housing. The Fillmore projects build on similar developments across California, including affordable housing in Riverside, Tahoe, and Sacramento.

Locally, MidPen has experience in educator housing. They delivered San Francisco’s first such development, Shirley Chisholm Village in the Outer Sunset. That 135-unit project offers a precedent for success and learning.

Affordable Homes for San Francisco’s Educators, Service Workers, and the Housing Crisis

These projects serve a clear purpose: anchor educators within the city. District 2 Supervisor Stephen Sherrill insisted, “We need to keep building homes our teachers … can actually afford.”  HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez emphasized that communities thrive when teachers, nurses, and firefighters live locally.

Still, demand for affordable housing in San Francisco remains intense. Shirley Chisholm Village received nearly 1,000 applications despite offering just 135 units. This underscores a painful truth, educator housing remains scarce.

Meanwhile, outside the city, Berkeley Unified follows a similar path, building a 110-unit complex for teachers with below-market rents.

Affordable Homes for San Francisco’s Educators, Looking Ahead

These Fillmore developments show real progress. They offer affordable homes for educators and low-income families; they transform government assets into community anchors; and they set an example for smart, service-driven housing policy.

San Francisco still faces hurdles, supply remains limited, and demand surges ahead. But “affordable teacher housing San Francisco 2025” now holds new meaning. It points to a future where public servants need not choose between their job and their home.