SFUSD approves land swap with city to enable affordable housing at 1950 Mission

The San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously to approve a jurisdictional swap and sale of surplus parcels that would move two district properties—1950 Mission Street and 1101 Connecticut Street—to the City and County of San Francisco acting through the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development and, in exchange, acquire Central Freeway Parcel E (a district lot behind 555 Franklin). The transaction includes a net cash payment to the district.

Chief facilities officer David Golden read the key financial terms into the record: "1950 Mission will be sold to the Mayor's Office of Housing for $9,775,000; 1101 Connecticut will be sold to the same entity for $1,825,000; the district shall purchase Central Freeway Parcel E from the city for $7,100,000; and the net transaction—the mayor's office of housing shall pay a cash payment of $4,500,000 to the San Francisco Unified School District to be paid at the time of closing." Golden said most of the cash would be applied to needed capital improvements on another district property (1235 Mission) tied to lease revenues the district expects to realize.

Deputy Superintendent and negotiating staff described a lengthy negotiation process involving the district’s Real Estate Working Group and the Mayor’s Office. A representative of the mayor’s office told the board the transaction is complicated but "a transaction where both parties benefit," and the office expressed interest in continuing conversations about educator/workforce housing.

Public testimony was extensive and overwhelmingly supportive of using 1950 Mission for family affordable housing. Dozens of community members, youth advocates, neighborhood organizations and service providers told the board the Mission District is facing rapid displacement, that families and students need stable housing, and that dedicating the site to affordable family units would help preserve neighborhood diversity.

Union and tenant‑advocacy testimony highlighted both support for affordable housing and concerns about the district’s process. Dennis Kelly, president of United Educators of San Francisco, said UESF "does not oppose this land swap" but warned the board against proceeding without a district master plan or a dedicated real‑estate officer and urged clearer commitments to workforce housing so district employees can benefit. Several board members and staff acknowledged the concern and said they would pursue mechanisms—such as a teacher housing subsidy fund—alongside city partners.

Board member Dr. Marazzi cited an early estimate that the project could yield "as many as 91 affordable units" and called the transaction a step toward better use of surplus property. The board approved the transaction in a roll call vote.

Next steps: the board authorized the superintendent or designee to sign documents to close the swap; staff said most of the $4.5 million would be used for capital improvements at 1235 Mission associated with an anticipated lease revenue stream and to establish a building reserve. The board and staff signaled further conversations with labor partners and the mayor’s office about how to maximize workforce‑housing benefits for teachers and other SFUSD employees.