Planning Commission approves 122-unit Jamestown Avenue townhome project with density bonus

The San Francisco Planning Commission voted unanimously on July 9 to adopt staff findings allowing a 122‑unit residential development at 853 Jamestown Avenue to proceed with concessions under the state density bonus law and a waiver from rear‑yard requirements.

Planning staff told the commission the project would build 122 residential units in 20 low‑rise, townhome‑style buildings on a roughly 6.9‑acre parcel (about 3.5 buildable acres). Staff said unit sizes range from about 1,100 to 1,550 square feet, most units are two‑ or three‑bedroom homes, and the project includes approximately 153 private vehicle parking spaces, 17 guest parking spaces and 122 Class 1 plus 8 Class 2 bicycle parking spaces. Because the sponsor proposes 12% of units as below‑market‑rate to lower‑income households, staff said the project is eligible for a density bonus and related concessions, and recommended approval and CEQA findings.

"The project will provide 122 residential units, helping alleviate San Francisco's severe housing crisis," staff said during the presentation.

The project sponsor, Strada Investment Group, described a design that preserves a 40‑foot neighborhood scale, breaks the site into clusters of small townhomes rather than a single podium building, and emphasized outreach to Bayview community organizations. Jesse Blouse, principal of Strada, described partnerships with Young Community Developers and Bayview Senior Services and coordination with the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) to recruit holders of Certificates of Preference and provide down‑payment assistance and homebuyer counseling.

Several local community groups and advisory committees spoke in support. Eloise Patton, chair of the Bayview CAC, said the CAC met and unanimously approved the project and praised the larger unit sizes for family housing. Other supporters included DJ Brookdale of Young Community Developers and Dr. Veronica Honeycutt of the Shipyard CAC, who highlighted workforce development links and targeted efforts to help long‑term Bayview residents access homeownership.

Commissioners praised the sponsor’s early outreach and the project’s unit sizes and programmatic elements. Commissioners asked technical questions about landscape and street‑tree plans; the sponsor and landscape architect explained a multi‑scale approach that connects the site to nearby park and open‑space improvements and provides private terraces plus shared pocket parks.

Commissioner Fung moved to adopt findings as amended by staff; the motion was seconded and passed 7–0. The commission’s action affirms the department’s recommendation to approve requested concessions and waivers under the state density bonus program and to adopt the CEQA determination described in the staff report.

Next steps: the commission’s approval affirms findings necessary for the sponsor to pursue building permits and the housing project’s implementation, subject to the conditions and permits that staff and other agencies require.