Planning Commission approves 915 Cayuga with 50% on-site affordable housing
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Summary
The Planning Commission unanimously approved a focused development agreement and zoning changes for 915 Cayuga, a 116-unit project that will provide 58 below-market-rate units (50% on-site) and a 70% family-sized unit mix; staff and the sponsor said the deal secures a performance schedule and neighborhood supports.
The San Francisco Planning Commission on April 11 approved a development agreement, zoning and planning-code amendments to allow a 116-unit residential project at 915 Cayuga Avenue that the project sponsor said will deliver 50 percent of units as below-market-rate housing on site. Planning staff and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development told commissioners the project will provide 58 affordable units across multiple AMI tiers and a majority of the units sized for families.
Veronica Flores of the Planning Department said the project requires three ordinances — a map amendment creating uniform zoning, a short-term special use district (SUD) allowing an extra story and code modifications that would sunset after five years if construction documents are not filed, and a focused development agreement to lock in the deeper affordability. Flores noted the department corrected a clerical lot description to identify the project on a single lot and recommended approval with conditions.
Supervisor Safai and the project sponsor described the proposal as voluntary and locally oriented. Sufi Tabasov Hariri, a member of the sponsor family, told the commission the family elected to offer 50 percent on-site affordability as a “legacy” contribution to the Excelsior neighborhood and that units will include a tranche targeted to transitional-age youth. The sponsor and OEWD said the agreement includes an affordable housing performance schedule negotiated with the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development to ensure timelines and staffing for lottery and lease-up.
Supporters from housing advocacy groups and multiple former foster youth described the project’s value for people aging out of foster care and for working families in District 11. Neighbors raised typical concerns about parking and scale, but commissioners repeatedly praised the depth of affordability and the family-sized unit mix during deliberations.
Commissioners voted to approve the development agreement and the accompanying ordinances as amended, with a unanimous roll-call vote. The approvals advance the project to the next steps of finalizing associated documents and permits.
