Mayor's office seeks bond financing for Kelsey Civic Center affordable housing project

The San Francisco County government meeting held on July 4, 2025, focused on the proposed bond issuance for the Kelsey Civic Center, located at 240 Venice Avenue. The meeting began with a presentation by a senior project manager from the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development, who outlined the resolution aimed at enabling the project to apply for tax-exempt bond financing not to exceed $73.4 million through the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee.

The Kelsey Civic Center is planned as a 112-unit affordable multifamily housing project, developed jointly by Mercy Housing California and the Kelsey. Notably, 25 of the units will be designated for individuals with disabilities who utilize home and community-based services. The project aims to provide a mix of affordability, with 30% of the units priced at or below 30% of the Area Median Income (AMI), and 48% reserved at or below 60% AMI. The remaining units will be available at 70% to 95% AMI.

The project manager indicated that if the bond allocation is approved in 2022, the Office of Community Development will return to the board for further approvals in the fall. Following the presentation, the committee moved to public comment, where one caller expressed concerns about the potential loss of opportunities for city office buildings in the area if the housing project proceeds. The caller suggested that the city should consider its office space needs before moving forward with the housing development.

After public comments, the committee proceeded to a vote. A motion was made to forward the item to the full board with a positive recommendation, which passed with three votes in favor. The meeting then transitioned to the next agenda item, marking a structured progression through the topics discussed.