OCII conditionally approves Transbay Block 2 schematic designs and plan amendments for 335 affordable units

The San Francisco Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure Commission on Nov. 1 moved forward a major affordable-housing package for Transbay Block 2, approving a set of environmental findings, plan amendments and conditional schematic designs for two mixed-use, 100% affordable buildings.

Kim Obstfeld, OCII senior development specialist, told the commission that Block 2 will be developed as two separately financed and operated buildings: the 2 West building (senior housing to be developed by Chinatown Community Development Center) and the 2 East building (family housing to be developed by Mercy Housing). Together the projects will deliver 335 rental units: 151 units in the senior building and 184 family units. Staff said affordability levels for 2 West will range from 15% to 60% of area median income (AMI) and for 2 East from 30% to 70% AMI. The family building will include a childcare facility (presented as approximately 6,400–6,447 square feet) expected to serve about 45 children.

Architects and designers presented block-wide landscape and streetscape plans, a pedestrian "muse" linking the site to Transbay Park, townhouse-scale stoops on Clementina, and a retail strategy that staff said totals roughly 5,000 square feet across corner retail units. Designers described a material palette built around warm-toned precast concrete with textured finishes to achieve a residential scale and avoid a “cold” institutional look.

Staff also explained requested amendments: a bulk standard change to allow increased floor plate area above 85 feet for the mid-rise portion of 2 East, elimination of some townhouse frontage/setback requirements along Main and Beale, and adjustments to open-space requirements to accommodate the childcare facility with rooftop play space for second-floor classrooms. OCII issued the tenth addendum to the Transbay EIS/EIR and staff reported the addendum concluded the project would not create new significant pedestrian-level wind or shadow impacts, noting a 0.8% net new shadow on the planned Transbay Block III Park.

Commissioners pressed the project team on unit mix (a substantial share of studios and one-bedroom units in the family building), food access and retail strategy, security for childcare and residential entries, and manager-unit sizing for staff retention in the senior building. Mercy Housing and partners said they plan on-site social services, partnerships with the San Francisco–Marin Food Bank and Food Runners for food distribution, 24/7 front-desk coverage for building entries, and retail leasing strategies that include reduced-rate rents and tenant-improvement support to attract small businesses.

The commission took separate roll-call votes on items 5C through 5H (adopting environmental findings, transmitting plan amendments to the Board of Supervisors, approving plan and DCDG amendments, and conditionally approving schematic designs). Each item passed on recorded roll calls (standard recorded outcomes were 4 ayes, 1 absent). Staff said the development team will pursue funding sources, permits, and return to the commission next year with ground leases and gap loans; construction was targeted to begin in 2024 with completion aimed for 2026.

The actions move the Transbay Block 2 designs and policy amendments into the next stages of public review and financing.