Repost from:

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
BAY AREA//REAL ESTATE
By Laura Waxmann, Reporter
April 16, 2025 

 A rendering of the proposed building at 880 McAllister St., part of the larger Freedom West development that will include more than 100 units of affordable housing for senior citizens. DLR Group 

The Crankstart Foundation is the latest investor seeking to jump-start the long-planned remake of San Francisco’s largest and oldest housing cooperative into a truly mixed-income community featuring new affordable housing alongside thousands of market-rate homes. 

The family foundation of billionaire venture capitalist Michael Moritz has awarded a $7 million grant to the mammoth project, which is expected to become one of the most impactful redevelopment plans that the city’s Fillmore district has seen in years: It proposes razing and rebuilding the existing, 382-unit Freedom West co-op at 820 McAllister St. and adding 1,885 market-rate homes, a new senior housing building and a 250-room hotel. 

But the ambitious plan, which has been pending since 2020, has faced delays as financing for major development efforts dried up in the wake of the pandemic. Construction on “Freedom West 2.0” was supposed to start at the end of this year, but developer MacFarlane Partners confirmed Wednesday that it is now eyeing the first quarter of next year for breaking ground as fundraising continues. 

Crankstart’s gift brings the project just $1 million shy of the $25 million needed to start construction, according to MacFarlane Partners. It comes a few weeks after the foundation published a report seeking to guide the city’s response to homelessness. Among its recommendations were prioritizing affordable and permanent supportive housing on 300 development sites across the city. 

A rendering of the proposed building at 880 McAllister St., part of the larger Freedom West development. DLR Group 

“Everyone deserves the opportunity for both economic stability and economic mobility,” Crankstart CEO Missy Narula said in a statement Tuesday. “Crankstart widely supports programs that unlock opportunities for people from all backgrounds in San Francisco. We are proud to help Freedom West fulfill its vision for preserving and building affordable housing in the Fillmore community.” 

MacFarlane CEO Landon Taylor said that, given a dearth of traditional predevelopment funding that is available for co-ops, his team launched a fundraising campaign in 2022 inviting impact investors and philanthropic donors to the table. Other key investors in the project include the Low Income Investment Fund, the San Francisco Foundation, Menorah Park, the Housing Accelerator Fund and Common Spirit Health, a Catholic nonprofit health system which contributed $5 million in 2023. 

The redevelopment project has been valued at $2.3 billion, and MacFarlane has said previously the team faces close to $581 million in upfront costs for the project’s first phase before the market-rate units can be built and profits can be made. 

“Freedom West is helping to create true systems change,” Taylor said. “We hope the success of the Freedom West 2.0 model will help make predevelopment funding available to other nonprofit housing co-ops who need it in the near future.” 

The project was updated last year to add a 115-unit, 100% affordable senior building with a 1,200-square-foot ground floor commercial space at the corner of Laguna and McAllister streets. This building would be first in line for development once the project is ready for construction. 

The nonprofit co-op, known as the Freedom West Homes Corp., was founded in response to the urban renewal that displaced thousands of residents from the Fillmore and Western Addition neighborhoods in the 1960s. It sits on a 10-acre site near Jefferson Park in the Fillmore and currently houses some 1,000 residents, or shareholders, of which about 60% are seniors. 

It has agreed to sell two-thirds of the property to the developers for redevelopment into market-rate housing, but only after the replacement units and new affordable units have been delivered. The hope is that the proposed project will protect the area’s affordable housing and help the nonprofit co-op become “self-sustaining” through new revenue that will be created by it. 

“It’s not just about preserving affordable housing for Freedom West residents — it’s also about creating a self-sustaining, thriving neighborhood that can be a beacon of hope and catalyst for the revitalization of the greater Fillmore/Western Addition community,” said Mattie Scott, board president of the co-op. 

This article was originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle on April 16, 2025.

Below, we explore the concept of equitable development, why it matters, and how Freedom West Homes serves as a model for other communities striving toward equitable outcomes.

What is Equitable Development?

“Equitable development” refers to a planning and policy framework that centers on fairness, justice, and the inclusion of marginalized groups when shaping the future of communities. Unlike conventional development models that primarily focus on maximizing returns on investment or modernizing physical infrastructure, equitable development seeks to balance economic growth with social benefits. This includes ensuring affordability in housing, fostering inclusive business environments that support local entrepreneurship, and maintaining or restoring cultural integrity in neighborhoods facing gentrification pressures.

In many U.S. cities—especially those experiencing dramatic population and economic growth—longstanding residents are often at risk of displacement due to rising housing costs. Historically, these residents tend to be from lower-income backgrounds and communities of color. Equitable development is an intentional response to these inequities. It aligns urban growth with policies that protect, empower, and uplift existing residents, offering a path to collective prosperity rather than a scenario where only a privileged few reap the benefits.

Key Principles of Equitable Development

Though different organizations may frame these principles in slightly different ways, core qualities of equitable development typically include:

1. Community Engagement and Empowerment. Robust community engagement is an important part of equitable development. Local voices—particularly from vulnerable groups—must be heard and respected throughout every stage of planning, from conceptualization to implementation. This approach goes beyond token “town hall” meetings, embracing genuine partnerships between policymakers and residents to co-create solutions that benefit everyone.
2. Affordability and Housing Security. Housing is often the most visible and hotly contested component of urban development. Equitable development strategies prioritize the creation and preservation of affordable housing, preventing displacement and homelessness. Mechanisms such as rent stabilization, community land trusts, and cooperative housing models help ensure that residents can remain in neighborhoods that see new investment.
3. Economic Opportunity and Inclusion. Creating robust and equitable communities means expanding opportunities for small businesses, workforce development, and job training—especially for those who have historically been excluded from economic advances. By nurturing entrepreneurship and local hiring, neighborhoods can develop sustainable economies that circulate wealth among residents.
4. Transportation and Accessibility. Equitable development emphasizes accessibility to reliable public transit, pedestrian-friendly streets, and safe cycling infrastructure. By removing barriers to transit, residents can reach jobs, education, and essential services more easily.
5. Cultural Preservation and Community Identity. When neighborhoods undergo redevelopment, they risk losing cultural and historical dimensions that make them distinct. Equitable development policies endeavor to celebrate and preserve the cultural heritage of longstanding communities, avoiding the homogenizing effects of gentrification.
6. Health and Environmental Justice. Equitable development recognizes that low-income and minority communities often face disproportionate environmental risks. Strategies to provide green spaces, improve air and water quality, and support access to nutritious food are integral to a healthy community.
7. Transparent and Accountable Governance. To keep development initiatives aligned with community needs, governance must remain transparent and accountable. Frequent reporting on project milestones, funding allocations, and long-term outcomes helps maintain public trust.
8. Sustainability and Climate Resilience. Another critical aspect of equitable development is resilience planning in the face of climate change. Lower-income communities are often more vulnerable to climate impacts, making sustainable construction and infrastructure crucial to protecting these residents.

Freedom West Homes as a Model for Equitable Development

Freedom West Homes is a compelling example of how a community-led development model can address historical injustices while safeguarding the long-term interests of local residents. Located in San Francisco, a city renowned for its astronomical housing costs and Urban Renewal program, Freedom West Homes was created to empower local families—especially African American residents who had been displaced or faced severe housing discrimination—by granting them ownership and decision-making authority in an emerging urban landscape.

Features of Freedom West Home’s equitable development include:

1. Community Ownership Structure. In conventional homeownership or rental models, decision-making power often resides with private landlords, developers, or external investors. By contrast, Freedom West Homes operates as a resident-owned cooperative. Each member holds a share in the cooperative corporation, and decisions on maintenance, budgets, and future redevelopment plans are made collectively. This structure anchors the community, stabilizing housing costs for residents and ensuring that redevelopment efforts do not force out those who have a stake in the neighborhood.
2. Commitment to Affordability and Anti-Displacement. Since its inception, Freedom West Homes has pursued strategies to prevent runaway housing costs. Cooperative housing typically benefits from collective negotiation of expenses—such as property taxes, loan servicing, and maintenance—which can help preserve affordability over time. More importantly, any plans for property improvements or expansions must reflect the desires and financial realities of existing residents. This stands in stark contrast to standard market-based approaches, where owners of real estate may be incentivized to “upgrade” so they can charge higher rents or flip properties at a profit.
3. Inclusive Governance and Resident Participation. By embedding democratic decision-making into its bylaws, Freedom West Homes ensures that each household has a voice. Regular meetings, committees, and voting procedures promote transparency about the cooperative’s finances, policies, and future plans. For many residents, this fosters a greater sense of belonging, accountability, and personal investment—an essential ingredient in equitable development.
4. Cultural Preservation and Social Cohesion. Freedom West Homes has long been recognized as part of the African American cultural legacy of its neighborhood. Through celebrating cultural events, supporting intergenerational relationships, and affirming the community’s historical roots, the cooperative stands as a model of how to preserve cultural identity even as external pressures to redevelop intensify. This demonstrates that development need not eclipse the traditions and customs that give neighborhoods their character.
5. Forward-Thinking Redevelopment Vision. As cities evolve, Freedom West Homes faces the same pressures as other communities—demand for new housing, public amenities, and modernized infrastructure. Yet the cooperative’s approach to redevelopment is methodical, data-driven, and equity-focused. Any proposed partnership or construction project, such as Freedom West 2.0, is vetted not only for financial feasibility but also for its impact on community cohesion, affordability, and inclusivity. This creates a buffer against speculative real estate investments that might undermine residents’ long-term interests.

Why Equitable Development Matters

The mission behind Freedom West Homes and similar initiatives points to broader lessons on why equitable development is so crucial:

Preventing Displacement and Preserving Community Bonds

Displacement shatters social ties, cultural institutions, and support networks, often perpetuating cycles of poverty. In contrast, community-based ownership and equitable policies help keep longstanding neighbors in place, preserving the social fabric and collective memory of the neighborhood.

Promoting Long-Term Economic Stability

By rooting development in fairness and resident empowerment, communities can create stable economic systems in which wealth circulates locally. Equitable development strategies such as local hiring or business incubators help distribute prosperity more widely, strengthening the entire neighborhood’s economy over time.

Supporting Socio-Cultural Diversity

One common criticism of unchecked gentrification is that it homogenizes local culture, driving out small businesses and cultural spaces that reflect a neighborhood’s character. Equitable development, with its emphasis on inclusive planning, actively works to retain the diversity that makes urban environments rich and vibrant.

Fostering Civic Engagement

When residents see tangible benefits from participating in planning and policy decisions, they are more likely to remain engaged in the civic process, from attending local council meetings to advocating for resources. This engagement then feeds back into stronger, more responsive governance structures.

Moving Toward an Equitable Future

Freedom West Homes epitomizes how community-led development can shape urban growth toward equity, sustainability, and resilience. For policymakers, urban planners, and activists, it provides insight into how a collective approach to ownership, inclusive decision-making, and targeted investments in affordability can transform neighborhoods from places of displacement anxiety into thriving communities.

In transitioning to more equitable models, local governments and private investors must recognize the long-term societal and economic benefits of preventing mass displacement and supporting resident empowerment. Policies that encourage nonprofits, cooperatives, and community land trusts—alongside responsible public-private partnerships—can harness market forces while ensuring gains are shared by all. At the same time, it is vital that existing residents’ voices remain central, as their needs, aspirations, and experiences are the bedrock of any successful equitable development project.

Equitable development is not a one-size-fits-all blueprint; rather, it is an evolving framework that must be adapted to the local context. Different communities will have different histories of displacement, different demographic compositions, and varying economic realities. Nonetheless, the fundamental values remain consistent: urban growth should benefit everyone, not just a privileged fraction. By investing in affordability, inclusive governance, cultural preservation, and environmental resilience, community leaders and residents can co-create solutions that stand the test of time.

Final Thoughts

Equitable development is a transformative approach to urban growth that puts the well-being and interests of historically marginalized communities at the forefront of policy and planning. In cities where soaring real estate prices frequently threaten the stability and diversity of established neighborhoods, a collective, resident-driven model like Freedom West Homes offers both inspiration and a practical blueprint. Through its cooperative ownership structure, commitment to affordability, and inclusive decision-making processes, Freedom West Homes demonstrates that equitable development is more than a policy buzzword—it is a path toward building neighborhoods rooted in mutual respect, cultural vibrancy, and genuine opportunity for all.

When we look ahead to the future of urban environments, it is clear that the stakes are higher than ever. By learning from and expanding upon the successes of communities like Freedom West Homes, planners and policymakers can move beyond outdated models of development, embracing strategies that are not only economically viable but also morally imperative. Ultimately, equitable development is about building bridges between progress and tradition, prosperity and justice—while anchoring communities in the place they call home.

Courtesy of DLR Group 
A rendering of the proposed 115-unit affordable senior housing project proposed for the Fillmore District. 

San FranciscoAffordable Housing 
May 2, 2024 Stacey Corso, San Francisco Bay Area 

 MacFarlane Partners and Avanath Capital Management filed plans April 29 to build an affordable senior housing development in the Fillmore neighborhood of San Francisco as part of Freedom West 2.0, a $2B redevelopment project. 

 The first phase of the four-block redevelopment consists of 115 units of 100% affordable seior housing and 1.2K SF of ground-floor retail on the site of a 50-year-old housing co-op for some of the city’s most underserved residents. 

Work at 880 MacAllister St. could commence by the end of 2025, Landon Taylor, CEO of MacFarlane Partners’ Investment Management Group, told Bisnow. 

The site houses 382 co-ops owned by Freedom West Homes, which MacFarlane and Avanath Capital plan to replace, maintaining cooperative ownership. According to the San Francisco Planning Commission, the companies will also “develop a long-term, sustainable financial plan for the co-op.” 

The Freedom West Homes Co-op and MacFarlane Partners have created a profit participation agreement that will enable the co-op to generate revenue from the future development of 133 affordable housing units, the market-rate apartments and commercial portion of the development, according to Taylor. 

Taylor said the types of retail tenants being considered include healthcare, banking, cafes and telecommunications companies. These retailers will be carefully selected to meet the needs of its elderly population. In addition, the co-op will own the ground-floor retail space as part of the long-term financial plan MacFarlane has for the resident owners. 

Freedom West ran into some financial trouble, with the building falling into disrepair. Legacy First Partners got involved in stabilizing Freedom West Homes in 2018 and eventually brought on MacFarlane Partners. 

“We responded to a cry for help from the co-op board,” Taylor said. 

Over the next two years, Taylor, a former resident of Freedom West Homes, worked to stabilize the co-op, refinance its existing first mortgage and better understand the needs of the community. 

Approximately 60% of its residents are low- to moderate-income seniors, many of whom are people of color, Taylor said. 

The co-op was built after a period of so-called urban renewal in the Fillmore in the 1950s and 1960s that took out vast stretches of Black-owned and operated properties. The process “wiped out 20,000 to 30,000 residents and 800 businesses from the Fillmore community, most of them never able to return,” Taylor said. 

In 1973, Bethel AME Church built the co-op for families of color to build and pass on wealth. 

At the heart of the new plan is to replace all 382 co-ops at no increase in housing costs for the occupants, as well as add 133 units of affordable housing, 

1,800 market-rate homes, a 150-room hotel, 20K SF of commercial space and a 6K SF educational center, according to a Freedom West Homes and MacFarlane Partners press release. 

Taylor said the 115 units of affordable senior housing will likely be fast-tracked due to SB 35, a new state law that provides builders with an expedited path for developing affordable housing. If successful, it would be one of the first times the new law has been used to aid in the development of affordable housing. 

So far, the Freedom West Homes Corp. has received $27M in funding commitments from several institutions as well as nonprofit entities to help stabilize the Freedom West Co-Op and prepare for the $2B redevelopment. 

The developers hope to benefit from SB 593, which creates a tax-increment financing structure to replace a total of 5,800 affordable homes San Francisco lost during the Urban Renewal movement.

CORRECTION, MAY 3, 12:11 PM ET: This story has been updated to more accurately reflect the ownership structure at Freedom West Homes Co-op and the entities responsible for its development. The story has also been updated to reflect the timeline for the project’s potential usage of SB 253. 

This article was originally published on BisNow.com on May 2, 2024, and has been reposted here to share and consolidate information about Freedom West 2.0. The original article can be viewed here: https://www.bisnow.com/san-francisco/news/affordable-housing/plans-to-build-new-affordable-senior-housing-as-part-of-a-2b-redevelopment-in-the-fillmore-are-underway-124078

 A rendering of the proposed building at 880 McAllister St., a part of the larger Freedom West development that will include more than 100 units of affordable housing for senior citizens. DLR Group

By Laura Waxmann April 30, 2024, San Francisco Chronicle

A $2.3 billion redevelopment to remake an aging 382-unit housing cooperative in San Francisco’s Fillmore District could include more than 100 homes earmarked specifically for seniors. 

An application filed earlier this month with the city’s Planning Department by MacFarlane Partners, the developer spearheading the remake of the so-called Freedom West co-op, proposes the construction of a new 115-unit, 100% affordable senior building with a 1,200-square-foot ground floor commercial space at the corner of Laguna and McAllister streets. 

The building is one component of the larger Freedom West 2.0 project, which, when built, will place more than 2,300 market-rate units and 505 affordable homes at 820 McAllister St. The new affordable homes will include replacement units for residents of the existing co-op, which is slated to be demolished. 

The project also includes plans for a 250-room hotel along Fulton Street, a day care center and an “innovation technology” center. 

The senior housing building would consist of 80 one-bedroom and 35 two-bedroom apartments and rise in the place of an existing building that currently has 24 two-bedroom units, 19 of which are occupied. Under California’s Density Bonus law, the project is requesting 33 feet in “bonus height,” which would increase the building’s height above the area’s 40-foot height limit, growing it to a total of 73 feet, or seven stories. 

A rendering of the proposed building at 880 McAllister St., a part of the larger Freedom West development that will include more than 100 units of affordable housing for senior citizens. DLR Group 

A representative for MacFarlane Partners confirmed Tuesday that the senior building would be first in line for construction once the project breaks ground, thanks to SB35, which streamlines and expedites the construction of affordable housing. 

The building’s construction means that Freedom West’s most vulnerable residents will be relocated into new housing with “greater alacrity,” the representative said. 

Some 60% of the Freedom West residents, or shareholders, are seniors, and many have lived in the community for decades. They’ve agreed to sell two-thirds of the property to the developers for redevelopment into market-rate housing, but only after the replacement units and new affordable units have been delivered. 

The development team initially submitted an application in 2020 indicating that it planned to replace the existing co-op units and add new market-rate homes and affordable homes. 

The Freedom West 2.0 project has yet to win its approvals — and, like most other large development efforts in San Francisco in recent years, it faced delays as it struggled to secure financing in a changing market in the wake of the pandemic. But late last year, it received a needed boost by CommonSpirit Health, the largest Catholic nonprofit health system in the country, which, through its impact investment program, allocated $5 million to the redevelopment plan. 

MacFarlane’s CEO, Landon Taylor, told the Chronicle at the time that his team and management partner Avanath Capital Management had also raised $27 million in operational stabilization and predevelopment funding for the project. He said previously that the team faces close to $581 million in upfront costs for the project’s first phase, before the market-rate units can be built and profits can be made. 

According to the most recent timeline given for the project, the entitlement process is expected to wrap up by next year, and construction could start in late 2025.

This article was originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle on April 30, 2024, and has been reposted here to share and consolidate information about Freedom West 2.0. The original article can be viewed here: https://www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/article/s-f-housing-seniors-19431447.php#

 By The Registry Staff 

New affordable housing could be soon on its way to San Francisco as plans for a 115-unit multifamily complex designed for seniors were submitted to the city. According to industry reports, MacFarlane Partners and Avanath Capital Management have filed the proposal, which is part of the firms’ larger Freedom West 2.0 project. 

Located at 880 McAllister St., the new project would also include a ground floor commercial area that spans approximately 1,200 square feet. Project plans show that the mix of units would consist of 80 one- and 35 two-bedroom apartments. 

Plans show that DLR Group is the architect, Hood Design Studio is the landscape architect, DCI Engineers is the structural engineer and PAE Engineers is the MEP engineer. 

The Freedom West 2.0 revitalization plan will rebuild all 382 units of affordable housing while also adding additional affordable rental units and 20,000 square feet of commercial real estate to be owned by the Freedom West Homes Corporation is a nonprofit housing cooperative located in the Fillmore District of San Francisco. Plans for the commercial space include a 6,000 square foot STEM Innovation Center designed to serve residents and the surrounding community. 

Last year, Freedom West announced $27 million in funding commitments for the housing project. The milestone was celebrated in October at the Freedom West 50th Anniversary event. 

“The 50th Anniversary of Freedom West is an important milestone for the generations of families who have lived here and will continue to, as well as for the City to acknowledge and support the community of residents who have always called the Fillmore home,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said in a release at the time. “The Freedom West community, its partners, the developers, and neighbors are committed to the shared vision of Freedom West 2.0 that will allow this community to flourish for the next 50 years.” 

MacFarlane Partners is a real estate investment management and development firm that acquires, develops and manages properties on behalf of some of the world’s largest pension plans and institutions. Founded in 1987, the firm is headquartered in San Francisco and operates regional offices in Los Angeles and Seattle. 

Avanath Capital Management is a privately held, vertically integrated investment firm managing real estate and real estate-related investments generating risk-adjusted returns through current income and capital appreciation from its investments. Founded by Daryl J. Carter, the firm is led by a management team that averages 25 years of experience. 

This article was originally published in The Registry on May 1, 2024, and has been reposted here to share and consolidate information about Freedom West 2.0. The original article can be viewed here: https://news.theregistrysf.com/macfarlane-partners-submits-proposal-for-115-unit-affordable-senior-housing-as-part-of-freedom-west-2-0-project-in-san-francisco/

First new homes at Freedom West 2.0 could be under construction by late 2025, MacFarlane Partners says. DLR Group

First new homes at Freedom West 2.0 could be under construction by late 2025, MacFarlane Partners says. DLR Group

By Sarah Klearman – Staff Reporter, San Francisco Business Times 

Six months after securing new funding commitments for the redevelopment of Fillmore’s Freedom West Homes Co-op, MacFarlane Partners is moving forward with what will likely be the first of the project’s residential buildings to get out of the ground. 

MacFarlane Partners, which is helming redevelopment of the 382-unit Freedom West alongside Avanath Capital Management, submitted plans Monday for a 115-unit, 100% affordable senior housing development with 1,200 square feet of ground-floor commercial space at 880 McAllister St. 

Executive Chairman Victor MacFarlane, reached by phone Tuesday, said the 115-unit building could be under construction as soon as the end of next year — a timeline that puts it “at least a year” ahead of the larger Freedom West redevelopment. 

The 11-acre Freedom West was built out as a collection of low-rise multifamily buildings and surface parking lots in the 1970s — the community’s response, in a way, to the city-sponsored “urban renewal” programs in the two decades prior that had destroyed entire neighborhoods and displaced Black San Franciscans en masse. 

A rendering of Freedom West 2.0. DLR Group

In 2020, co-op shareholders voted to approve MacFarlane Partners and Avanath’s vision for the site’s redevelopment, dubbed “Freedom West 2.0.” Those plans include the replacement of the co-op’s 382 existing units at no increase in housing costs for the inhabitants; 133 additional affordable homes; nearly 1,800 market-rate homes; a 150- key hotel; 20,000 square feet of commercial space; and a 6,000-square-foot STEM innovation center.

The megaproject, to be built over two phases, is expected to cost $2 billion and requires multiple layers of city approvals, including rezoning of the project site and environmental analysis. MacFarlane said Tuesday his firm will seek approval for the 115-unit senior building through SB 35, a state law offering an expedited path for affordable housing projects.

MacFarlane Partners submitted plans Monday for a 115-unit, 100% affordable senior housing project at 880 McAllister St., pictured here. The building could be the first piece of Freedom West 2.0 to come out of the ground. DLR GROUP

“We are still in the process of entitling the overall project, but because this is a finite, affordable piece on a parcel that meets an accelerated plan under SB 35, we can accelerate this portion of it without going through the larger (environmental review) for this project,” MacFarlane told the Business Times.

The 880 McAllister proposal comes after MacFarlane Partners announced last fall it had secured $27 million in funding commitments that would allow the entitlement process to proceed. The 115-unit affordable senior development, should it move forward, will replace some of the existing homes at Freedom West — a significant first step for the larger redevelopment, given the requirement that replacement units be built before their market-rate counterparts. And it is a glimpse of what the redevelopment of the co-op will do for both its residents and the surrounding Fillmore neighborhood.

Freedom West’s redevelopment would also represent one of the most significant investments in the Fillmore — if not San Francisco’s entire Westside — in its history. The co-op itself has fallen into disrepair over the years amid a dearth of outside funding available for its maintenance. As a co-op, it has long been ineligible for the kinds of funding mechanisms popular for encouraging investment in affordable rental housing and for government funding generally.

That shifted last year with the passage of SB 593, a new state law that will allow San Francisco to borrow against future tax revenue as a means of funding projects that replace homes lost to urban renewal, including Freedom West 2.0.

MacFarlane Partners is seeking various city approvals for the 880 McAllister proposal, including the creation of a new development lot for the building. The proposal would require demolition of two existing buildings at 870 and 880 McAllister; the goal, MacFarlane said, is to relocate the inhabitants of those properties to vacant units elsewhere within the co-op.

The timeline for the remainder of Freedom West 2.0 remains less clear: MacFarlane and Avanath are still working towards city approvals. Once those are in hand, the pair will need to secure funding for the $2 billion project cost.

This article was originally published in the San Francisco Business Times on April 30, 2024, and has been reposted here to share and consolidate information about Freedom West 2.0. The original article can be viewed here: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2024/04/30/freedom-west-880-mcallister-affordable-senior.html