SPECIAL FOCUS
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
BEST URBAN PROJECT:
Project Binds
Housing and Library
BY DONNA KIMURA
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FINANCE • NOVEMBER 2007
SAN FRANCISCO—David Sandow was homeless
for six years before moving
into his new apartment.
Without Mission Creek
Senior Community, the 66-
year-old former dialysis nurse said he might
still be living in his van.
Sandow had two heart surgeries and
couldn’t work, he lost money in the stock
market, and family members died during the
past several years, so “every attachment with
the past was gone, and there were few
prospects and little sense of hope,” he said.
Since moving into his apartment in
2006, he said he feels like a new man. His
physical condition has improved, and his
mobility is better than it was during the days
spent in his cramped van. “The change in the
physical situation allowed my mental state to
improve,” he said.
Sandow is among the vulnerable
seniors, including those transitioning out of
homelessness and long-term care, who call
Mission Creek Senior Community home.
This mixed-use development is an integral
part of its urban neighborhood. In an
inspired move, the project combines 140
apartments with San Francisco’s first new
branch library in 40 years.
Developed by Mercy Housing
California, the $43.7 million project received
strong support from the San Francisco
Redevelopment Agency (SFRA). The development
is in the Mission Bay neighborhood
that is rising on a former rail yard. SFRA
brought together Mercy Housing California
and the library system to create a place for
housing, care, and community.
In addition to the 7,500-square-foot
branch library and a coffeehouse, a thirdfloor
community room is part of the mix.
An important component of Mission
Creek is the Adult Day Health Center
(ADHC), which provides key health and
social services to seniors. Operated by North
& South of Market Adult Day Health, Inc.,
ADHC’s services include medical care and
occupational and physical therapy.
The building features several energyefficient
elements, including solar panels,
which will provide about 25 percent of the
power needs of the common areas.
The development’s biggest achievement
is providing housing for very low
income seniors with special needs. Fifty-one
apartments are designated for formerly
homeless and frail or disabled seniors. The
rents for the units are subsidized by the city
Department of Public Health.
“We found that the challenges of the
development process turned to opportunities
and the ultimate result was very much
worth the challenge since the development
does provide such a dramatic benefit to the
residents and the community,” said Sharon
Christen, housing developer at Mercy.
Eighty-eight units are for residents
earning no more than 50 percent of the area
median income (AMI), and 51 units are for
those earning no more than 20 percent of
the AMI. All are one-bedroom units. The
average income of the seniors at Mission
Creek is below 20 percent of the AMI. One
unit is a manager’s apartment.
The 51 units serving frail seniors have
monthly rents of $356 each. Mission Creek
also has 88 Sec. 8 units. Ten units are designated
for elders living with HIV or AIDS.
The $43.7 million price tag does not
include the library, which was also developed
by Mercy Housing California. SFRA provided
approximately $18 million in loans and
grants. The state Department of Housing and
Community Development contributed $7.5
million through its Multifamily Housing
Program. The California Tax Credit Allocation
Committee provided low-income housing tax
credits that generated $13.8 million in equity.
National Equity Fund was the investor.
Citibank provided an $8 million permanent
mortgage. The Federal Home Loan Bank of
San Francisco provided $625,000 from its
Affordable Housing Program through member
Bank of America.
Mission Creek
Senior Community
Developers: Mercy Housing California
Architect: Hardison Komatsu Ivelich & Tucker
Major Funders:
San Francisco Redevelopment Agency
California Department of Housing and
Community Development
California Tax Credit Allocation Committee
National Equity Fund
Citibank
Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco
Bank of America
San Francisco Department of Public Health
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