Mayor’s Office Unveils Public Housing Renovation

SAN FRANCISCO—Westside Courts was built in 1943 as a three-story 136-unit public housing development located at 2501 Sutter St. Located in the Western Addition on approximately 2.6 acres, it is the only public housing development which was exclusively reserved for African-American residents at the time of its construction.

In 2012, Congress enacted legislation that created the Rental Assistance Demonstration program.  This new program directed private funds into public housing designated to help the country’s most needy residents through private partnerships, and Westside Courts was part of the $1.69 billion transformation plan for San Francisco’s public housing system. Related California and Tabernacle Community Development Corporation were selected by the mayor’s office of housing and community development to complete a comprehensive $95 million renovation and rehabilitation of the property, which included updated interiors for all 136 apartments, reroofing of all six buildings, and new landscaping and community spaces.

Late last week, the city and county of San Francisco, Tabernacle and Related California celebrated the grand reopening of the city’s second-oldest public housing development. Related California was joined by mayor London Breed, supervisor Vallie Brown and Tabernacle executive director James McCray Jr., as well as other community members and project leaders for the grand reopening.

“The complete rehabilitation of Westside Courts is the latest demonstration of how vitally important goals for San Francisco and the Bay Area can be achieved through collaborative and successful public-private partnerships,” Bill Witte, chairman and CEO of Related California, tells GlobeSt.com. “It’s an honor to work with mayor Breed, Tabernacle and many other community leaders to provide San Francisco households with affordable modern homes.”

Westside Courts is one of 29 properties previously owned by the San Francisco Housing Authority that was renovated under the Rental Assistance Demonstration/RAD program through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, which allows for a voluntary permanent conversion of public housing to privately owned permanently affordable housing. The project is part of the city’s commitment to preserving and revitalizing nearly 3,500 distressed public housing units across San Francisco. To date, more than 2,800 apartments have been renovated under the program, GlobeSt.com learns.

“Having grown up in the Western Addition, I could not be prouder to see the residents of Westside Courts finally have new renovated homes,” said Breed. “This is one of the oldest public housing developments in San Francisco, and the first public housing that was reserved primarily for African-Americans back when much of our public housing was still subject to racial restrictions. Through good times and bad, this community has stuck together and today we celebrate not only the history of Westside Courts, but also its bright future.”

The extensive renovation included new kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, paint, energy-efficient windows and lighting, and new heating systems. Each of the six buildings was reroofed, painted and the rooftop boilers were replaced. The rehabilitation provided new community spaces, management offices, social services offices, a computer lab, two laundry rooms (one new, the other renovated), an outdoor gathering space, picnic areas and a community garden.

“San Francisco’s public housing is one of its greatest assets,” said Brown. “Every dollar invested here in Westside Courts and other public housing is a dollar that’s guaranteed to pay dividends for San Francisco’s future, helping to ensure that this remains a city not just for the rich, but for us all.”

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