San Francisco YIMBY

The San Francisco rezoning plan represents a truly historic moment for the city, marking the first major upzoning effort since the 1978 downzoning that has contributed to decades of housing scarcity and resulting unaffordability. To meet community needs and state minimums, the city must allow a minimum of 82,000 homes to be built by 2031. The Family Zoning plan will significantly support that effort by creating a pathway for tens of thousands of new homes. This is especially crucial in historically exclusionary neighborhoods on the north and west sides of San Francisco, where new apartments have not been built in decades.

Residents and community groups from all over the city have demonstrated their support for this plan alongside volunteers at SF YIMBY. Older residents have expressed the desire to age with dignity in the city they know and love. Young people implored that they not be forced out of the city by artificial scarcity. Small business owners expressed that more homes near their businesses will allow more of them to thrive by adding much-needed foot traffic. Employers want their workers to have the option to live close to their jobs. This broad coalition of supporters highlights the plan’s wide-reaching impact across multiple demographics and throughout all the city’s neighborhoods. The plan will not only expand housing supply but also help stabilize rent and provide options for those currently vulnerable in the rental market.

Mayor Lurie has championed this bold plan, demonstrating the courage San Francisco needs to reduce rent and mortgage prices throughout the city. His leadership has been instrumental in advancing the Family Zoning Plan through the planning process, reflecting a strong commitment to long-term solutions over short-term political concerns. While the plan has several more milestones to hit before it becomes law, we are cautiously optimistic that it will pass and make a significant dent in San Francisco’s housing shortage, with the potential to reshape the city’s future by increasing housing affordability and inclusivity. This moment offers an unprecedented opportunity to proactively plan for the homes we need while creating a more equitable and sustainable San Francisco for current and future residents.

About SF YIMBY: SF YIMBY is a local network of people who advocate for abundant, affordable housing and an inclusive, sustainable San Francisco. SF YIMBY is a chapter of YIMBY Action, which builds grassroots power and organizes with its chapters across the United States to elect pro-housing candidates, pass high-impact pro-housing legislation, and get more housing built in high-opportunity neighborhoods.

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