With the number of newly built units of housing in San Francisco having outpaced the number of newly proposed units of housing to be built in San Francisco for the first time since mid-2017, albeit by a nominal amount, the overall pipeline of apartments and condos under development in San Francisco has slipped from a record 72,865 in the first quarter of 2019 to 72,750 at the end of the second, which is still 8 percent (3,100) more than at the same time last year.

But for the sixth quarter in a row, the number of units in developments which are currently under construction and should be ready for occupancy within the next year or two has increased, jumping to over 9,700 units, which is the most in over a decade, nearly 40 percent more than at the same time last year and nearly 70 percent above the average number of units under construction across the city at any point over the past decade as well.

At the same time, the net-new number of units of housing for which building permits have either been issued, approved or requested – but for which the ground has yet to be broken – has dropped from 16,800 to 14,900 while the number of units in projects that have already been approved but not yet permitted (which still includes the majority of the 10,500 units by Candlestick, 7,800 units on Treasure Island and 5,680 units at Parkmerced, projects which have overall timelines measured in decades, not years) has dropped from 33,500 to 32,400.

And with proposals for another 15,700 units of housing now under review by the City’s Planning Department, which continues to be bolstered by the passage of San Francisco’s proposed Central SoMa Plan, San Francisco’s Housing Pipeline now totals 72,750 units, including nearly 14,300 units of “affordable housing” which are to be offered at below market rates, according to our latest accounting of Planning’s database as mapped above.

Keep in mind that home sales in San Francisco remain at an 8-year low, inventory levels have hit an 8-year high, and pending sales haven’t jumped.

9 thoughts on “Housing Pipeline in San Francisco Slips but Building Actually Jumps”
    1. Pac Heights is relatively dense already. I’m not sure you can build any higher in the Marina.

      You’re right about the West Side though. Shameful NIMBYS.

  1. regarding westside (at least richmond), our transportation really sucks. I live in inner inner richmond, and it takes 45 minutes to go 4 miles to downtown on the fastest 38 geary or 1 california. and on gaeary, sometimes 2 buses pass before you can get one (because overcrowded). i would completely support raising zoning and density of geary with some better transit. Western SOMA is woefully underzoned for its location.

    1. I think a lot of people are pushing for upzoning parts of the Richmond District as well as getting the Geary BRT line built. Both of these—per SF standard means—will, unfortunately, take years if not decades to happen.

      1. Geary BRT is a waste as it saves like 2 minutes from the inner Richmond. Then a 4 mile commute will be 43 instead of 45 minutes. It’s a waste of money. Need actual subway

      2. BRT is a laughable joke. Only in the US are people this clueless not to build out subway and tram lines like the rest of the developed world.

    2. While I applaud the creation of dedicated, bus-only lanes to reduce unpredictable delays significantly worsened by the prevalence of Uber and Lyft, the sad truth of the Geary BRT line is that when it’s completed Phase 1 will only result in a time savings of a few minutes for the average commuter. The time for upzoning the Richmond District will be when we have a subway or grade-separated light rail down Geary.

      1. Geary BRT only saves a few minutes from 48th and Geary to downtown. From Arguello and Geary, my stop, it might save 90 seconds. its a colossal waste of money

  2. SOMA/Downtown has the worst air and noise pollution (and overcrowding) known to mankind. Don’t know how anyone could live there unless they didn’t like an opportunity for peace.

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