The Kelsey and Mercy Housing California proudly announce the opening of The Kelsey Civic Center, a deeply affordable, accessible, and inclusive community in the heart of San Francisco. The community was celebrated this week alongside Mayor Daniel Lurie, Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, residents, and community partners.

Located next to City Hall at 240 Van Ness Ave, the $88.3 million development includes 112 apartments affordable to individuals earning 20% to 60% of California’s area median income. Twenty-five percent of units are reserved for people with disabilities using Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). The building marked a historic milestone as San Francisco’s first housing lottery to preference HCBS users, paving the way for future inclusive housing policies. On the ground floor, the nation’s first publicly funded Disability Cultural Center opened in July in the building’s 1,400 sq. ft. commercial space.

Sustainability and low-carbon design

The Kelsey Civic Center site was awarded to The Kelsey and Mercy Housing California through Reinventing Cities, a global C40 Cities competition designed to drive carbon-neutral and resilient urban regeneration. The all-electric building incorporates sustainable elements, including a courtyard garden that promotes biodiversity and serves as an urban green space, energy-efficient units with finishes chosen for their health benefits, and shared community spaces. Cumulatively, the sustainable, low-carbon design reduces waste and operational resource use, while fostering a resilient community.

“The opening of The Kelsey Civic Center marks a historic moment for disability-forward housing and for San Francisco,” said Micaela Connery, co-founder and CEO of The Kelsey. “We’re proving that even in one of the nation’s toughest housing markets, accessible, inclusive, beautiful, and sustainable homes are possible. This movement is co-led by people with and without disabilities, across housing, advocacy, philanthropy, and sustainability, and we’re proud to have this community in a city with a rich history in all of the above.”

Amenities include a roof deck overlooking City Hall, interior courtyard with pet relief area, resident common room with full kitchen, community work room, free Wi-Fi via the City of San Francisco’s Fiber to Housing Program, on-site laundry, bike parking, and Inclusion Concierge staff, a program by The Kelsey to connect residents to services and supports as well as foster community among residents. On-site property management is provided by Mercy Housing Management Group. The site’s central location allows for easy access to public transit, jobs, healthcare, and cultural resources.

A blueprint for belonging

“The Kelsey Civic Center is a bold blueprint for how we build belonging,” said Tiffany Bohee, President of Mercy Housing California. “It shows what’s possible when inclusive design, sustainability, and community come together in the heart of San Francisco. Mercy Housing California is honored to have helped bring this vision to life, and to continue supporting residents in their daily lives through the care and presence of our onsite team. We believe everyone deserves a home like The Kelsey Civic Center, where they can feel seen, supported, and truly part of something bigger.”

The building was designed by WRNS Studio and Santos Prescott and Associates, with Cahill Contractors as the construction partner. It was developed using the Inclusive Design Standards, a framework consisting of over 300 design and operations elements that support cross-disability access for diverse physical, sensory, and support access needs. The Inclusive Design Standards were created in partnership with The Kelsey, Mikiten Architecture, and the Inclusive Design Council, and serve as a resource for public and private housing developers nationwide.