Potrero Power Station Redevelopment Adds Housing

The 2,300-home waterfront district adds affordable units to San Francisco as part of a 30-year urban renewal plan.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Commercial

Isometric editorial illustration depicting a historic boiler stack beside a contemporary apartment block near the shoreline. — San Francisco's Potrero Power Station redevelopment advances as officials open 105 affordable housing units within the new 21-acre waterfront district. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe redeveloping former industrial sites into residential districts improves your local community?

The 21-acre Potrero Power Station site in San Francisco is undergoing a 30-year redevelopment into a mixed-use waterfront district. The project will eventually provide 2,300 homes, with 30% designated as affordable, after the facility closed in 2011.

Why it matters

This project aims to transform long-inaccessible industrial land into a residential and commercial hub. It marks a significant shift in land use for the city by opening 1,000 linear feet of shoreline that remained closed to the public since 1876.

The master plan includes 2,300 homes with 30% allocated for affordable housing. This redevelopment covers 21 acres and introduces 6.9 acres of open space to a site previously closed for 150 years.

The players

University of California, San Francisco

A public research university expanding its footprint in the city through new life sciences facilities.

The details

The site redevelopment integrates preserved historic industrial structures, such as the 300-foot boiler stack, with modern residential and life sciences infrastructure. Construction proceeds in phases, beginning with the 2025 opening of 105 affordable homes and the start of a UCSF life sciences building in 2026. Developers designed the district to blend dense housing with public waterfront access, requiring ongoing city planning oversight throughout the multi-decade build-out.

1876: The waterfront area became inaccessible to the public.
2011: The Potrero Power Station ceased operations.
Autumn 2025: A building featuring 105 affordable housing units opened.
2026: Construction commenced on a University of California, San Francisco life sciences facility.

Money Landscape

This project continues the trend of converting San Francisco's underutilized industrial shoreline into high-density residential and commercial zones. It follows the pattern set by the nearby Pier 70 redevelopment in repurposing historic land for modern city utility.

Residents should monitor local housing availability as the 2,300-home development phases progress over the coming decades. Those interested in affordable housing options should consult the city's housing portal for updates on future occupancy deadlines and eligibility criteria.

The takeaway

The transformation of the Potrero Power Station represents a long-term change in local housing and commercial inventory. Review the ongoing master plan phases to understand how future supply changes may affect local residential market conditions.