Casa Adelante – 1515 South Van Ness

Developers: MEDA and Chinatown CDC
Address: 1515 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110

Construction is underway on Casa Adelante – 1515 South Van Ness, a new 100% affordable housing development that will bring 168 homes to the heart of the Mission District. Developed by MEDA and Chinatown Community Development Center (Chinatown CDC), this project will serve low-income families earning between 25% and 72% of the Area Median Income (AMI), including 42 units for families exiting homelessness and 5 units reserved for individuals living with HIV.

Located next to Casa Adelante – 1296 Shotwell, this development is designed to foster an intergenerational community—one where young children, working parents, and elders can grow, play, and thrive together. Planned amenities include a community room, computer lab, coworking lounge, rooftop and outdoor open spaces, laundry rooms, and an on-site Early Childhood Education Center. Onsite property management, resident services, and supportive care will be provided to ensure long-term housing stability.

The ground floor will also feature two community-serving commercial spaces: the future home of the Nuevo Sol Day Laborer and Domestic Worker Center and an Early Childhood Education Center tenant to be determined. Together, these ground-floor spaces will activate the street and expand access to essential services for Mission residents.

A Site with History and Purpose

For decades, the site at 1515 South Van Ness was home to McMillan Electric Company. After the business vacated in 2015, a market-rate housing project was proposed—a plan that sparked concern among Mission District residents already facing widespread displacement.

Community advocacy played a key role in changing the site’s future. Local organizers, residents, and housing justice advocates mobilized to demand that the land be used for affordable housing—not luxury development. Thanks to that pressure, the City of San Francisco purchased the site from the private developer in 2019, ensuring it would serve the public good.

During the pandemic, the site was temporarily repurposed as a Safe Sleeping Village, offering 24/7 shelter and services to unhoused individuals. That interim use underscored the urgent need for permanent housing in the city.

In response, the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) launched a competitive selection process to identify qualified nonprofit developers. In May 2021, MEDA and Chinatown CDC were chosen to lead the project—bringing deep community ties, cultural competency, and a proven track record of delivering affordable housing in the Mission.