Commission Approves Special District To Build Affordable Senior Housing In Chinatown

The San Francisco Planning Commission gave its approval on Sept. 19 to establish the New Asia Senior Housing special-use district at Stockton Street and Pacific Avenue, paving the way for a housing and community use project.

The Chinatown Community Development Center wants to build a 175-unit affordable housing project for seniors that also features 3,300 SF of open space and an almost 14K SF banquet space. Banquet spaces are important gathering places for members of the Chinese community, which uses them for a variety of gatherings and celebrations throughout the year.

The former New Asia restaurant and banquet hall at 772 Pacific Ave., now a supermarket to be demolished as part of the new housing development, used to seat 1,000 people in its heyday, CCDC Executive Director Malcolm Yeung told Bisnow.

The name of the new banquet-hall operator at the New Asia housing development has not yet been disclosed.

Initially, the CCDC planned to develop around 110 units, but applied to build more under the state’s density bonus law. With 175 units, the CCDC was able to increase the height of the 15-story tower to 155 feet. 

Approximately 70% of the units will be studios, 30% will be one-bedrooms and one two-bedroom unit will be set aside for an on-site property manager. Parking will not be included for bicycles or cars. 

By law, all of the units must be affordable and at least one person in each household must be 62 or older. 

The addition of a large-scale banquet hall is also expected to add an important community-building element to the project.

“Banquets are a huge part of our community, and a huge part of our economy,” Yeung said. “They are where connections are made and renewed.”

Weddings, civic and family associations, political fundraisers, nonprofit galas and red egg and ginger parties are held in Chinatown’s banquet halls. 

But only one large-scale hall remains in San Francisco, the 680-seat Far East Cafe at 631 Grant Ave. Fifteen years ago, there were five large-scale halls in the city.

Today, many have relocated to the Peninsula and South Bay, Yeung said. 

Construction is expected to cost at least $107M, not including all development costs, according to SF YIMBY. A timeline for development has not been finalized. 

Construction of the new project will generate jobs in Chinatown and help local businesses, Yeung said. 

“The only type of construction going on is affordable housing, at least in San Francisco,” Yeung said. “As an organization, we’re not just a friend of the community, we generate jobs.”