In the historic neighborhood of Haight Ashbury in San Francisco rows and rows of well-preserved Victorian homes line the streets (including the fabled Grateful Dead House). The storied neighborhood abuts Golden Gate Park and will soon house OMA’s first 100 percent affordable housing project located in the U.S., which recently kicked off construction. The project, located at 730 Stanyan Street, will provide affordable housing for families, formerly unhoused families, and Transitional Age Youth (individuals between the ages of 16 and 25). It will also act as a new community hub for the neighborhood.

The project is designed in collaboration with Y.A. Studio, and developed through a partnership with the Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC) and the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC).

“The groundbreaking of our first 100% affordable housing project marks a significant first step toward providing new homes for families from the diverse communities that make up Haight Ashbury,” said Jason Long, partner at OMA, in a press release. “We shaped the building to create multiple corner units and pockets of outdoor space while playfully integrating with the neighborhood. This project was made possible through a close collaboration with TNDC, CCDC, and our design partner, Y.A. Studio. We look forward to seeing our collective vision emerge at the doorstep of Golden Gate Park.”

730 Stanyan will rise 8 stories and accommodate 160 residential units, a combination of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Along the street level, the ground floor space is slated for commercial use. The building’s massing was informed by the maximum number of housing units that could be created within the allotted space. Curved setbacks carved within the otherwise rectangular massing of the building create ample open space around the site, while also increasing the number of corner units, which draw in natural light and allow for views of the Golden Gate Park.

“This is a meaningful step towards bringing 160 permanently affordable homes for families and at-risk youth to a vibrant and diverse neighborhood steeped in history. We are thrilled to be part of a dedicated and diverse team with a shared goal to reimagine this urban in-fill site to not only provide housing, but also supportive services and neighborhood-serving retail. 730 Stanyan aligns with our mission of working with underserved communities and elevating the social discourse of our built surroundings while minimizing its impact on the natural environment,” added Yakuh Askew, principal at Y.A. Studio.

While 730 Stanyan will be OMA’s first 100 percent affordable housing project, the firm has worked on a slew of residential projects in the past, including the recently completed Eagle + West in Brooklyn and also in San Francisco a high-rise known as The Avery.