San Francisco Starts Construction on Candlestick Point Project

San Francisco has begun infrastructure work at Candlestick Point, advancing a major redevelopment led by FivePoint and the city’s Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure. The project is planned for 7,200 homes at full build-out, with the initial phase supporting about 700 housing units, affordable housing and commercial development.

Key Takeaways

• Infrastructure construction has begun at San Francisco’s Candlestick Point redevelopment site.
• The full project is planned to include 7,200 homes, parks, retail, a hotel and 2.8 million square feet of office space.
• The initial infrastructure phase will support about 700 housing units, with 41% planned as affordable housing.
• The first building, a roughly 180-unit affordable housing project called Gateway, could begin construction in about 18 months.
• FivePoint and San Francisco’s Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure are overseeing the redevelopment.

Candlestick Point Development Enters Construction Phase

Infrastructure work has started at the Candlestick Point development in San Francisco, moving the project into an active construction phase. FivePoint and the city’s Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure are overseeing the redevelopment, which is planned to include housing and commercial uses.

The full development is planned for 7,200 homes. Its build-out also includes parks, retail, a hotel and 2.8 million square feet of office space.

The current work is focused on infrastructure rather than the construction of all 7,200 homes. The initial infrastructure phase is designed to establish the foundation for seven blocks of development, including six residential blocks and one commercial block.

FivePoint said the initial infrastructure work will support about 700 housing units and a 350,000-square-foot office building. The housing planned within that first phase includes an affordable component.

The project therefore has two distinct scales: the immediate construction phase and the larger development planned for full build-out. The current work supports the first group of residential and commercial buildings, while the overall plan extends to thousands of homes and additional property uses.

The construction phase follows a pattern seen in other California housing projects where large residential developments move from planning and approvals toward physical construction. A statewide pipeline recently identified thousands of affordable homes at various stages of development, including projects awaiting final funding. 

Initial Infrastructure Work Supports 700 Housing Units

The first phase of the Candlestick Point development is planned around seven blocks. Six blocks are designated for residential development, while one block is planned for commercial use.

The infrastructure work will support approximately 700 housing units across those residential blocks. It will also support a 350,000-square-foot office building on the commercial block.

The construction of infrastructure is a necessary part of establishing the site for the buildings planned in the first phase. FivePoint described the work as creating the backbone that will support the residential and commercial portions of the project.

The initial 700-unit phase is separate from the full 7,200-home development target. Additional construction would be required to reach the larger residential total outlined in the redevelopment plan.

The first phase also combines residential and commercial property. The planned office building will sit alongside six residential blocks, giving the phase a mixed-use component rather than consisting solely of housing construction.

The development’s construction approach is also relevant to other projects in the region. A San Francisco affordable housing project at 1633 Valencia Street, for example, used coordinated planning and construction methods to complete a 145-home supportive housing development. 

Affordable Housing Accounts for 41% of the First Phase

Affordable housing is a major component of the initial residential phase. About 41% of the roughly 700 housing units supported by the first infrastructure phase are planned to be affordable.

The first building identified for construction is Gateway, an affordable housing project planned to contain about 180 units. Building construction for Gateway could begin in approximately 18 months as the infrastructure work is completed.

Gateway would therefore become an early residential component of the larger Candlestick Point development. Its planned 180 affordable units represent a defined portion of the housing expected from the initial phase.

The 41% figure applies to the approximately 700 units supported by the first infrastructure work. It should not be interpreted as the percentage of affordable housing across the entire 7,200-home development.

The first phase combines affordable housing with additional residential units and commercial space. That configuration places the Gateway project within a larger construction plan rather than treating it as a separate housing development.

Affordable housing financing remains a significant factor in residential development across California. Recent projects have also relied on financing partnerships and other funding structures to move affordable housing construction forward. 

The timing of Gateway also illustrates the sequence planned for the site. Infrastructure work is beginning first, while construction of the first building could follow in approximately 18 months.

Full Redevelopment Plan Includes 7,200 Homes

At full build-out, the Candlestick Point development is planned to deliver 7,200 homes in San Francisco. The residential component is part of a larger mixed-use plan that includes several types of property and community facilities.

The complete plan includes parks, retail and a hotel in addition to residential buildings. It also calls for 2.8 million square feet of office space.

The planned office component is substantially larger than the 350,000-square-foot office building included in the initial phase. The difference reflects the larger amount of commercial space planned across the complete redevelopment.

The combination of housing, offices, retail, a hotel and parks gives the project a mixed-use structure. Residential construction is therefore only one component of the planned build-out.

The 7,200-home target also distinguishes the long-term development plan from the approximately 700 units supported by the first infrastructure phase. The initial work is intended to support the first seven blocks, while the larger plan encompasses additional construction beyond those blocks.

For San Francisco’s housing development pipeline, the project is tied to a defined construction effort rather than remaining solely at the planning stage. Infrastructure work has begun, while individual buildings are expected to follow as phases progress.

San Francisco has also pursued other approaches to increasing residential capacity, including plans involving vacant office properties. Those efforts differ from Candlestick Point because they involve converting existing commercial buildings rather than developing a large site through new infrastructure and construction. 

Gateway Project Could Begin Building Construction in 18 Months

Gateway is planned as the first building in the Candlestick Point development and is expected to contain about 180 affordable housing units. Its construction could begin in approximately 18 months while infrastructure work is being completed.

The sequence places infrastructure construction ahead of building construction at the site. The initial work supports seven blocks, including the residential blocks where Gateway and other housing are planned.

The first phase also includes a commercial block and a 350,000-square-foot office building. Those components will be supported by the same initial infrastructure work serving the residential portion of the phase.

FivePoint is overseeing the development with San Francisco’s Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure. The project includes both residential and commercial development.

The project’s current construction stage is centered on site infrastructure and preparation for buildings. Gateway represents the first identified building within that sequence, with a potential construction start approximately 18 months from the beginning of the infrastructure work.

The broader plan remains larger than the first phase. The full Candlestick Point development is planned to include 7,200 homes together with office, retail, hotel and park components.

For readers tracking the San Francisco housing development pipeline, the distinction between infrastructure work, the first approximately 700-unit phase and the eventual 7,200-home build-out provides the clearest measure of the project’s current status. Construction has begun on the infrastructure supporting the initial phase, while Gateway could follow as the first building project.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Candlestick Point development?

The Candlestick Point development is a planned mixed-use redevelopment in San Francisco. At full build-out, it is planned to include 7,200 homes, parks, retail, a hotel and 2.8 million square feet of office space.

How many homes are planned for Candlestick Point?

The full Candlestick Point development is planned for 7,200 homes. The initial infrastructure phase will support about 700 housing units.

How many affordable homes are included in the first phase?

About 41% of the roughly 700 housing units supported by the initial infrastructure phase are planned to be affordable. The first identified building, Gateway, is planned to contain about 180 affordable units.

Who is developing the Candlestick Point project?

FivePoint and San Francisco’s Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure are overseeing the redevelopment. The project includes both residential and commercial development.

When could the first Candlestick Point building begin construction?

Gateway, the planned approximately 180-unit affordable housing building, could begin construction in about 18 months. Infrastructure work is being completed ahead of building construction.