San Francisco Supervisor Myrna Melgar (District 7) announced legislation that would establish a City Department of Housing Development and Preservation. The proposed agency would centralize the planning, financing and policy functions that are currently scattered across several offices, giving the city a single, coordinated structure to address its housing crisis.
Why a new department?
Melgar said housing is the city’s most challenging issue and that the existing Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development lacks the breadth to shape citywide housing policy. By elevating the housing office to a full‑fledged department—similar to New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development—the city could better oversee both affordable and market‑rate projects and preserve existing units.
How the department would fit into the current system
Today, San Francisco’s housing functions are divided among the Housing Authority, the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure, and the mayor’s housing office. The new department would consolidate these roles, though details on its interaction with existing agencies remain under discussion.
The department’s future director would be appointed by the mayor, and Melgar emphasized that the goal is not to diminish mayoral authority but to improve efficiency.
Co‑op housing legislation
Alongside the department proposal, Melgar is drafting a bill to create a program that would develop, finance and support limited‑equity housing co‑operatives. Co‑ops, which allow residents to own shares in a corporation that holds the building, provide a more affordable path to homeownership. San Francisco currently has about 1,600 co‑op units, most built between the 1960s and 1980s in neighborhoods such as the Fillmore, Bayview and Diamond Heights.
Melgar noted that many co‑ops were originally funded by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, but subsidies faded after the 1980s tax cuts. She said the new program would offer grants and training to help co‑op boards manage finances and administration, addressing both financial shortfalls and governance challenges.
Bike‑lane coordination effort
Melgar also highlighted a separate initiative to improve coordination between the Department of Public Works and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency. Currently, repaving projects often miss opportunities to install planned bike lanes from the city’s “Bike and Rolling Plan.” By mandating cooperation between the two agencies, the city hopes to accelerate the rollout of safe cycling infrastructure.
Next steps
Melgar will present her legislative priorities, including the housing department, co‑op program and bike‑lane coordination, at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday. The bills are still being drafted by the city attorney’s office, and further input from stakeholders is expected.
“To solve our housing crisis, we need more of everything,” Melgar said, emphasizing that the new department and co‑op initiatives are part of a broader strategy to increase housing supply, preserve existing units and improve transportation options for residents.
Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.
