Built in 1956 Hunters View wasn’t meant to last. It was temporary workforce housing. 267 units perched on steep hills above the old naval shipyard. By the 2000s the buildings were falling apart. Hunters View was becoming uninhabitable.
But Hunters View didn’t disappear. The San Francisco Housing Authority stepped in. They chose a development team. This team included Ridge Point Non-Profit Housing Corporation The John Stewart Company and Devine & Gong Inc. Their mission To revitalize Hunters View. To work with residents the community and the city.
Hunters View became a symbol of hope. It was the first public housing project in the HOPE SF program. This program aimed to create vibrant mixed-income communities. The goal was to avoid displacing the original residents. Amazingly 70% of the original families remained during the transition.
The transformation of Hunters View was ambitious. Phase I completed in 2013 added 107 affordable units. New roads sidewalks utilities and Promontory Park emerged. Phase II followed in 2018 adding 179 more affordable units. Ironwood Park and a community hub with childcare and wellness centers opened.
Phase III is the final piece of the puzzle. It will include 118 more affordable units. The neighborhood’s largest park will be built. The site’s street grid and infrastructure will be finished. Hunters View will truly be reborn.
Hunters View’s story isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s a testament to community resilience. It shows the power of collaboration. It highlights the importance of preserving community identity amidst immense change. It’s a story of hope that continues to unfold. It’s a story written in the very fabric of this hillside neighborhood a story that continues to inspire.