The high cost of housing is a source of stress and frustration for millions of Americans.
Housing costs are especially prohibitive in large, vibrant cities, where many individuals and families—hoping to take advantage of the benefits of urban life—are simply priced out of the market. Historically, this has been especially true for individuals with disabilities seeking accessible, independent housing with particular amenities and supports.
A new housing development project in San Francisco aims to change the status quo. Set to open in March, Kelsey Civic Center, a 112-unit building located in the heart of the city’s Civic Center area, will make it possible for a diverse population of low- and middle-income individuals and families to live in this desirable neighborhood. Plus, 25% of the building’s units are reserved for individuals with disabilities.
According to Disability Scoop, Kelsey Civic Center’s units “will be leased to households earning between 20% and 80% of area median income, with rents ranging from $500 to $2,450.” Qualified residents were chosen through a lottery process.
This is the second development project for The Kelsey, an organization that advocates for “inclusive design standards” and reasonably priced “disability-forward” apartments.
The Kelsey was established by cousins and friends, Micaela Connery and the late Kelsey Flynn O’Connor. O’Connor, who had multiple disabilities, struggled to find affordable, accessible housing and her experience inspired the two women to make change. Last spring, The Kelsey opened their first project, Kelsey Ayer Station in San Jose, California.
Connery told Disability Scoop that The Kelsey “is as much about advocacy as it is building…” She says the Civic Center building has “symbolic importance” because of its vicinity to 50 United Nations Plaza, a federal building where the “504 sit-in” took place in 1977. The demonstration, which called for better accessibility and improved accommodations for disabled people, led to the eventual passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
The soon-to-open Kelsey Civic Center features apartments “with kitchens and bathrooms with removable cabinets for wheelchair users and dimmable lighting for people with light sensitivity,” says Disability Scoop. “Floors are coded by number and colors inspired by the Painted Ladies to help with wayfinding.”
Kelsey Civic Center will also house an Inclusion Concierge staff charged with helping residents obtain support services and creating community for individuals and families that live in the building. The building also includes an inside courtyard and a rooftop garden. Connery hopes that The Kelsey’s vision will set a standard for all urban neighborhoods in the not-too-distant future.