Casa Valencia Apartments
Our Project
​​
​​
Casa Valencia provides a crucial safety net for immigrants and individuals who, despite working, continue to experience poverty and remain at risk of homelessness. The project involved rehabilitating and leasing a 63-room residential hotel—marketing and renting these units to new tenants—along with eight ground-floor commercial spaces and shared community kitchens.
Since its completion in 1988, Casa Valencia Apartments has remained a cornerstone of affordable housing in San Francisco’s vibrant Mission District, offering stability and support amid the ever-shifting housing landscape of the Bay Area.
A Safety Net for Vulnerable Communities
Designed to serve very low-income residents, Casa Valencia provides a crucial buffer against homelessness—particularly for immigrants and individuals who continue to struggle financially despite steady employment. The building’s mission prioritizes stability, dignity, and long-term housing security.
Revitalizing a Historic Residential Hotel
Casa Valencia Apartments represents the impactful rehabilitation of a 63-room residential hotel, transforming the area into an opportunity for quality housing for low income tenants.
A Landmark Within a Post-Fire Historic District
Located in the “16th and Valencia Streets Post-Fire” historic district, the building is recognized under California Register Criterion 1 (Events). Casa Valencia stands as a testament to the reconstruction efforts that shaped the Inner Mission North following the 1906 Earthquake and Fire.
Continuing the Mission District’s Mural Legacy
In the 1970s, Las Mujeres Muralistas pioneered a movement that transformed the Mission District into a vibrant canvas for social justice and cultural expression. Their groundbreaking work helped cement the neighborhood’s identity as a global center for mural art that champions community voices and activism.
Casa Valencia proudly extends this artistic tradition through the mural on its Northeast façade, created by artist Natalie Gabriel.
Commercial Spaces that Strengthen the Neighborhood
Casa Valencia’s ground floor are home to several restaurants and businesses, including a cash express business, which provides vital services for local residents while contributing to the economic stability of the surrounding blocks. These small businesses foster community interaction, offer everyday conveniences, and help preserve the Mission’s tradition of locally rooted commerce.
Preserving Culture Amidst Ongoing Gentrification
From the late 1990s through the 2010s, waves of new residents—including young tech professionals—triggered rapid gentrification, leading to rising rents and significant displacement. Although the Latino population dropped from 60% in 2000 to 48% in 2015, the Mission continues to serve as the cultural heart of Mexican, Central American, and Mayan-speaking communities who maintain strong ties to the neighborhood despite ongoing economic pressures.
Facts & Logistics
San Francisco, California
LOCATION
Casa Valencia apartments are located in the vibrant, culturally significant neighborhood of the Mission District in San Francisco. Settled on the corner of !6th Street and Valencia, the apartments are walking distance from16th Street Bart Center, and have access to many commercial shops and restaurants.
1988
COMPLETED
Using Citicorp and Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG), Casa Valencia was able to come into completion in 1988.
Residential/ Commercial
CATEGORY
Casa Valencia was the rehabilitation and rent-up of a 63 room residential hotel with 8 ground floor commercial spaces, community kitchens, restrooms and laundry facilities.
Significance
This building lies within the "16th and Valencia Streets Post-Fire" historic district of San Francisco, which is significant under California Register of Historic Resources Criterion 1 Events. Casa Valencia Apartments is a representative of the wide variety of physical rebuilding and neighborhood reconstruction in the Inner Mission North during the period that followed the 19006 Earthquake and Fire. Additionally, Casa Valencia falls under Criterion 3 (Architecture/Design), exhibiting features, materials, consistent design, and craftsmanship that embody the distinctive characteristics of architectural styles, including Classical Revival, Mission Revival, Craftsman, Edwardian, and vernacular types, of the period.​
In the 1970s, a groundbreaking group of female artists known as Las Mujeres Muralistas (The Women Muralists) helped shape the mural movement in San Francisco’s Mission District. Their work not only challenged gender roles in the art world but also inspired future generations of women to express themselves through public art. The Mission quickly became known for its powerful murals—bold works of art that gave voice to social justice, human rights, and political activism.
Over the decades, this tradition has continued to evolve, embracing themes like immigration, gentrification, and cultural identity.
At Casa Valencia Apartments, we are proud to carry on this legacy. Our Northeast façade features a mural by artist Natalie Gabriel, celebrating the city and the rich artistic spirit that defines the Mission.
Have a question about this property? Send an inquiry:
268 Bush Street P.O. Box 3966
San Francisco CA 94104
(925) 438-0016
