Starcity, a community-based-living startup, has announced it has secured approval from the City of San Francisco and the City of San Jose, respectively, for two large-scale purpose-built co-living projects.
The property in San Francisco is Starcity Minna, is a 270-unit high-rise planned for the intersection of Minna and Fifth streets in the centrally located SoMa area of San Francisco. Starcity San Jose is an 803-unit high-rise planned for downtown San Jose, three blocks from San Pedro Square and a short walk to Diridon Station.
Both projects are slated to open in 2021.
Since last fall, Starcity also has worked closely with the City of San Jose on an amendment to the City's Planning Code to add “co-living” as a formally recognized use category, distinct from multifamily and other conventional residential uses.
This is the first dedicated co-living zoning code to be established in the United States. Other cities facing a similar affordability crisis will be able to follow suit and adopt similar zoning legislation in order to encourage new and more sustainable types of housing. The co-living ordinance amendment went before and unanimously passed City Council on Feb. 26 and became effective on April 12. This allowed Starcity’s project to move forward with an entitlement change from the previously approved multifamily project (by KT Urban) to a truly purpose-built co-living development. Starcity resubmitted a project application to the city in late April and formally received project approvals on May 29 at the Planning Director’s Hearing. The project is now formally entitled to development.
