Across the United States, the pressure to address the issue of affordable housing availability crisis has given rise to a wave of ambitious construction projects. Developers, architects, and policymakers are experimenting with new approaches to design, financing, and delivery, creating affordable homes that are both functional and forward-looking. Several flagship initiatives stand out, reflecting how construction practices are evolving to meet urgent social needs. In New York the Governor Kathy Hochul in July 2025 unveiled a major $1 billion investment in affordable housing, eyeing nearly 3,000 new or preserved homes across New York State. This move builds on her five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan, aiming to create or preserve 100,000 affordable units statewide an initiative that spotlights the urgent need for housing. In this article we look at some of the major affordable housing projects across the country.
To further show how urgent things are getting Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced in August 2025 a record $170 million investment in affordable housing, the largest single-year commitment in the city’s history. Advocates stress the urgency, noting that King County needs 309,000 additional homes by 2040, including 112,000 in Seattle.
300 De Haro Street Affordable Housing Project in Potrero Hill, San Francisco
San Francisco has broken ground on the 300 De Haro Street Affordable Housing Project in Potrero Hill, one of the city’s largest new affordable housing efforts. Rising 11 stories, the development will deliver 425 studio apartments for residents earning 30%–70% of the area median income (~$50,000–$100,000). Led by DM Development and MRK Partners, the project pivoted from mixed-income to fully affordable housing, financed through tax credits and streamlined under Senate Bill 35. Designed by BAR Architects & Interiors, the complex will include 6,000 sq. ft. of retail, landscaped courtyards, a rooftop deck, and modern amenities, with completion expected in 2027.
The Residences at Chestnut in Manchester, New Hampshire
The Residences at Chestnut in Manchester, New Hampshire, is making significant progress, with the first building now complete and fully occupied, providing 44 affordable apartments. Construction began in December 2023 as a collaboration between Lincoln Avenue Communities, Market Square Architects, and PC Construction. Located in the city’s Central Business District, the 160,000-square-foot development will feature two mid-rise buildings offering a total of 142 income-restricted studio, one-, and two-bedroom units. Importantly, 30 of these apartments are reserved for Veterans and their families, highlighting the project’s commitment to addressing both affordable housing needs and community support.
The Willets Point Transformation in Queens is New York City
The Willets Point Transformation in Queens is New York City’s largest 100 percent affordable housing initiative in 40 years. Led by Mayor Eric Adams in partnership with Queens Development Group, the project will deliver 2,500 affordable homes, with the first 880 units under construction and Buildings 1 and 2 recently topped off. Phase 1 also includes senior housing, while Phase 2 will add 1,400 units, a 250-key hotel, retail, public school, and 150,000 square feet of open space. Anchoring the development is a privately financed, all-electric, 25,000-seat soccer stadium, future home of NYCFC, projected to open for the 2027 season.
Meridian Point in Cutler Bay, Florida
Meridian Point at Goulds Station, a $52.7 million affordable housing project by Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), is nearing completion in Cutler Bay, Florida. First announced in July 2023, the development will deliver 113 affordable apartments across two buildings—80 in a mid-rise and 33 in a garden-style complex. Located at SW 216th Street and U.S. 1, the project includes one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, with 68 receiving Section 8 assistance and 45 reserved for households earning up to 80% of area median income. Residents will benefit from community spaces, a fitness center, recreation areas, and convenient transit access.
730 Stanyan project in Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco
The 730 Stanyan project in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury is an eight-story, 100% affordable housing development nearing completion. Set to open in fall 2025, it will provide 160 permanently affordable apartments for low- to moderate-income families, transitional age youth (TAY), and residents escaping homelessness. Designed by OMA with Y.A. Studio, the 193,740-square-foot building includes studios to three-bedroom units, community space, a daycare, café, tech training facility, TAY center, and senior center. A joint venture by CCDC and TNDC with support from MOHCD, the project highlights collaborative efforts to expand affordable housing and community resources at the entrance to Golden Gate Park.
Sugar Hill on Stone, – Tucson Arizona
The City of Tucson has broken ground on Sugar Hill on Stone, a 66-unit affordable housing development in the historic Sugar Hill neighborhood. Built on the former Bum Steer site at 1910 N. Stone Avenue, the project is part of Phase II of the HUD Choice Neighborhoods Implementation (CNI) Strategy under the Thrive in the 05 revitalization plan. Co-developed by Gorman & Company, El Pueblo Housing Development, and the City of Tucson, the project will feature one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, solar-covered parking, community rooms, and a resident-designed mural. Completion is expected by October 2026.
Adaptive Reuse and Policy Initiatives
Other strategies focus on adaptive reuse and policy innovation. In Charlotte, North Carolina, aging budget motels along Sugar Creek are being converted into studio apartments available for just over $1,000 a month, while Michigan has announced an $800 million housing program aimed at creating or rehabilitating 10,000 units across the state. These approaches underscore the role of creative financing and policy in unlocking affordable supply.
Industry Outlook
For the construction industry, these projects carry important lessons. Modular and prefabricated techniques are no longer fringe solutions but are entering the mainstream as efficient, cost-conscious methods. Transit-oriented housing is becoming an essential part of urban affordability strategies. Sustainability features such as solar integration and net-zero design are now embedded in affordable housing projects rather than being seen as luxuries. Finally, adaptive reuse and state-backed financing models show how unconventional assets and policy support can widen housing supply.
As affordability pressures grow, the U.S. is emerging as a testing ground for new approaches that blend design quality, technological innovation, and community integration. For builders and developers, these projects are more than just responses to a crisis—they are shaping a new construction playbook for the decades ahead.
