Natalie Bonnewit has been a developer of affordable and supportive housing in the Bay Area for over 25 years, developing 28 projects and over 2,000 units of housing and emergency shelter beds in her role as owner's representative and project manager.  Her expertise also includes military base reuse, large-scale redevelopment projects, and affordable housing policy.

services

Natalie provides owner-representative services, project management, affordable housing planning, and policy services to mission-driven and public clients including non-profit affordable housing developers, service providers, housing advocacy groups, local government, and philanthropy.

Bonnewit Development has experience in all scales of development from small-scale rehabilitation projects to large-scale development projects and military base reuse. Natalie also offers policy services and has helped shape the policy debate around affordable housing and its financing.

Bonnewit Development Services provided Project Management and owner representative services on the restoration of the California Hotel on behalf of EBALDC. Credit: Mark Luthringer.

biography

Development.

 She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in city planning (MCP) from the University of California at Berkeley.

 Natalie has volunteered for many non-profit boards of directors including as board president for East Bay Housing Organizations and One Treasure Island. 

 Natalie is a frequent convenor, moderator, and panelist on affordable housing issues.

Natalie is a former Urban and Regional Policy Fellow with the German Marshall Fund studying affordable housing models in Amsterdam and Copenhagen. Her policy paper can be found here: Affordable Housing in Amsterdam and Copenhagen: Lessons for the San Francisco Bay Area.

Bonnewit Development Services is a certified Alameda County Small Local Emerging Business.

Natalie opened her consulting practice, Bonnewit Development Services, in 2006. She has provided affordable housing development services to most of the Bay Area's affordable housing developers. In addition, she has provided development and policy services to service providers, advocacy organizations, philanthropy, and local government.      

Prior to opening her firm, Natalie was an analyst at the real estate marketing economics firm BAE, and a project manager with Community Housing Partnership (now HomeRise) and Resources for Community

Treasure Island and its planned redevelopment. Image courtesy of TIDA.

recent work

TREASURE ISLAND


Treasure Island at full buildout.

obligations on behalf of TIDA and One TI on the following developments:

  • Maceo May (Swords to Plowshares and Chinatown CDC project sponsors), 105 units for homeless veterans, 2023

  • Star View Court (Mercy Housing and Catholic Charities project sponsors), 138 units for mixed populations, 2024

  • E1.2 Senior Housing (Mercy Housing is the project sponsor), 120 units in predevelopment

  • IC4.3 (John Stewart Company and Catholic Charities project sponsors), 150 units for mixed populations, in predevelopment 

  • Affordable housing pipeline planning for mixed target populations

In addition, Natalie works on community development activities island-wide.  

sftreasureisland.org

2016 - present

Natalie is currently working with the City of San Francisco Treasure Island Development Authority and the community-based organization One Treasure Island to plan for and develop over 2,000 affordable and Permanent Supportive Housing units on Treasure Island. 

 She provides ongoing programming & implementation for 2,173 affordable units. In collaboration with city partners and project sponsors, Natalie helps implement federal base closure

BAY AREA HOUSING FINANCE AUTHORITY/MTC


2021 - 2024

Natalie served as Chief of Staff on the Forsyth Consultant team that drafted the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority Business Plan (BAFHA Business Plan), issued by BAHFA, MTC and ABAG and is the first of its first-of-its-kind legislatively authorized regional housing finance agency in the Bay Area and was created to address the Bay Area’s chronic housing challenges.

mtc.ca.gov/about-mtc/authorities/bay-area-housing-finance-authority-bahfa

NONPROFIT HOUSING ASSOCIATION OF NOTHERN CALIFORNIA


2019 - present

Natalie is currently working with the Non-profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH) to support member organization efforts to improve the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) development ecosystem through full cost analysis, operational peer-to-peer sharing, and regulatory and legislative advocacy.  She staffs the NPH PSH Coalition Standards of Quality and Advocacy Workgroups.  These groups meet to better understand the full costs of providing PSH, generate consensus on best practices, and develop a collective advocacy agenda to improve the PSH ecosystem for consumers and developers/owners.

 The NPH PSH Coalition has worked to further the field through webinars including Permanent Supportive Housing Costs and Resident Outcomes: What Have We Learned And Where Do We Go From Here? The NPH PSH Coalition was a key partner for the Terner Center report Permanent Supportive Housing as a Solution to Homelessness: The Critical Role of Long-Term Operating Subsidies

nonprofithousing.org

past projects & engagements

Bonnewit Development Services work on projects throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

  • Asian Neighborhood Design, andnet.org

    • Asset Management, Loan Conversion, Minna Park Apartments, San Francisco - 2015

    Bay Area Housing Finance Authority/MTC, mtc.ca.gov/about-mtc/authorities/bay-area-housing-finance-authority-bahfa

    • Chief of Staff on the Forsyth Consultant team that drafted the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority Business Plan (BAFHA Business Plan), 2021 – 2024.

    BRIDGE Housing, bridgehousing.com

    • 25 Sanchez, San Francisco - 2017, 90 units of permanent housing

    • 462 Duboce, San Francisco - 2017, 43 units of permanent housing

    • 255 Woodside, San Francisco - 2017, 110 units of permanent housing

    • Holly Courts, San Francisco - 2017, 118 units of permanent housing

    Building Futures, bfwc.org

    • North Housing – 2020 to present

    • Midway shower and laundry building replacement – 2019

    • Alameda Naval Weapons Station – 2014 to present

    • Bessie Coleman Court – 2014, 58 units transitional and permanent supportive

    • Sister Me Home rehabilitation, San Leandro – 2013, 20 transitional beds

    • Midway Homeless Shelter rehabilitation, Alameda – 2007, 25 emergency beds

    • Bessie Coleman Court fire repair – 2006, 58 units transitional and permanent supportive

    Burbank Housing Development Corporation, burbankhousing.org

    • Cross Roads feasibility – 2016, Santa Rosa

    • Lantana Feasibility – 2016, Richmond

    Change Lab Solutions, changelabsolutions.org

    • Guest reviewer of “Preserving Protecting and Expanding Affordable Housing” - 2014

    Central City Hospitality House, hospitalityhouse.org

    • Emergency Shelter Rehabilitation, San Francisco - 2012, 25 emergency beds

    • Emergency shelter exterior repairs, San Francisco – 2013, 25 emergency beds

    Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI)

    • In partnership with Economic & Planning Systems Inc, co-authored “Advancing Affordable Housing Opportunities: Public Funding Resources and Strategic Recommendations”, 2023-2024

    Conard House, conard.org

    • Self-Management of Mental Illness Resource Acquisition, San Francisco – 2007

    Contra Costa County

    • Mental Health Services Act Implementation Team – 2009

    East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, ebaldc.org

    • The California Hotel, Oakland - 2013

    • 1110 Jackson - 2015

    East Bay Community Recovery Project, ebcrp.org

    • Project Pride, Capacity Building Consultant, Oakland - 2012

    • FACT Permanent Supportive Housing, Project Manager, Oakland - 2012, 7 units

    • Project Pride, Accessory Structure, Oakland – 2013

    East Bay Housing Organizations, ebho.org

    • Executive Director search, 2023

    Family Service and Counseling Community Resource Center, fscceastbay.org

    • Center Rehabilitation Project Manager, San Leandro - 2009

    Habitat for Humanity East Bay, habitateb.org

    • Concord Naval Weapons Station Public Benefit Conveyance - 2009

    Lutheran Social Services of Northern California, lssnorcal.org

    • Representation of Concord Naval Base Reuse – 2008-2018

    • Real estate development consulting – 2011-2015

    • Spirit of Hope predevelopment, Concord - 2010

    • Trinity Lutheran Church predevelopment, Richmond – 2010

    • Mi Casa housing for homeless youth, Concord – 2008, 6 transitional beds

    Mercy Housing California, mercyhousing.org

    • Concord Naval Weapons Station Homeless Collaborative - 2008-Presesent

    • Asset Management Portfolio project – 2013 - 2014

    • East Leland Family Apartments interim Project Manager, Pittsburg - 2009, 63 units

    MidPeninsula Housing Corporation, midpen-housing.org

    • 9% deal closing, Onizuko crossing, Sunnyvale – 2014, 58 units of permanent supportive housing

    • Senior Project Management Consultant, 6800 Mission St, Daly City, 2015-2016, 52 units

    Mission Economic Development Agency, medasf.org

    • 25 Sanchez, San Francisco - 2017, 90 units of permanent housing

    • 462 Duboce, San Francisco - 2017, 43 units of permanent housing

    • 255 Woodside, San Francisco - 110 units of permanent housing

    Nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California, nonprofithousing.org

    Natalie supports member organization efforts to improve the Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) development ecosystem. 2019 - present

    One Treasure Island, onetreasureisland.org

    • Ongoing affordable housing consulting – 2008 to present

    • Temporary Executive Director, San Francisco – 2009, 2017, 2019

    Openhouse, openhouse-sf.org

    • Owner’s Rep services

    Resources for Community Development, rcdhousing.org

    • Embark Apartments 61 units housing for homeless veterans – 2017-2021

    Satellite Affordable Housing Associates, sahahomes.org

    • Kenneth Henry Court Project Manager, Oakland - 2013, 51 units perm housing

    • Lakeside Senior Housing MHP loan closing, Oakland – 2015, 91 units

    Swords to Plowshares, stp-sf.org

    • Presidio replacement unit analysis, 108 transitional and permanent units, 2016

    • Various consulting projects 2010 - 2017

    Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation, tndc.org

    • Franciscan Towers, San Francisco 2013 - 2014, 105 units perm supportive housing

    Tipping Point, tippingpoint.org

    • Alternative development modelling, 2016 - 2017

    Treasure Island Development Authority (TIDA), sftreasureisland.org

    • Ongoing programming & implementation for 2,173 affordable units. 2016 - present

    • Housing is Treatment: Proposition 1 and the opportunities it affords for partnerships between affordable housing developers and mental health and substance use treatment providers, Housing California conference 2025

    • Social Housing: Applicability of European models in the US, AIA 2024

    • Housing as Healthcare: the intersection of Proposition 1 and Permanent Supportive Housing, Nonprofit Housing Association conference, 2024

    • Permanent Supportive Housing: The impact of the US’ Fragmented Delivery System on Resident Outcomes and Building Operations, European New Housing Research conference in Delft, Netherlands, 2024

    • The Impact of Fragmentation & Complexity on Delivering Permanent Supportive Housing: Lessons and Opportunities, Housing California conference, 2024

    • Debating Permanent Supportive Housing Systems Change, Nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California conference, 2023

    • Strengthening the PSH Ecosystem through Practitioner Partnerships across the State, Housing California conference, 2023

    • The Critical Role of Long-Term Operating Subsidies for Permanent Supportive Housing, Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley webinar, 2023

    • Permanent Supportive Housing Costs And Resident Outcomes: What Have We Learned And Where Do We Go From Here?, Nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California, 2023

    • Treating Housing As A Human Right: Learnings From Abroad, SPUR forum: Ideas + Action 2023: Housing Beyond Zero-Sum, 2023

    • Transforming the PSH Ecosystem in the Bay Area and Statewide, Nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California conference, 2022

    • Permanent Supportive Housing: Full Costs and Best Practices, Nonprofit Housing Association of Northern California – Brown Bag, 2021

    • Affordable Housing Finance and Service Delivery Models: Case Studies from Amsterdam and Copenhagen, All Home, 2021

    • Affordable Housing Finance and Institutional Support Case Studies from Amsterdam and Copenhagen, UC Berkeley Masters of Real Estate and Design, 2021

    • Learning from International Housing Delivery Systems, SPUR 2020

    • Affordable Housing Dispatches from Amsterdam & Copenhagen: A comparison of housing delivery systems, Sustainable Connected Communities Neighborhood Exchange Enterprise, 2020

    • International Affordable Housing Case Studies and their Potential Applicability to the Bay Area Housing Finance Agency, MTC, Enterprise and NPH 2020

    • Comparing International Housing Systems, SPUR 2019

    • Affordable Housing Finance and Service Delivery Models: Case Studies from Amsterdam and Copenhagen, Enterprise 2018

    • Affordable Housing Finance and Service Delivery Models: Case Studies from Amsterdam and Copenhagen, San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development 2018

    • Affordable Housing 101: An Overview, UC Berkeley Masters in Urban Design Program 2018

    • Funding Affordable Housing: Case Studies from Amsterdam and Copenhagen, Non-profit Housing Association of Northern California brownbag, 2018

    • Social Housing Workshop panelist, Housing California conference, 2018

    • A Comparison of Housing Delivery Systems and the Impact on Our Most Vulnerable Households, City of Amsterdam 2017

    • Affordable Housing in Amsterdam and Copenhagen: What Can We Learn? SPUR 2016 and 2017

    • Maximizing Services Funding, Housing California conference 2015

    • Occupied Rehabs: Making it Work for Residents, Developers and Managers, Housing California conference 2014 and 2015

    • Community Benefits in Large Scale Redevelopment Projects, Treasure Island Case Study, Housing California conference 2012

    • Joint Ventures and Turnkey Development Projects, Housing California conference 2012