City Administrator Carmen Chu appoints Sheela Jivan as Executive Director of Treasure Island Development Authority

SAN FRANCISCO, CA---Today, City Administrator Carmen Chu announced the appointment of Sheela Jivan as Executive Director of the Treasure Island Development Authority. Jivan currently serves as the Associate Director/Chief Operating Officer of the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley. Jivan brings 30 years of experience managing large-scale, mixed-use urban developments, affordable housing, and community planning.

As Executive Director, Jivan will oversee the development of Treasure Island and neighboring Yerba Buena Island, including the delivery of major infrastructure, new housing, transit connections, and public spaces.

“As San Francisco works to stand up more housing so that the next generations of San Franciscans can afford to stay in the city they love, the success of Treasure Island will be critical to meeting that need,” said Mayor Lurie. “Sheela Jivan’s expertise in housing and community development will be key to moving the work on Treasure Island forward. I look forward to working with her to ensure the community continues to grow into a thriving, connected neighborhood with homes, open space, and opportunity for all.”

“On Treasure Island, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to co-create sustainable, community‑centered neighborhoods designed for the growth of future generations and to care for San Franciscans living on the Island today,” said City Administrator Carmen Chu. “Sheela’s expertise in real estate development, her strategic approach and her collaborative leadership will be pivotal as we move into the next phase of our work. I am excited to bring on a partner that is as fired up and energized by the possibilities in front of us as I am and am confident that she will build upon the strong momentum we see on Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island.”

“As Treasure Island continues to grow, I’m excited to welcome a leader like Sheela, who brings a strong track record of listening to communities and transforming their input into action,” said District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey. “Her experience leading complex development projects to success will be critical to advancing the next phase of development on Treasure Island. Treasure Island is one of the most ambitious development projects San Francisco has seen in decades, and I look forward to working closely with Sheela to make sure our promises are delivered.”

Over 1,200 new market-rate and affordable homes have been completed on Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island. Last year, Treasure Island saw the opening of a brand-new waterfront park, Cityside Park, and the groundbreaking of a new training center for Bay FC, the Bay Area’s National Women’s Soccer League team. Future plans include approximately 7,000 additional units of housing, both affordable and market-rate, and hundreds of more acres of parks and open space.

In 2026, the islands are on track to hit major development milestones, including the groundbreaking of several housing projects. Construction will begin on a 100%-affordable 100-unit senior housing building and a new behavioral health facility. Two new parks—Clipper Cove Park with beachfront access and Chapel Grove Park surrounding the historic Navy chapel—are set to open, adding to the existing world-class recreation space already open to the public. The Treasure Island Water Resource Recovery Facility will begin operation as part of a larger effort to replace aging Naval infrastructure with new systems and facilities prepared to serve residents into the future. By the end of the summer, Bay Wheels bikeshare services will be available on both islands, with new public transportation connections and enhancements in pedestrian and cycling pathways in progress to be completed in 2027.

“I am deeply honored to pick up the leadership mantle from my esteemed predecessor Bob Beck and join TIDA, the office of the City Administrator and the City and County of San Francisco team,” said Sheela Jivan. “Together, with our many partners, we have a new, vibrant, world class San Francisco mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhood to complete which welcomes and beckons everyone to its beautiful setting.”

As Associate Director/COO of the Terner Center for Housing Innovation, Jivan has led finance, operations, strategic planning, communications, and human resources for one of the nation’s leading housing research and policy organizations. She has played a key role as lead liaison to UC Berkeley and the College of Environmental Design, strengthening institutional partnerships and supporting the Terner Center’s long-term impact.

Jivan’s career spans other major land use transformations and large-scale affordable housing delivery. Prior to joining the Terner Center, Jivan served as a Director of Global Real Estate Development at Google where she led a large team working on the 80-acre Downtown West Project, a transit-oriented district development effort in San Jose. This master plan included 7.3 million square feet of office, 4,000 market rate and affordable housing units, 15 acres of parks, 500,000 square feet of retail, arts and cultural spaces to the region and the establishment of a $150 million community stabilization and opportunity pathway fund rooted in social equity and community participation.

As a managing agent for Lennar with FivePoint, she directed the Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Project---a 13,000-unit master-planned community similar to Treasure Island in size, complexity, and scale. She previously spent two decades in San Francisco at Mercy Housing California, where she led the development of 12 ground-up affordable housing projects and executed 13 land acquisitions and renovations across the state. Jivan established and led a new department to recapitalize and renovate Mercy’s portfolio of 140 properties in San Francisco and across California, which centered improving the quality of life for the resident community.

"Sheela Jivan brings decades of experience in complex real estate development and is widely respected by her peers across the industry," said Linda Fadeke Richardson, TIDA Board Chair. "As we look ahead, Sheela steps into this critical role at a pivotal moment for San Francisco. The Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island projects are central to addressing the city’s housing needs and advancing its broader economic revitalization, with plans to deliver thousands of new housing units. This is ambitious work that demands both vision and disciplined execution, and I look forward to welcoming Sheela to the team. I would also like to recognize her predecessor, Bob Beck, for his outstanding contributions and for establishing the strong foundation on which we continue to build."

“One Treasure Island is excited to welcome Sheela Jivan as the new Director of the Treasure Island Development Authority. Over more than 30 years, One Treasure Island has invested deeply in this innovative effort to build San Francisco’s newest mixed-income community through a strong public-private partnership,” said Nella Goncalvez, Executive Director of One Treasure Island. “Our collaboration with TIDA leadership has been central to advancing affordable housing and community planning, and we look forward to continuing this work with Sheela at the helm. Her experience and proven leadership give us confidence that she will be a transformative force for advancing the redevelopment of Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island.”

“Sheela brings a deep understanding of equitable development and a proven ability to deliver complex, large-scale, mixed-use projects,” said Tiffany Bohee, President of Mercy Housing California President. “Having partnered with her on past projects and as witness to the impact of her two decades at Mercy, I've seen firsthand her commitment to hearing the community and getting results. I’m excited to see her build on the strong foundation already in place and help shape Treasure Island into an inclusive, vibrant neighborhood for generations to come.”

Jivan holds a dual master’s degree in Public Health and City & Regional Planning and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, all from UC Berkeley.

Jivan’s appointment is effective in June. Her appointment comes after an extensive search to replace long-time Treasure Island Director, Bob Beck, who retired this January after over 30 years of public service. TIDA Deputy Director Jamie Querubin has served as acting director since Beck’s retirement.

About Treasure Island Development Authority

The Treasure Island Development Authority (TIDA) is a non-profit, public benefit agency dedicated to the economic development of the former Naval Station on Treasure Island, transforming the islands into a growing, mixed-use community. TIDA works collaboratively with private development partners at Treasure Island Community Development and community-based organizations, including One Treasure Island, to deliver resident-oriented infrastructure and services.