The San Francisco Planning Commission is scheduled to review plans for the stalled 47-story tower at 30 Van Ness Avenue tomorrow at noon. The project has remained an empty hole since 2023 in the center of the city’s once-burgeoning Market-Octavia Area Plan. Australian developer Lendlease hopes that modifications to the approval may make the project more financially feasible, in part, by removing affordable housing.
30 Van Ness Avenue overall building aerial view, with One Oak and a massing of 10 South Van Ness at the left of the image, design by Solomon Cordwell Buenz
30 Van Ness Avenue multipurpose space concept, design by Solomon Cordwell Buenz
The project received final approval in May 2020, with construction starting in September 2022. In less than a year, foundation work progressed, with the basement area excavated and steel installation underway. However, initial work was delayed, and further analysis was requested based on its proximity to the BART tunnels. In August of 2023, Lendlease halted construction due to market conditions, most notably the record-high office vacancy rates.
The requested amendments includes a 18,800 square-foot increase of office space in the second-floor, achieving an overall capacity of 252,900 square feet across the nine-story office podium. Retail space is to be reduced from around 21,000 square feet to 6,415 square feet. Lastly, the developer is hoping to modify the affordable housing requirements. The city’s deal also strikes out the on-site affordable housing requirement, meaning all 333 condominiums will be built as market-rate housing. Previously, the developer would have added 83 below-market-rate units.
30 Van Ness Avenue podium elevation, design by Solomon Cordwell Buenz
30 Van Ness Avenue residential lobby, design by Solomon Cordwell Buenz
The building envelope and size will be consistent with the 2020-approved plans. Full build-out would see a 540-foot tall mixed-use tower spanning 722,000 square feet, with 467,100 square feet for housing, 252,900 square feet of office space, and 6,414 square feet for retail. Unit types vary, with 21 studios, 104 one-bedrooms, 161 two-bedrooms, and 47 three-bedrooms.
Likewise, Solomon Cordwell Buenz’s design remains, with a bulky nine-story podium capped by a skinny skyscraper. The design scheme integrates angular features into the massing at several points, with a terrace carved out along the podium and a triangular rooftop for the tower.
Lendlease purchased the property from the city in 2017 for $70 million, with demolition completed in 2022. The previous estimate for construction expected the cost to be nearly a quarter billion dollars, with work lasting 44 months from groundbreaking to completion. If completed today, Hayes Point would become the 18th tallest building in the city.
30 Van Ness Avenue aerial view above Market and Van Ness circa July 2022, image by Andrew Campbell Nelson
The meeting is scheduled to start tomorrow, March 13th, at 12 PM. The event will be held in City Hall, with in-person participation. For more information about how to attend and participate, visit the meeting agenda here.
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This and the Oceanwide Center are the two major projects in downtown San Francisco that are on hold. Hopefully progress can be made because having those sites empty is a complete waste of necessary space
Bring the affordable housing requirement down to 5% and watch the boom occur. Hopefully Lurie and a more moderate BoS can actually crunch some math and realize that if a coffee shop has to sell 20% of its lattes for $1, the math doesn’t work to run the business at all. Same for the ridiculous affordable housing requirements. With tons of supply, housing in SF will become “naturally” affordable.
I agree. Not all housing has to fit the affordable category. We need some market rate housing for “wealthier” people who will live here in the City and stimulate the economy, which will ultimately benefit those who live in “affordable” housing.