For the last twelve days of 2025, SFYIMBY will reflect on the biggest stories we’ve covered each month across the region. In April, we covered the pivot from office to housing conversion of CityView Plaza in Downtown San Jose. The city revealed plans for the controversial Embarcadero Park redevelopment. Brisbane published the environmental review of the massive Baylands masterplan, which could result in thousands of apartments, several million square feet of commercial area, a new school, and public open space. Partial office-to-housing conversion was proposed for 995 Market Street, and preliminary plans surfaced for a massive thousand-unit neighborhood utilizing the builder’s remedy in Pacifica.
Major Office-to-Residential Conversion Planned for CityView Plaza San Jose
Cityview Plaza aerial view over South Market Street, rendering by SCB
April 2nd: In a major pivot, developer Jay Paul Company has decided to convert a large portion of the ongoing CityView Plaza project from office to residential. The site, at the northeast corner of Almaden Boulevard and Park Avenue in Downtown San Jose, will transform an existing four-office building campus into 320 units, rebooting construction on the project, which paused last year due to poor market conditions.
San Francisco to Revitalize Embarcadero with Multi-Million Park Renovation
Park Aerial Concept Rendering, Image via BXP
April 4th: Early last month, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the proposed redevelopment of Embarcadero Park along the Financial District’s waterfront. The decision comes after voters approved Proposition B last November, providing up to $41 million towards the redevelopment of multiple parks in the San Francisco Downtown neighborhoods.
Luxury High Rise Proposed For Downtown San Mateo
1 East 4th Avenue pedestrian view from along 4th Avenue, rendering by Arc Tec
April 9th: Mecah Ventures has proposed a new 14-story luxury high-rise in downtown San Mateo. According to the developer, the building is specifically designed to appeal to retirees and empty nesters who are looking to downsize, but who want to stay in San Mateo. Designed by Arc Tec, the building will include hotel-style amenities such as a spa, gym, golf simulator, and indoor movie theater.
Brisbane Files with CEQA for Baylands Specific Development Plan
Brisbane Baylands Visitacion Creek Concept Rendering, Image via Brisbane Planning
April 11th: Last week, the City of Brisbane’s proposal for the Baylands development area was opened for public review through the CEQA application page. The specific site plan, developed in partnership with the Metis Environmental Group and Environmental Science Associates, is a sweeping redevelopment of more than 680 acres along Highway 101 and the Caltrain tracks between San Francisco and South San Francisco.
Office-to-Residential Conversion at 995 Market Street, San Francisco
995 Market Street, image via Google Street View
April 18th: New permits have been filed for a partial office-to-residential conversion inside 995 Market Street in San Francisco’s Mid-Market neighborhood. The proposal will renovate eight floors to produce eight co-living residences inside the 16-story complex, recently renamed Frontier Tower. The application comes just days after the Germany-based venture capital firm, Deep Ink Ventures, announced ownership of the building.
Planning Progress for 3601 Lawton Street in Outer Sunset, San Francisco
3601 Lawton Street pedestrian view, rendering by Kip Coleman Architecture
April 20th: Recent planning permits have been filed showing progress for a potential eight-story apartment complex to rise at 3601 Lawton Street in the Outer Sunset of San Francisco. Plans to replace the gas station at the corner of Lawton and 42nd Avenue have been in the works since 2015, with the latest iteration revealed late last year. 3S San Francisco is responsible for the application on behalf of the South City-based property owner, Double AA Corporation.
Environmental Review Available for 3700 California Street in Presidio Heights, San Francisco
3700 California Street, aerial view rendering of design by BDE Architecture and Handel Architects
April 22nd: An updated Final Environmental Impact Report has been published for a sprawling urban redevelopment of the former California Pacific Medical Center campus at 3700 California Street in San Francisco’s Presidio Heights. The proposal looks to add nearly five hundred apartments across three blocks and over a dozen separate buildings. Prado Group is responsible for the application.
New Renderings For 896 Folsom Street in SoMa, San Francisco
896 Folsom Street aerial view, rendering by Forma
April 24th: New renderings have been published alongside a project review meeting request for 896 Folsom Street in SoMa, San Francisco. The filing comes just a day after similar plans were filed for the sister project by the same developer, FORMA Development Design & Management. FORMA is looking to replace its own offices with 132 apartments inside a 26-story pencil-thin tower.
Preliminary Plans For Pacifica Quarry Residential Redevelopment, San Mateo County
Rockaway Quarry, photograph by Dorothea Lange
April 25th: Preliminary plans have been filed for Coastal Crest Residences, a potential residential redevelopment of the Pacifica Quarry Site by Rockaway Beach. The builder’s remedy-assisted application looks to create a new residential neighborhood of over a thousand affordable units pushed back from the San Mateo County coastline. The project is a joint venture led by Paul Heule’s Michigan-based company, Eenhoorn.
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