For the last twelve days of 2025, SFYIMBY will continue our tradition of reflecting on the biggest stories we’ve covered each month across the region. This November saw a range of stories, including new housing in The Presidio, demolition of a funeral home in Lower Nob Hill, and a new frontrunner in the unofficial race for the tallest building in Berkeley. California Forever revealed its plan to expand the existing Suisun City municipality with its controversial planned city. However, the biggest stories came from Align Real Estate, with plans published this month to redevelop Safeways in Bernal Heights, the Fillmore District, and the Outer Richmond.
Presidio Trust Proposes Letterman Residential Project, San Francisco
Letterman Residential project pedestrian view, rendering by David Baker Architects
November 4th: The Presidio Trust has revealed plans for a new housing development at the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Girard Road in The Presidio of San Francisco. The application is looking to replace two non-historic buildings with nearly two hundred homes across six structures. David Baker Architects is responsible for the design.
Updated Plans Published For 47-Story Tower at 536 Mission Street, San Francisco
536 Mission Street office variant south and west facade elevations, rendering by SOM
November 7th: Updated plans have been published for the potential redevelopment of the Golden Gate University Campus at 536 Mission Street in SoMa, San Francisco. The team is still considering two 47-story variants for the site, either a 698-foot-tall mixed-use tower with housing or a 752-foot-tall office tower. Lincoln Property Company and McCourt Partners are jointly responsible for the application.
Demolition Underway For 22-Story Apartments at 1101-1123 Sutter Street, San Francisco
1123 Sutter Street demolition progress, image by author
November 11th: Demolition work is well underway for an approved 22-story apartment tower at 1101-1123 Sutter Street in San Francisco’s Lower Nob Hill neighborhood. Crews have torn down the vacant funeral home and associated parking lot ahead of vertical construction for over three hundred units between Polk Street and Larkin Street. Martin Building Company is responsible for the development.
Affordable Housing Opens In Hunters Point Shipyard, San Francisco
Oscar James Residences lobby view, image courtesy project team
November 12th: Oscar James Residences has officially opened its doors at 151 and 351 Friedell Street in San Francisco’s Hunters Point Shipyard. The project team and public officials gathered late last week to celebrate the completion of over a hundred affordable units across two five-story buildings. Jonathan Rose Companies and Bayview Senior Services are jointly responsible for the development.
Preliminary Permits Filed For Next Phases of 1979 Mission Street, San Francisco
1979 Mission Street aerial view, image courtesy SF Planning
November 13th: Preliminary permits have been filed for the second and third phases of affordable housing at 1979 Mission Street in San Francisco’s Mission District. The application was submitted soon after the developers announced the imminent construction of the first phase of housing for the storied site overlooking the 16th Street BART Station. Mission Economic Development Agency and Mission Housing Development Corporation are jointly responsible for the project.
Permits Filed For Safeway Redevelopment in Fillmore, San Francisco
1335 Webster Street, image by Google Street View
November 14th: Preliminary permits have been filed for the mixed-use redevelopment of a now-closed Safeway grocery store at 1335 Webster Street in San Francisco’s Fillmore District. The initial application proposes the addition of approximately 1,800 new apartments above a replacement grocery store. Align Real Estate is responsible for the application filing on behalf of the property owner, Safeway, Inc.
Modified Plans Could Be Potential Tallest Tower in Berkeley
2190 Shattuck Avenue establishing view, rendering by SDT Architects
November 18th: Once again, modified plans have surfaced that could reshape Berkeley’s skyline. Preliminary permits have been filed to modify the previously approved entitlements for 2190 Shattuck Avenue in Downtown Berkeley, increasing the floor count from 25 floors to 34 floors. Landmark Properties is the property owner and applicant.
Increased Plans For 2222 Carroll Street on Ivy Hill, Oakland
2222 Carroll Street, rendering courtesy Team Projects
November 17th: Renderings have been revealed alongside increased plans for 2222 Carroll Street on Ivy Hill, Oakland. The proposal received by-right approval for a nine-story apartment complex on the narrow vacant lot, a block away from Park Boulevard and a fifteen-minute walk from Lake Merritt. Zachary Heineman of Team Projects is responsible for the application and design.
Preliminary Plans Filed For Safeway in Outer Richmond, San Francisco
850 La Playa Street aerial view, rendering by Steinberg Hart
November 19th: Preliminary plans have been filed for an eight-story apartment complex at 850 La Playa Street in San Francisco’s Richmond District. The project will replace the existing big-box store with over five hundred apartments above a replacement Safeway grocery store. Albertsons Companies, the parent company of Safeway, is listed as the property owner, filing through Dominick’s Finer Foods, LLC.
Notice of Intent Published for California Forever’s Suisun City Expansion
Concept Rendering of a Main Street in the Suisun City Expansion, image via California Forever
November 20th: For several years now, the California Forever group has been gathering property rights to a large swath of land in unincorporated Solano County. Recently, their efforts have coalesced around a proposal to expand the existing Suisun City municipality eastwards along California Highway 12. Much of the plan is proposed to take place over a 20-year period, and exact details may be subject to change in that time. However, the recently released documents provide a first look into some of the group’s concrete objectives.
Bernal Heights Safeway Redevelopment Proposed, San Francisco
3350 Mission Street overlooking San Jose Avenue, rendering by Perry Architects
November 21st: Preliminary permits have been filed to redevelop the Safeway at 3350 Mission Street in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights. This is the third proposal filed by Align Real Estate to replace an existing Safeway big-box store in the city with a new grocery store atop hundreds of new apartments. The Bernal Heights location is expected to produce over three hundred units across seven floors.
CEQA Exemption For 1230 5th Avenue, San Rafael
1230 5th Avenue establishing view, rendering by SDT Architects
November 25th: Updated plans have been granted a CEQA exemption for the 13-story residential proposal at 1230 5th Avenue in San Rafael, Marin County. The project looks to bring nearly two hundred units to a low-slung lot at the corner of C Street and 5th Avenue. Monahan Pacific Corporation is the project developer.
New Building Permits Filed For 27-Story Tower in Lower Nob Hill, San Francisco
777 Sutter Street aerial view looking eastward, rendering by FORMA
November 25th: New building and demolition permit requests have been filed for a 27-story infill tower at 777 Sutter Street in San Francisco’s Lower Nob Hill neighborhood. The filings come less than two months after the planning applications were approved. FORMA Development Design & Management is the project sponsor and architect.
Office-To-Housing Conversion Proposal For 2121 South El Camino Real, San Mateo
2121 South El Camino Real, image via Google Street View
November 27th: Plans have been filed for an office-to-housing conversion at 2121 South El Camino Real in San Mateo, San Mateo County. The project looks to subdivide an existing commercial complex to add 156 units to a 12-story office tower near the Hillsdale Mall. Tourbineau Real Estate Partners is the project sponsor.
Preliminary Permits Filed For Alexandria Theater Redevelopment, San Francisco
5400 Geary Boulevard, rendering by G7A
November 28th: Preliminary permits have been filed for the redevelopment of the Alexandria Theater at 5400 Geary Boulevard in San Francisco’s Richmond District. The proposal looks to demolish the vacant theater and construct an eight-story mixed-use complex with for-sale housing and a ground-floor cafe. Timespace Group is the property owner.
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