Emergency demolition permits have been filed for a portion of the Verdi Building, located across from Washington Square in North Beach, San Francisco. The brick structure standing at 659 Union Street has been left vacant after being ravaged by fire in 2013 and 2018. The application states that 50 feet of brick wall at the rear of the building will be removed.
The partial demolition permit is not related to redevelopment plans. The city’s deputy director of historic preservation signed off on the demolition permit and emergency order, describing the scope of work as “an approximately 50’ section of brick wall at the rear (south) of the building.”
659 Union Street redevelopment plans, rendering by Powell Partners
Last October, the San Francisco Standard reported that Red Bridge Partners, led by Jeff Jurow, planned to submit preliminary permits for an eight-story development at 659 Union Street, with 89 apartments, a rooftop restaurant, and 5,700 square feet of ground-level retail. This would include 15 affordable housing units. SFYIMBY has not been able to independently verify the pre-application.
Red Bridge Partners purchased the property in 2017 for over $2 million. The latest permit is not for full demolition of the damaged brick structure, and there does not appear to be any planning progress for a potential eight-story replacement at the corner lot. The developer has yet to reply to a request for comment.
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Is it really, “emergency” demolition when it’s 8 years after the fire?