For the last twelve days of 2024, SF YIMBY will look back on each month and reflect on the biggest stories we covered. In March, preliminary plans surfaced for several big projects, new details emerged for the High Speed Rail’s Central Valley Stations, and construction topped out for affordable housing in the Richmond District. We interviewed with the developer behind the proposed 72-story residential skyscraper in SoMa, and plans increased for the ill-fated tower next to Telegraph Hill, backed by a politically active billionaire.
CA High-Speed Rail Authority Reveals Plans for Central Valley Stations
Fresno Station main entrance, rendering by Foster + Partners
March 1st: California’s High-Speed Rail Authority has revealed detailed plans for four stations along the Central Valley segment. While High-Speed Rail remains a distant prospect for the Bay Area, construction on the 171-mile portion winding through the San Joaquin Valley shows steady progress. Previous statements by the Governor suggest that work connecting the Bay Area with the central line will not start until after the Central Valley tracks begin operating in the 2030s.
Plans Increased for 1088 Sansome Street, San Francisco
1088 Sansome Street west elevation, image by Mark Horton Architecture
March 7th: Updated preliminary plans have been filed for a slightly taller iteration at 1088 Sansome Street in the Northern Waterfront neighborhood of San Francisco. The proposal has increased from 17 to 19 floors, with its residential capacity increased by 20 units. Significantly, this latest plan preserves the facade of the existing landmarked structure. Angus McCarthy is the property owner.
17-Story Proposal for 2274 Shattuck Avenue Moves Forward, Downtown Berkeley
2274 Shattuck Avenue seen from Bancroft looking west, rendering by Trachtenberg Architects
March 12th: Berkeley’s Landmark Preservation Commission has voted to protect the United Artists Theater’s facade at 2274 Shattuck Avenue but not the rest of the structure. The decision will be reviewed by the City Council in a public meeting next Tuesday. After that, the developer, Panoramic Interests, is expected to have a clear pathway to start construction for the 227-unit tower once funding is secured.
YIMBY Interview with Paul Paradis of Bayhill Ventures
530 Howard Street establishing view, rendering by Pickard Chilton
March 14th: Bayhill Ventures debuted last November with eye-catching plans for a new residential skyscraper in San Francisco during a period where most significant projects are on hold across the region. Last month, Bayhill’s founder and CEO, Paul Paradis, sat down with YIMBY to discuss the ambitious plans for 530 Howard Street, his reason for starting a new firm, and his optimism for San Francisco’s next top-end office tower.
Preliminary Permits For 2276 Shattuck Avenue in Downtown Berkeley
2276 Shattuck Avenue, rendering by Studio KDA
March 18th: Preliminary permits have been cleared for an 18-story mixed-use project at 2276 Shattuck Avenue in Downtown Berkeley, Alameda County. The proposal uses the State Density Bonus program to add 83 units to the quarter-acre parcel and partially preserve the landmarked Morse Block building. Vindium Real Estate is the developer and applicant.
Construction Tops Out for 4200 Geary Boulevard in Richmond District, San Francisco
4200 Geary Boulevard from 7th Avenue, image by author
March 19th: Construction has topped out less than a year after the groundbreaking for the seven-story affordable senior housing complex at 4200 Geary Boulevard in San Francisco’s Richmond District. The project will add nearly a hundred homes to the busy neighborhood. The Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation is the project developer.
Environmental Review Published for Terraine in Downtown San Jose
Terraine establishing view, rendering by Studio Gang
March 22nd: The Final Environmental Impact Report has been published for Terraine, a mixed-use proposal for housing and parking at 201 West Julian Street in Downtown San Jose. The plans include a new design from Studio Gang for the 17-story residential tower and a ten-year plan to convert the future garage into offices. Westbank Corporation is responsible for the application.
Pre-Construction Financing Secured for Icon/Echo, Downtown San Jose
Icon Residential tower in the updated Icon/Echo plan, rendering by Urban Catalyst
March 26th: Urban Catalyst has received a $10.5 million loan to finance the pre-construction phase of Icon/Echo, a two-tower proposal at 147 East Santa Clara Street directly across from City Hall in Downtown San Jose. The plans will bring hundreds of homes across two acres, with construction now expected to start in one to two years. Gantry is responsible for providing the finance.
Preliminary Permits Filed for Mountain Winery Redevelopment in Saratoga
Mountain Winery aerial view, image shared by Dahlin Group
March 27th: Preliminary permits were submitted earlier this month for a potential mixed-use development at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, Santa Clara County. The filing would add hundreds of homes and a hotel next to the historic vineyard and concert venue. Lexor Investment is the project applicant operating through Chateau Masson LLC.
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The third paragraph above about the March 7th post regarding Angus McCarthy’s 1088 Sansome St. should be annotated or amended to include the fact that the project is not, in fact, moving forward toward approval, much less breaking ground.
The Chronicle’s Laura Waxmann published a piece datelined Oct 17th (“Controversial Telegraph Hill housing tower backed by S.F. billionaire is dead”) saying that “the preliminary application filed in January for the tower was automatically canceled because the developer did not submit a full application within the required 180-day timeframe”. Planning Chief of Staff Dan Sider had not heard from the project team about why they missed the deadline and said team did not respond to messages from The Chronicle’s Real Estate reporter seeking comment.
Sad, really, because converting office space to much-needed housing is the only realistic way to reduce elevated vacancies and falling lease rates.