For the last twelve days of 2024, SF YIMBY will look back on each month and reflect on the biggest stories we covered. February saw us finally cover the tech utopia in Solano County when the planners made their first substantial step towards realizing the project upon filing a ballot initiative. The developer would eventually withdraw the initiative after facing overwhelming disapproval.
Renderings were published for a handful of other sensational projects, including a waterfront apartment in Sausalito, a now eight-story building near Jackson Square, a 17-story tower in San Jose, and the builder’s remedy invoked for the Creekside Hotel and Residences complex in Palo Alto. YIMBY interviewed the President of Sunset Development in San Ramon, and the city of Cupertino gave final approval to an amended master plan for The Rise, a mixed-use development with over two thousand homes and two million square feet of offices.
UC Law Opens The Academe at 198 in San Francisco
The Academe at 198, image by Bruce Damonte
February 1st: UC Law San Francisco has completed construction on The Academe at 198, a mixed-use building with student housing and classrooms at 198 McAllister Street in Civic Center, San Francisco. The 14-story structure is the second phase of the Academic Village redevelopment led by UCSF and Greystar.
Plans Revealed for Mid-Rise Apartments along Sausalito Waterfront, Marin County
Waterstreet Apartments at 605-613 Bridgeway wide view, rendering by Magilight Studio
February 7th: New plans have been submitted for a six-story apartment complex to rise at 605-613 Bridgeway in Sausalito, Marin County. The proposal will bring 47 homes and five retail shops along the city’s picturesque waterfront, including six affordable units. Linda Fotsch is the property owner and applicant for the project, filing through Willy’s LLC.
Developer Considering 8-Story or 14-Story Apartments for 875 Sansome Street, San Francisco
875 Sansome Street low-rise version, rendering by BDE Architecture
February 8th: Two new proposals have been submitted for housing at 875 Sansome Street in San Francisco. The different applications provide a case study of how state law has changed the development landscape in the city over the last four years since increasing the state density bonus and introducing Assembly Bill 1287. N17 Development filed both projects on behalf of the property owner, Allrise Capital.
YIMBY Interviews California Forever’s Head of Planning
California Forever proposed zoning map, rendering by SITELAB Urban Studio and CMG
February 12th: California Forever has made its first substantial step toward building a new city on agricultural land in Solano County. Earlier this week, YIMBY spoke with California Forever’s Head of Planning, Gabriel Metcalf, to discuss the facts of their proposal and the Ballot Initiative. The company, a real estate firm established in Silicon Valley in 2017 with financing from several billionaires, hopes to convince the county voters to create a new city with up to 400,000 residents.
City to Review 25-story Proposal in Downtown San Jose
439 South 4th Street streetscape view, rendering by SCDC
February 13th: The San Jose Planning Commission is scheduled to vote on a resolution tomorrow for a 25-story residential proposal at 439 South 4th Street in Downtown San Jose, Santa Clara County. The project will bring over two hundred homes, including student-focused amenities. Nelly Ames is the property owner.
Plans Nearly Tripled for 960 Howard Street, San Francisco
960 Howard Street establishing view, rendering by oWow
February 16th: New permits have been filed to increase the residential expansion of 960 Howard Street in SoMa, San Francisco. The updated plans use the recently passed Assembly Bill 1287 to achieve a 100% density bonus, creating a 19-story tower rising from an existing office building. oWow, the busy Oakland-based developer, is responsible for the application.
YIMBY Interview with Alex Mehran Jr. of Sunset Development.
City Center Bishop Ranch aerial image
February 19th: A few weeks ago, YIMBY visited Bishop Ranch in San Ramon to learn more about plans to build thousands of new homes in the business park. The 2020-approved project has been revised to include an additional 2,6000 units on top of the former Chevron headquarters, with plans to modernize their remaining office space with added flexibility to attract and retain tenants. During our visit, YIMBY got to talk with Alex Mehran Jr, president and chief executive officer of Sunset Development Company.
City Approves The Rise in Cupertino
The Rise apartments and retail seen from a green space, rendering by Kohn Pedersen Fox
February 20th: The City of Cupertino has approved plans for The Rise, a massive mixed-use proposal for thousands of homes, retail, offices, and parking garages on the former Vallco Mall property close to Apple Park. The green-lit project is a modified version which was revealed in December of last year, with a new towerless design, a remarkable shift from the previous plan. Sand Hill Property Company is the project developer.
Updated Builder’s Remedy Plans For 3400 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
Creekside Residences car view from along El Camino Real, rendering by Lowney Architecture
February 27th: New planning permits have been filed for the Creekside Hotel and Residences complex at 3400 El Camino Real in Palo Alto, Santa Clara County. The updated plans have increased in height and capacity since the 2023 filing to fit state law. Oxford Capital Group is the property owner.
17-Story Tower Proposed for 826 North Winchester Boulevard, San Jose
826 North Winchester Boulevard aerial view, rendering from VCI Companies
February 28th: New plans have been revealed for a 17-story residential tower at 826 North Winchester Boulevard in San Jose, Santa Clara County. Renderings revealed by the Bay Area News Group show two towers rising from the same podium and connected with a curving skybridge. San Jose-based VCI Company is responsible for the proposal.
Public Comment Open for Northgate Mall Redevelopment in San Rafael
Northgate Town Square Residential 4, rendering by Studio T Square
February 29th: The City of San Rafael has published the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Northgate Mall redevelopment. This marks a significant step for the Marin County developer to move forward while receiving community feedback. If built, the plan would add over a thousand homes to the underperforming mall, though the document shares that construction could last over a decade.
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