For the last twelve days of 2025, SFYIMBY will reflect on the biggest stories we’ve covered each month across the region. August of this year started with news that the Eames Institute would take over the former Birkenstock Campus in Novato, with Herzog & de Meuron overseeing the adaptive reuse. In Berkeley, the Adeline Alliance Team was selected to oversee the redevelopment of the Ashby BART Station. We also covered construction progress across the region, including two groundbreaking events in San Francisco, rising housing in Jack London Square, and demolition progress for CityView Plaza in Downtown San Jose.
Eames Institute Proposes Museum Conversion of Former Birkenstock Campus, Marin County
Eames Institute arrival court, rendering by Herzog & de Meuron
August 1st: The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity has announced plans to transform the former Birkenstock campus in Novato into a museum for art and design. The Marin County campus spans 88.5 acres of public open space and an extremely distinctive saw-tooth roofline factory warehouse in view of Highway 101. International architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron is responsible for the design.
Adeline Alliance Team Selected For Ashby BART Station Redevelopment, Berkeley
Ashby BART conceptual overview, rendering by DIALOG
August 7th: Adeline Alliance Team has been selected to redevelop the Ashby BART Station in the south of Berkeley, Alameda County. The successful vision proposes a densely packed mixed-use hub that ties together community needs and residential services below hundreds of apartments. The project is currently in its preliminary stages as the team and city enter an exclusive negotiation agreement.
Increased Plans For 20-Story Tower at 360 5th Street, San Francisco
360 5th Street aerial view, rendering by Handel Architects
August 14th: Preliminary permits have been filed for a 20-story apartment tower at 360 5th Street in SoMa, San Francisco. The proposal could replace the foundation of an abandoned construction project that paused in early 2020 while more than doubling the potential height and residential capacity from the initial entitlements. Novato-based Thompson Builders is responsible for the application.
Construction Topped Out at 335 3rd Street, Jack London, Oakland
335 3rd Street construction progress, image by Andrew Nelson
August 15th: Construction has topped out with facade installation well underway for an eight-story apartment complex at 335 3rd Street in Oakland’s waterfront neighborhood. The project was first reported on by SF YIMBY in 2021, and since then, it has achieved a series of milestones as it now nears completion. RAD Urban is responsible for the development of the property.
Construction Underway For El Paseo de Saratoga, San Jose
El Paseo de Saratoga demolition progress with Mount Hamilton looming in the background, image by author
August 15th: Construction is progressing forward for the El Paseo de Saratoga urban village project in San Jose. Demolition crews have cleared much of the former commercial stores that will soon be replaced by over seven hundred homes and a residential care facility. Sand Hill Property Company is leading the project, working in partnership with Holland Partners and Sunrise Senior Living.
Permits Filed for Skyscraper at 536 Mission Street in SoMa, San Francisco
536 Mission Street mixed-use variant, elevations by SOM
August 19th: Permits have been filed for a potential new skyscraper to replace the existing Golden Gate University campus at 536 Mission Street in SoMa, San Francisco. The plans consider two variants for the site, building either a 698-foot-tall mixed-use tower or a 752-foot-tall office tower. If built today, the project could become the fifth or sixth-tallest building in the Bay Area. Lincoln Property Company and McCourt Partners are jointly responsible for the application.
Construction Completed for San Francisco UHS in Presidio Heights, San Francisco
San Francisco University High School exterior, image by Matthew Millman
August 21st: The new campus for San Francisco University High School at 3150 California Street in Lower Pacific Heights is now complete. The three-story facility includes a range of indoor and outdoor spaces to improve student education within a Net Zero energy complex. Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects is responsible for the design, with construction by Truebeck and Equity Community Builders as the project manager.
Demolition Underway For Parking at CityView Plaza, Downtown San Jose
185 Park Avenue foundation work underway, image by author
August 25th: Demolition work is currently underway ahead of plans for an eight-story parking garage with retail at 185 Park Avenue in Downtown San Jose, Santa Clara County. The project is the first phase underway for the recently reimagined CityView Plaza masterplan, with the amended plans to be heard by the city’s Planning Director later this week. The prominent local developer, Jay Paul Company, is responsible for the venture.
Groundbreaking Ceremony For 300 De Haro Street, San Francisco
300 De Haro Street groundbreaking ceremony, image by author
August 26th: Construction has officially started for the 11-story infill at 300 De Haro Street at the bottom of Potrero Hill in San Francisco. The groundbreaking ceremony was held yesterday morning with State Senator Scott Weiner, the project team, and community members in attendance. Once complete, the triangular development will add over four hundred units of affordable housing overlooking 16th and De Haro Street. DM Development and MRK Partners are jointly responsible for the project.
Construction Starts for UCSF Life Sciences Building at Power Station, San Francisco
Potrero Power Station Block 2, rendering by Herzog & de Meuron
August 27th: Construction has officially started on the new cancer research center within the Potrero Power Station redevelopment in San Francisco. Crews are now working on the seven-story life sciences space, which will include laboratory space and healthcare facilities, designed by world-renowned Herzog & de Meuron. Associate Capital is the project developer.
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