New high-rise projects in San Francisco

Serif

Expansive Mid-Market construction, still in the beginning stages of construction, Serif will come with new housing, a hotel, retail, and a dedicated non-profit space. The project, led by developers Group i, almost fell victim to erroneous reports of a secret tunnel used by gay bar patrons in the 1930s to hide from police raids. (The myth was pushed by political forces opposing growth on Market Street.) Fortunately, plans for the irregularly-shaped site on the corner of Market and Turk Streets has moved forward.

Until the building rises, you can still see the hidden Williams Hardware and Stove Co. signage, revealed after demolition and excavation.

5M

The long-delayed 5M development broke ground in June. The four-acre project, located at the border of MidMarket and SoMa, will include a 288-unit residential building on Mission, which includes 57 below market rate units (all at 50 percent of average median income); a 400-unit residential building on Natoma; and a 630,000-square foot office building on Howard.

The Dempster Building and the Camelline Building, two historic resources, will be repurposed and used in the project, which will include an open space for the public, retail, and dining.

One Stuart Lane

1 Steuart St
San Francisco, CA 94105

What one was a parking garage, now demolished, will turn into a 20-story, luxury residential high-rise at the tip of the East Cut neighborhood, care of architects at Skidmore, Owing, and Merrill. The 120-condominium tower will come with a sun terrace, 24-hour valet, and a private fitness center and spa. Units will range from three- to one-bedroom floor plans. Of course, there will be penthouse residences that will range in size from 900 to 3,100 square feet.

The building will also offer a 4,500-square-foot retail space. The building is slated for completion by 2021.

500 Folsom

What one was a parking garage, now demolished, will turn into a 20-story, luxury residential high-rise at the tip of the East Cut neighborhood, care of architects at Skidmore, Owing, and Merrill. The 120-condominium tower will come with a sun terrace, 24-hour valet, and a private fitness center and spa. Units will range from three- to one-bedroom floor plans. Of course, there will be penthouse residences that will range in size from 900 to 3,100 square feet.

The building will also offer a 4,500-square-foot retail space. The building is slated for completion by 2021.

Park Tower

250 Howard St
San Francisco, CA 94105

At over 600 feet and 43 stories, this ascending addition on Transbay Block 5 (designed by Goettsch Partners) means business. With 755,900 square feet in pocket, Facebook leased the entire building, which makes it the city’s third largest third largest tech tenant.

The looming tower is most noteworthy for its 14 sky decks and 50,000-plus square feet of outdoor space. It will also have a privately-owned public park (POPOS) next door.

The Avery

325 Fremont

325 Fremont St
San Francisco, CA 94105

A 250-foot, 25-story residential tower, designed by Handel Architects with 118 units (48 two-bedrooms, 47 one-bedrooms and 23 studios), is slated to go up at this space located directly across from the brutalist PG&E substation. The project broke ground in April 2017, but the pictured ground-breaking marker is the only progress visible at the empty lot.

The Exchange

1800 Owens St
San Francisco, CA 94158

Not to be confused with Exchange Place, this set of four interconnected buildings in Mission Bay saw its profile increased considerably last year when Dropbox signed a lease for 736,000 square feet, the entirety of the Exchange’s commercial space and one of the biggest leases in San Francisco history.

Mira

160 Folsom St
San Francisco, CA 94105

This corkscrewing Studio Gang-designed spire, filling in the last of the East Cut freeway parcels, topped out in April. Architect Jeanne Gang, whose other designs often emphasize rippling, wavy motifs, says that the twisted trademark look “evolves the classic bay window, a familiar feature of San Francisco’s early houses, reimagining it in a high-rise context” and that the aim was to “make every residence a corner unit.”

The 40-story, 392-unit high-rise will feature luxury homes, a smattering of affordable units, and retail space on the ground level. The building is slated to open in late 2019.